You could also spot-weld them together into larger hollow forms. Think globe, torso, abstract shape. 

No, no breaks.

Spot welding would be tricky, they are only about .025" thick. 

Speaking of spot welding though, i learned a trick to spot weld aluminum. You just sandwich the aluminum between 2 pieces of steel. 

 

Had a 250 HP electric motor get its bearings changed at work.  The motor wasn't set up right for a vfd and had static arcs across the tail bearing causing issues.  Well, as the boss, I claim all good scrap.  One is a ball bearing, the other roller bearing.  A lot of good steel in those.

Wow! Good score! Although the circumstances might be more than desirable.

 

 I have always been interested in how to prep a bearing race for forging. Do you grind out the ridges that the ball rides in, or forge them in? Wouldn’t that make a cold shut?

For the chips - those would make fantastic barnacles or something similar in a sea life sculpture.

Some goodies from the Tool Shed in Waltham, MA:

And from the book sale at the public library in Lexington, MA:

(Fun fact: the parking app zone code for Lexington is 4191775.)

John, it takes a bit of historical knowledge that not everyone has to immediately pick up on the zone code meaning.  Made me smile.

Oh sure George, it just made me feel my age. ZIP was instituted in 01/01/1963 but I couldn't find an old 2 digit zone chart. When she could twist my arm hard enough to write them.

I DO remember my first phone # from the time, Empire abbreviated EM-23432. AND when "Area Codes were instituted, not the date but I remember how much harder it was to remember my phone number. AND NOW I can't call across the street without the area code, of course I only know a couple people who still have a landline so . . . <sigh>

Frosty The Lucky.

I was a junior in high school when ZIP codes came in and it just added 3 digits to the existing zone number.  We went from "Chicago 49, ILL" to "Chicago, IL 60649".  I'm not sure exactly when the 2 letter state abbreviations came in.  Also, I believe that prior to ZIP codes only large cities had 2 digit zone codes.

As a follow-up on my last post, the TSA has offered their customary contribution. 

Picked these up for $5 each at JoAnn tonight. They close permanently on May 29th and have quite a few store fixtures for cheap. LOTS of pegboard and pegboard hooks if you use that sort of thing and live near one of these stores.

I'm going to use these to make 3 vertical storage racks for short bar stock by attaching a bar vertically on each corner and adding a base on wheels.

 

After a few yrs of watching/searching for good deals, I finally snagged my first anvil up for a decent price here around me in KS. Picked up a Peter Wright so I guess my addiction to the hobby can get underway!

Looks to be in excellent condition. Have you done a rebound test to make it IS in excellent condition?

Truth is you only need a sort of heavy hunk of steel, a hammers and a fire to have this "hobby" run wild with you. The minimum equipment list for this craft is surprisingly short. Not saying collecting and using smithing tools and equipment isn't a major hobby in itself of course or I'd have a hard time explaining my shopful of . . . stuff.

Frosty The Lucky.

All I currently have is a 3/4in bearing and from 10” it rebounds between 8-9” on most of sweet spot and I’d say 6-8” everywhere else. 

80-90% rebound is in the very good to excellent range. You have yourself a winner! 

For the rest of the gang following along. There is NO GOOD REASON to use a bearing ball larger than 3/8" even 1/2" is unnecessary. When you get into the 3/4" and up range you start denting (DAMAGING) "decent" anvils without learning anything more than 3/8" will tell. 

That isn't directed at you K, it's become a common urban legend generated by the "More is Better" philosophy and it's a B A D myth. 

Another major plus for using a 3/8" bearing ball, you can carry a couple around in your pocket all the time without noticing. Unless it's the same pocket as your car fob where they push buttons you don't want pushed.  Besides have you ever dropped 1/4lb of hardened steel on your toe from 3'? 

It's EASY to drop a bearing when you take it out of your pocket and Mr. Murphey says your foot is THE prime target.

Frosty The Lucky.

 

April 19, 1775, who doesn't know the shot heard round the parking lot? 

Good to know Frosty! I just used what I had, and a reason I definitely don’t drop from above 10”.

Used what you had eh, where have I heard that around here? That is properly blacksmitherly, you fit in here nicely.

Frosty The Lucky.

A little gift from a friend. 

14 hours ago, Nobody Special said:

the shot heard round the parking lot? 

Not to be confused with the Soviet space program’s attempt to put several cattle in orbit. It would have been the herd shot round the world. 

Anyone else remember party lines? 

My mom has been traveling all over the state to different JoAn fabrics. She is a quilter so she is scarfing up as many deals on fabric, thread, batting, etc.,  as she can. 

Kind of sad to see it go. It is an icon of my childhood, my mom would drag me there often. 

At 64 I'm almost not old enough to have experienced party lines, but I do recall the party line from childhood. As a little kid I wouldn't have been making calls, but I do recall hearing them and thinking about the kind of weird dynamics and norms around waiting one's turn to be able to make a call.

Agreed on the demise of the JoAnn stores.

--Larry

3 hours ago, JHCC said:

It would have been the herd shot round the world. 

Herd of cows? Sure I've heard of cows! No, no no, the cows herd. I don't care if the cow's heard, I haven't done anything to be ashamed of! (dialogue between Dr. Rowlf the Dog and Pigathius "Ms. Piggy" Lee).

Goodness Nobody, who steered you down this path in your youth?

Frosty The Lucky.

Grew up watching the muppets do burlesque, and they always milked those jokes for everything they're worth. Or, um,....it coulda been caused by a henway. *dramatic pause*....

Mail call: The March 1892 issue of “Smithsonian” magazine, which has quite a good article about Samuel Yellin.