Ranchmanben Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Been around all those parts at various times but I’m a panhandle man. Love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 I hear you there. Lubbock was probably my favorite place to live, except for the frequent tornadoes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gergely Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Ben: I really like the grain and color of that wood. Looks like a sturdy stump for sure. Among a couple of other things I played with some cold hammered hooks. Just for fun Starting stock was 5mm square, 120 mm a piece. These go into a perforated sheet tool holder. Bests: Gergely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 In addition to setting up the new grinder, I finished the welding and basic grinding on a new dishing form. This has a stem to fit the hardy hole in my striking anvil, as shown below. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranchmanben Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Thanks Gergely. Mesquite is mighty pretty and it’s stout enough for this but this one is extremely portable. JHCC, I like that forming dish. I’d really like to have one that’s just a tad bit shallower than yours. Did you do anything to reinforce the underside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 How big do mesquite trees grow? That stump heart wood or a complete cross section? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 They aren't huge. The largest I've seen probably were some 20-25' tall and about a foot and a half in diameter. Due to the predominantly dry climate they normally grow in, they don't get tall like pines, oaks, etc. In some areas with more rain, they might get a bit larger. I'm sure that with his ranching experience, Ben might pitch in here with knowledge of some larger. The wood has a reddish hue and makes beautiful furniture. Fantastic wood for barbequeing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranchmanben Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Arkie is for the most part correct although I’ve seen a few random ones that were bigger. I’ve got some chunks in my barn that are 26” diameter. I don’t have a saw big enough to cut it into useable lumber. Jennifer, that piece was some of my firewood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 From what I understand it's a soft hardwood with lots of resin in it and is slightly abrasive.. Rot resistant .. Please correct me.. I've seen some really beautiful pieces.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 There are some furniture makers in Texas who make mesquite furniture, absolutely beautiful stuff. Wish I had a link to some, but don't. You could Google it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranchmanben Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Jennifer, it hard but not like hard rock maple and fairly brittle. The burls are absolutely beautiful. It’s not terrible rot resistant though. Here a picture of this stump in the sun so you can see the colot and grain better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 There is a mesquite tree next to my friend's apartment and it towers over her 2nd floor deck. Long straight trunk that is probably 24" at least. It is the biggest mesquite I have ever seen. This is in downtown Las Vegas. I planted mesquites and palo verdes around my place. That is a really small anvil, or the beers in Texas are huge...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Ling Posted September 22, 2018 Author Share Posted September 22, 2018 Finished up this cross pein and ground and made a handle for a 3.5lb rounding hammer for a member on here who is buying it. About to go heat treat it and put the handle on. littleblacksmith here is the 3.5lber about 3/4 of the way forged, and also a picture of it after forging was done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Ranchman: that is way to funny.. Howd you get that extra large bottle? And that really large/wide piece of wide pine flooring??? LOL.. Littleblacksmith, Really nice work.. LOve, love, love that cross peen.. Nice shape.. How big is the face? Few details shots maybe? Also I like the variation in the hammers.. I would really like to hear your take on a thread I started few days ago: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Ling Posted September 23, 2018 Author Share Posted September 23, 2018 Thanks! This is the only other one I have at the moment, I can take some more tomorrow though if you'd like. the face is a bit rectangular actually, about 1-3/8 x 1-5/8". Littleblacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Please post the pictures up tomorrow.. Can't wait to see them.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudman Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranchmanben Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Great work mud man! I like that Fungtional hammer. Now that my joke is over I thought I’d show the little tongs I made from 5/32” 7018 rod and the hammer made from 3/8” cold rolled. The tongs are working set with peened rivet and offset reins. The hammer is handled with hickory, like it really matters. The anvil was forged by a guy named Devin Jennison at Fawkes forge. It’s based on an arm and hammer anvil, forged from 4140 then properly heat treated. When not on the stump it’s got appropriate ring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Twas a good joke Ben. You and Devin are mightily sick to forge tools so small. Lol. Awesome stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranchmanben Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Thanks Das but I confess, I filed and ground the hammer and tongs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Was a bottle opener night. They all work fine. I proofed em. More than once. Trying flat engine clearcoat on these rather than the usual beeswax formula. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 With a show coming up and table space at a premium, I'm preparing some old family apple crates to use as raisers. Really just cleaning them up and brushing them with linseed oil. On the left is as is and two on the right got coated. Kinda cool how the linseed oil brings out some color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strike Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 what's the deal with boiled linseed oil spontaneously combusting in rags … I heard that way back but never tried the stuff due to the label warning...nice work though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Great bottle openers, Das. Looks like you nearly lost the top of that long bolt! Been there done that. The finish looks great - very much like the Rustoleum Clear which I use on most of mine. Perhaps harder and better wearing. Does the stuff have a brand name? I like to try different finishes and that looks good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 YUp, nice work Das.. To this day I still have never made a bottle opener.. Well unless you consider the back of a knife not a bottle opener.. Ranchmanben.. Aw man and I thought you had an extra large bottle. . LOL.. that is really cool and the guy did a nice job on the anvil.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.