August 23, 2025Aug 23 IIRC RR gage is ancient, the same width as chariots and carts from Minoan or Mesopotamian times. The cart tracks in roads in Pompei are the same 4' 8 1/2" apart. The cart tracks are literally worn into the cobble stone roads. It was easier to make carts fit the ruts than rebuild the roads. I can't imagine being in a train wreck but I can tell you how glad I am you were able to keep it together enough to improvise dressings and render 1st. aid. I pray I can find that kind of strength if I'm ever faced with a similar situation. Frosty The Lucky.
August 23, 2025Aug 23 Oh my George. I'm so glad you made it and we're able to help others. I can't imagine. The train runs right through the middle of town and we have a depot that Amtrak stops at. I've always wondered what would happen if it derailed. There's a dog park, an antique mall and an apartment building for elderly people RIGHT there. And on down further, there are lots of houses and funeral home that could be in serious trouble. There is also a scrap yard right by the depot and a as a result, I can get all the RR metal I could possibly ever want. I have plenty though
August 24, 2025Aug 24 On 8/22/2025 at 11:37 PM, Frosty said: IIRC RR gage is ancient, the same width as chariots and carts from Minoan or Mesopotamian times. The cart tracks in roads in Pompei are the same 4' 8 1/2" apart. A widely quoted “fact”, but untrue. They are certainly in the same ballpark, but “standard gauge” is a comparatively recent development.
August 26, 2025Aug 26 My new anvil followed me home, screwed to a mini pallet in the back of my car!! Isn't she pretty?! I'm so excited to have a hardy hole and pritchel hole (and a spare!), and an upsetting block! And here's the comparison so you can gauge just how happy I am with the upgrade!! From an (I'm guessing) 20lb cast iron ASO to a 40kg (88lb) cast 6150 steel anvil! Unfortunately, I got home late from work so I haven't even beaten heated steel on it yet I can't wait!!! Thanks for looking! Jono.
August 26, 2025Aug 26 Remember to radius the edges towards the horn and sweet spot to prevent cold shuts when setting shoulders and more importantly prevent edge chipping from missed blows. Enjoy taking your new anvil for her maiden cruise. Frosty The Lucky.
August 30, 2025Aug 30 Got a new-to-me drill press from the son of an old tool-and-die maker. The son is moving out of state, so I got the drill, a box of drill bits, and a few other bits and pieces for $75. (See photos below.) And for another $15, I got all his taps and dies: Finally, on my way to meet the seller, I stopped to rescue a deadblow mallet from the shoulder of the road. The new drill press has a slightly smaller base than the old one, twice as many speeds, a rotating and tilting table, and a crank to adjust the table height, plus it came with all the bits, wedges, oil cans, etc. I figure I can probably sell the old one at Quad-State for about the same amount of money. In sum, I’m breaking even financially, but ending up with a drill that will be a LOT more useful.
August 30, 2025Aug 30 Good score John, Yeah I love the light too though I have another one on a magnetic base I can hang to one side so it isn't in my eyes when I'm making a fine adjustment to the stock. Remember to double check the angle with a multiple angle "square" machinist's tool like the center head below. I have the scale from an old square I saved from a freebie table at an estate sale, I shortened so I don't have to change height on my table. I've also used cardboard cut out a drawn angle. You can't trust the angle gage on a tilting table for precise angles, even on an end mill. I know it's a real bummer but you're going to need to buy more tools to get the most from your new labor saver. <sigh> Frosty The Lucky.
September 1, 2025Sep 1 Garage sale finds. Twenty bucks for the saw and everything to its left; everything else was free. (Erratum: the flexible grabber left of the saw should have been on its right.)
September 1, 2025Sep 1 That's quite the haul, those wood planes restored are worth a lot of money nowadays. I can’t control the wind. All I can do is adjust my sails. ~Semper Paratus~
September 3, 2025Sep 3 Some hammers. $5 for the four, from the guy who sold me his father’s drill press last week.
September 3, 2025Sep 3 Another good score I see, I think I'd keep in touch with the fellow if it were me. What's the big ball pein weigh? It looks kind of PopEye Brutus bopper-ish. I LIKE it! I'm wondering what the one on the bottom is, both faces flat or a rounding face and a flat or? Frosty The Lucky.
September 4, 2025Sep 4 Nice hauls from the same place. Maybe there are deeper hidden treasures yet to come
September 4, 2025Sep 4 4 hours ago, Frosty said: What's the big ball pein weigh? Three pounds, and thus my new heaviest ball pein. 4 hours ago, Frosty said: I'm wondering what the one on the bottom is, both faces flat or a rounding face and a flat or? Both faces flat, but a bit rough and in need of cleanup. I’m thinking of grinding one face round when I dress the other one flat.
September 5, 2025Sep 5 Great scores John. Wow! Market place find for me $50, I am not sure how much I will use it but have always wanted one.
September 5, 2025Sep 5 JHCC, I heard an adage once upon a time, likely here on this forum, which recommended buying every large ball pein available. My largest is 48 oz. My smallest is a wee twig of a hammer. Those hammers look nice, though I am not a fan of rubber mallets. Pedro, I've always wanted one as well. Looks amazing. These two vices followed me home somewhat recently: 6" and 6.5".
September 5, 2025Sep 5 47 minutes ago, Rojo Pedro said: Market place find for me $50, I am not sure how much I will use it but have always wanted one. That's a great find!* Don't consider yourself limited to only bending with those radius tools; if you've got a welder, you can make up a LOT of Hossfeld-style tooling to fit. If you haven't seen it, check out my Hossfeld bender thread for some ideas. 46 minutes ago, Ridgeway Forge Studio said: I am not a fan of rubber mallets Neither am I, but it was part of the lot. Maybe I'll put it on my tailgating table at Quad-State. 46 minutes ago, Ridgeway Forge Studio said: 6" and 6.5". Impressive! *Although my Hossfeld #2 for $45 is still a strong contender for the Best Bender Value Per Dollar Prize!
September 5, 2025Sep 5 On 8/29/2025 at 9:54 PM, JHCC said: a box of drill bits Those drills have a morse taper shank, do not use them in a Jacobs chuck. Nice score on the Snap-on dead blow that was about a $70 hammer when i was turning wrenches.
September 5, 2025Sep 5 Nice vises. thanks John, I will check it out. My ball peens go from 2oz to 3 pounds and pretty much everything in between. Not sure I have ever really used the 2 ouncer.
September 5, 2025Sep 5 Great score Pedro, no comment on John's Hossfeld, I still haven't gotten over the serious tool envy. That's pretty good adage, never leave a ball pein on the table if the price is reasonable. I prefer them with out handles, almost all need to be replaced anyway. It's been a while but I've used my rubber mallets more many times. They're good for tapping hardened components or ones from fragile or easily marred materials. The main example was when I was raising bronze armor components, I made a mushroom stake from a "headache ball" as seen just above the hook on a crane cable and used the rubber mallet for the final smoothing before polishing. If you don't need or use something though it's just wasting valuable space, pass it along. Frosty The Lucky.
September 6, 2025Sep 6 20 hours ago, Rojo Pedro said: Not sure I have ever really used the 2 ouncer. They're nice when you have itty-bitty rivets to set, but you feel a bit silly doing it. Especially if you do it on a regular full-sized anvil.
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