BIGGUNDOCTOR

Hey Chad, that has some nice clean simple lines to it. He should like it a lot, if he doesn't you can send it to me What size cable did you start with?

Uuuuuuuuummmmmmmm, you mean to tell me that there is a bench under that pile ? Paul42, looks like it could double for a shooting gong hanger.

Adding your location under your name will help greatly. No sense telling you about tools that are across the continent from you.

Hey Tim, keep searching CL I have seen some leads for sale for around $1-$2 a foot used. Yes, leads can be made long, and that is preferred to adding an extension cord to the welder. I have seen leads up to 100'. As a matter of fact I may have some kicking around. I will have to dig through the pile,might even have the stinger, and ground clamp. I have plenty of helmets, so don't buy one. I've called the last couple of times I was in Vegas, but got your voice mail. We are going to have to set up a weekend where I can swing by, and give ya some schoolin' on that thingamajig. I think I brought down my copy of the Lincoln Welding text book from when I went through the junior college program, if so I can let you borrow it.

Bob, unfortunately people judge us on our looks all the time. I have long (mid back) hair that I usually keep in a ponytail. I have had a few people ask me if I had any weed on me, and I tell them no. They don't know that I have never touched the stuff, but they figure I am just another long haired hippie, not the right leaning gun toting guy that I am. My long hair is just a personal preference at this time in my life. I would find it a problem if I worked in a place that was selling something under the counter that was illegal-papers are not. Don't judge the purchaser either, they may not be who you think they are either. Personally I think we would be better off legalizing pot, and taxing it like tobacco. That would do more to curb the illegal profit motive than anything else we have done in this war on drugs. Now back to diversification. All businesses have to do some adapting to survive. Specialization can lead to going under due to market fluctuations, this isn't our grandparents economy. With global competition we no longer have the luxury to do one thing, and doing it well. My goal is to keep a roof over my head, and food on my table. I am a machinist first, but I have worked for a small foundry, an automotive lift/hydraulics company, and the Jelly Belly Candy Co as a mechanic. I am now back to machining as a tool maker for a small company that is itself having to adapt to a changing economy. We are no longer pursuing just electronic , but automotive, aerospace, and firearms parts. As for myself I am looking to start a business of my own. I have over 50 ideas for various products, and services that I would like to pursue. I like the people that I am working with now, but I am not getting the satisfaction that I had when I ran my own business years ago.

A couple of items I noticed. You mentioned briquettes for fuel. Lump wood charcoal is OK, briquettes not good. The other thing is that it is common practice to heat, and form the tongs to the part being held for best grip. In Weygers book he mentions Vise Grips as a boon to smithing. Anything that will hold the piece securely, and keep your fingers from being burned will work. Look at what some primitive smiths have to work with.

My thoughts on the towel hooks are that the spike may be too short/fat-nothing to reference size. My other concern would be driving them in with that big radius on the 90. Are these items that you are looking to start producing in quantity?

Hey Frosty, glad to hear that you are back home. Get rested, and take care of yourself- Ya Hear? Sorry to hear about your pooch. I lost my buddy just over a year ago . Sure took awhile getting used to not having her here anymore. Again, glad to hear that you are back home, and doing better. Walt

I would say that was high. I bought 2 good sized forges with blowers;Buffalo $100/$125 IIRC, and a Champion $75. Hard to remember individual prices, as I ended up clearing out an estate. Filled the Dodge 3500 bed for $825 with 2 forges, 170#HB anvil ($175), tongs $3-$5 ea, hardies $3 ea, hammers $5 ea, fullers $3-$5 ea, 1/4 barrel of coal,2 dutch ovens, etc. and a 14" Hobart buffalo chopper with meat grinding attachment on a SS cart for $100 (probably the best score of the night). Keep watching Craigslist, newspapers, garage sales, flea markets, etc. Deals are still out there, but you need to keep your eyes open, and have the cash ready.

Hey Sam, a lot of lathes use brass/bronze nuts on the different screws. In some cases all that is needed is a new tighter nut to remove the backlash. Some lathes also have backlash adjustable nuts. I found a guy in the UK that has tons of literature available for older machines, tony@lathes.co.uk I found him while researching a Sixis 101 milling machine that I have.

Just start reading the "It followed me home" thread. That is where everyone posts about their new finds, be it found, or purchased. That thread should keep you busy for awhile. B)

Jasco gel works really good. To check for damage just tap it with a hammer all over, if it doesn't ring, or has a dead sound it may have a crack/delaminated. No need to strip the paint for that. I would leave all non working surfaces painted otherwise your next post will be "How do I keep my anvil from rusting?" The only history a couple of my anvils told me was when they were made, some don't even have date info. It is an anvil, a large chunk of metal, it is a tool, get using it ;)

I have an as new 125# JHM Journeyman with a similar shape, and it does OK for smithing. It will probably have more value to a Farrier than a Smith though. I got mine with a gas forge, stand, and 3 tool boxes of tools-- all for $250 from a retiring smith. Prices vary in different parts of the country. In CA, and NV I have averaged $1 a pound on the 5 I have purchased over the years-2 in the past year. There is a thread -real prices of anvils. Post it, and see what you can get. There is a great organization called OAA, Orphan Anvil Association which also goes by the name of IFI. They have many members who are willing to give orphan anvils good loving homes, no matter what their lineage is.

If it actually is lead paint-from what the 70's,or before?-it is only a problem if ingested. As it is now it will keep the anvil from rusting. If ya don't like the color, spray paint it black over the old paint. Just clean off the working surfaces-scrape it, bag it, and in the trash. We are not talking about a house worth , but an anvil worth of paint. More lead is getting in the ground everyday from shooting, casting, fishing weights, and lost wheel weights than what is on that anvil.

How free is it when you get arrested for stealing, and trespassing? I live near an abandoned cement plant, but the cops have busted people stealing wiring out of it. The owner lives off site. Just because it is "abandoned" does not mean it is up for grabs, someone still owns the property, and the stuff on it.

When I cleaned off winery equipment with several layers of paint I used a needle scaler. Just clean off the working surfaces, and use it. If you are worried about the lead, chip it off. or use a paint stripper. The paint stripper will actually be kinder to the anvil than the chipper will (small dings all over). How do you know it is lead paint?

Shotpeening may help some, but a proper heat treat would be best as it would impart a deeper treatment. Shotpeening is sort of like case hardening, in that it is a thin surface treatment. It is cast steel, and not a cast iron ASO right? Another option would be to weld a tool steel plate to the top. Good luck, and if you put your location in your header it will get you better help. IFI has a number of members across the UK, one may be around the corner from you.

Here in the U.S.A. air volume for a small fan like that would be in CFM = cubic feet per minute. Over where you are it might be in cubic meters per minute.

Exactly what type of lathe tool did you use? Some tool steels have a very narrow working range, go out of it, and you have problems like cracking. I would second putting another tang on what you have.

You may want to contact one of the manufactures to see what they make their brake discs from. In any case take a piece, heat it quench it, and test for hardness before making a knife. Let us know what you find out.

Look for something resembling a 1. 112+28+9=149 The bolstered hardy caught my eye too. I have seen a couple of Blacktop Badgers on the I-15. They are a thinner version, unless they sit in the sun too long then they look like mini Macy's Day parade floats. Stinky buggers too . Amazing a critter that ornery being valuable to the shaving community. Badger hair is the bees knees for shaving brushes.

Summer is here. It is 109 now with 13% humidity with a 9mph wind, and will probably get to 111 by 4pm. The low last night was 83. During the summers I use a swamp cooler to keep my power bills around $40, with the A/C it jumps to $150. During the summers I sleep on a hammock that is strung up on the porch. I am hardly home during the week, so it isn't worth running the A/C to cool an empty house. Once the sun goes down it isn't that bad, so when it is still 100 at midnight it feels OK to be outside.

Thanks for clearing that up Nakedanvil, I thought Blacksmithtech was posting in Braille shorthand. :lol:

I have the same problem with high pitched sounds like Shop-Vacs. All of these use a high speed motor to get enough volume. Look for a high volume low speed fan, as these create a less annoying sound. With the vacuum you could put it outside, and run a hose into the shop. I know first hand what long term noise can do to your hearing, and Tinnitus is not fun to live with.

Not sure what you mean for a pattern. I just draw up different shapes that I like. You can print out a picture off the computer, and use that as a pattern, if it is in a profile. Maybe look on a site like Frost Cutlery, or knife manufacturers to find different designs that you like. There are sooooo many knife designs, and not every knife feels good in the hand for everybody, so just make what feels/looks good to you.