thinking: Oh, this will be a great Idea and addition to the shop" and there it sits unused, broken or untouched...

 

I can't think of anything that doesn't find use sooner or later.  Biggest thing in making something likely to be used or repaired is keeping it in an easily accessable spot -- if it's buried under too much junk, you're that much more likely to dismiss it during those times it would be handy.  What I regret most is anything I've sold or otherwise discarded, thinking it was junk, or that it'd be simple to get another if I decided I needed it later.  I lost not one, but two metal lathes that way.  I kick myself every time they would have been handy.

"Oh yes, this is cool, and cheap. I am sure I can repair it."

 

Anything that I have said that about turned out to be a bad idea. If the only people bidding against you are scrap metal dealers it is time to stop.

The brain....works both ways,  most important tool OR the " there it sits unused, broken or untouched...;"

I have a bad habit of finding antique tools, cleaning them up, then letting them sit and rust again. :/

I had a 1500 lb block of steel I got free from the scrap yard......was going to make it an anvil but found I didn't have the equipment nor could find anyone that did. I used it to straighten some stuff and a place to pile stuff on......years later, I was happy someone took it away.....

 One of the so called trained newly qualified apprentices I acquired when taking on another forging business.

I have to say John yours must be in the top 5   If not the winner.  :)

Awwwwwww dang Richard. I just came up with project for that chunk, that you simply can't live without :D

I have to say John yours must be in the top 5   If not the winner.  :)

Thanks, didn't seem a winner at the time, just part of life's learning curve. Such is the cost of experience.

Students!

 

 

Actually the weirdest was probably the cone mandrel that was previously a nose cone for a ballistic missile; followed perhaps by the wrap around leather miniskirt than made a dandy smithing apron...Pharmaceutical punches made from S1, a large mooring cleat found in a scrapyard hundreds of miles from any source of water big enough to float a boat requiring it....

My acetylene generator or my Fairbanks truck beam scale.

My acetylene generator or my Fairbanks truck beam scale.

I guess you can't still buy calcium carbide? 

Greetings All,

 

I would have to say my STS..  A multi use bending and forming station I built years ago...  Many who enter my shop take pictures and copy my design..

 

Forge on and make beautiful things

Jim

Wow Jim...that deserves it's own post with details on usage!  I like that very much.  Details Please!!

Jim that is some creative engineering!

Greetings All,

 

I would have to say my STS..  A multi use bending and forming station I built years ago...  Many who enter my shop take pictures and copy my design..

 

Forge on and make beautiful things

Jim

 

That's cool Jim!! Consider it copied/at least inspiring again! :D I am working on something similar to mount in my Wilton pedestal mounted machinist vise. Mine is horizontally operated but I like the way you have used the rr rail and have dies mounted vertically. I just happen to have recently acquired another length of rail that was earmarked for power hammer dies but they can wait now B)

Jim I love you. You prove yourself yet again a man without a box, so you have make those ideas that wouldnt fit into that box you don't have anyway;-)

I think the dumbest thing I ever bought for the smithy was this big steel ball. I thought it may have been a good former or something but I have never used it. The hammer bounces off it quite nicely though. I saw it at a garage sale and the guy said I could have it for free if I could lift it over my head. No way - so I had to pay him $2 for it. It measures 9 inches in diameter, so I reckon at about 1/4 pound per cubic inch that's about 100 pounds.
It was probably a dumb thing to buy, but for two bucks who could leave it there??

That ball would be awesome for armoring, to planish helmet tops, knees shoulders etc, the biggest one I have is 6.5"

Cal-

I'll give you five bucks for that ball. I lost one of mine in a bicycling accident. Hope that didn't offend, I couldn't resist.

Why were you carrying planishing tools on your bicycle?

Why were you carrying planishing tools on your bicycle?

 

Because his Unicycle had a flat ?

 

 

.

Jim
I would love to see a video of the sts in use. Got time for that?
It certainly looks interesting.

[i would love to see a video of the sts in use. Got time for that?
It certainly looks interesting.