postleg

Sorry about the pic in the middle of my post. I'll try again. This American anvil is coming up for sale at a local auction. I havent heard of this brand before and was wondering if any one is familar with them. Its a 200lb anvil and i was trying to get info before I go to the sale.

Found this anvil coming up for sale at a local auction. Not familar with the American brand. Does any one know if they are any good. Looks good from pics but would like input before I go try to buy it. Thanks

I use a gas forge. When I made the table to hold it I put it on wheels. This way in the winter I can use it inside with the doors and windows open and stay warm. In warmer seasons I just roll it outside the door and carry the work piece to the anvil. I keeps me moving but I can forge anytime of year.

I make some crosses using a random cut twist. I just drill a hole in the back and angle it towards the top. You can then use a finish nail to hang it and it is not visable. I have also used a piece of hack saw blade with a hole mig welded to the back of some of my projects this will lay flat and can be hung on a nail.

I have a 3 burner Diamond back forge. It came with a small adjustable regulator. When I first got the forge I used the small grill size bottle. It kept freezing up. A couple of nights at the forge and it would be empty. I have now got a 100 ld bottle and have not had any freezing problems. It will last me 3 to 4 months forging a couple of nights a week. When I first got the forge I would run it at 11 lbs but after becoming more familular with the forge I now useually only run 5-6 lbs. I also put an idler valve on it so I can quickly reduce fuel pressure when I remove a piece rom the forge then kick it up when I go back for a reheat. hope this helps

Yes the Speedway Museum is a world class museum dedicated to the preservation of all things auto and speed accsesories. It houses the collection of Speedy Bill Smith founder and owner of Speedway Motors the world larges supplier and manufaturer of automotive speed equipment. Three floors of antique race cars and one of akind autos. There are several thousand peddle cars. A huge collection of all those toys we had as kids that were made of steel had sharp edges and lead paint that we all played with. There is a huge collection of race car engines and related stuff. Here are some pics of the museum

I saw this old grinder while touring the Speedway Museum in Lincoln Nebraska the other night. Thought it was cool and some might like to see it.

Hers is my 167lb Peter Wright. It is mounted on a cherry stump. I leveled the stump then roughted out a 1 1/2 in deep recess for it. I put roofing felt under the anvil and then used chain and 4 lag bolts to hold it down. I added 3 bands around the stump after it started to get some splits. I have sence added tong holders on the top band.

Here are some pics of a mail box stand I just finished for my mom.

Yes it is a turkey I took with my bow

It is probably about 1/3rd but I just do it by eye and what I think looks right. I like the rough and hand made look so If it's off a little thats ok with me.

This is my 6th hawk it is made from a 16 oz ball pien. The handle is red oak that was burned and then oiled. There are 135 solid brass tacks for decoration a long with a wild turkey feather and bone and copper beads. I was making this hawk for myself but decided to donate it to the Nebraska Bowhunters Assocation for a fund rasing auction. Always apreciate feedback.

Here is my latest creation. It is a cross made from 1/2 sq bar. I put copper inbetween the iron bars. I also did copper under the bands holding the cross together. I added some copper rivets for accent. The cross was then colored with heat with my tourch then clear coated. What do you think? Always looking for feedback.

I drilled small holes through the copper ring into the cross arms. Then took small copper tacks and hammered them in the holes. so the tacks act like copper rivets.

Spent a couple of nights working in the shop. I have been making some pieces to donate to local charity auctions. The cross with the copper ring is for a fund raiser for the Nebraska Bowhunters Assocation. The other cross is for a Cystic Fibrosis fund raiser. The dragon fly is 50th birthday present for my wife's friend.

I have a 165lb swedge block. I made a stand that holds the block about 1 or 2 inches higher than my anvil. I made it so when I work on ends it sets at the same hight.

I have been buying drop off and scrap from my employer (Kawasaki motors) for 11 cents a pound. Get a lot of tubing some tool steel. I bought 2 pieces of 60" x 44" x 1/2 plate steel for $80 weight on the two was 750lbs. I am going to make a welding lay out table out of them Also was able to get enought 3 x 3 tubing to build a treadle hammer now I am waitng to find a base so I can start that build.

Here is my 1935 9" Southbend lathe 48" bed. This lathe was purchased by my grandfather. I have all the original paper work fot the lathe including shipping lables manuals catalogs. I also have a old note book that my grandfather recorded each job he did and how much he for them. First job was on Feb 18 1935 turned an armiture for 25 cents. He ran a small fix it shop in Cook, Nebraska for 50 years. He once recieved a letter that was addressed "To the man in Cook that can fix anything except the crack of dawn or abroken heart" and it went straigth to my grandfather. I just moved the lathe to my shop a couple of months ago and have used it a little but should take some classes to really learn how to use it.

This is my shop. I'am new to this only been smithing for a little over a year. My garage is 30 X 32 with 10ft side walls, with a 12 x 30 heated shop area. Equipment includes a 165lb peter wright anvil mounted on a cherry stump, a 160lb swedge block 70lb indian chief vise, hobart 200amp mig welder, a 1907 champion post drill, a diamond back 3 burner forge, a champion pump action coal forge. lastly a 1935 9in southbend lathe. I have photos of my great grand father standing in his blacksmith shop in Filley Nebraska around 1920 there is also a photo of his shop. I had them enlarged to 18 x 24 and made frames out of hammered angle iron. The south bend lathe was purchased by my grand father in 1935. Amoung the tooling and stuff I aquired with the lathe I have a book where he recorded all the jobs he did and what he made on each job. First job was in Feb 1935 turned an armiture for 25 cents. My shop is multifuncional. One of my other hobbies is bowhunting so I shut down the blacksmithing in January to make sausage and deer sticks which is always nice to have a frige full of snack sticks the rest of the year when I am working in the shop.

How about some photos of the hammer. Ive been gathering material to build one. I havent decided what plans to use so I would be interested in seeing what you built

I thought I would just throw this out. I had a 20lb bottle under my 3 burnner forge. I did not have problems with heat but the 20lb bottle kept freezing up while the forge was running. I ended up switching to a 100lb bottle which took care of the freezing but I couldn't fit it under the forge. so now it stands off to the side and works fine. So just keep in mind that the smaller tanks may not work that well.

yes I drive by the big mantis twice aday on my way to and from work. This one was inspired buy a praying mantis that lived in my shop window for about a month this fall

I took a 2 day blacksmith class a year ago. Have been in the shop as time permits. Ive made a couple of knives several tomahawks The is Idea keep bugging me. The praying mantis is made out of a railroad spike. The dragonfly is made out of a piece of 1in bar the wings are 3/8 rod hammered flat. I colored the body with my torch and then clearcoat and mount on chunks of old hedge post. Please give me some feed back thanks

Yes i did drift the hole, I start by squairing the ends then I drift the center after i have the head all shaped, then I make the handle fit the head