I like take an open end wrench that fits the propane fittings for my forge and forge down the opposite end into a grotesque face---my favorite is my "tyrannosaurus wrench" Makes it easy to find the right one and the right end and I like to have little things like that with my demo set up for people to "discover".

I was tooling around yesterday and realized I had something to add.

My wife and I recently moved into our new house, and while moving out of my sister-in-law's, her father (who used to live there), said "take whatever you want, I've been meaning to clean out the last of my junk for years."

So I got a big butcher knife, a cheap old hatchet head, a chalk line, some jack stands, a wooden mallet, a few extension cords, and a cross-peen hammer. It's says "48" on the head, and no other markings. Needs a new handle, but otherwise looks like a servicable, non-descript hammer. Maybe it will become my tool-striking hammer.

Nothing exotic here, just some free stuff that followed me home!

Looks like a pretty decent 3 lb. crosspeen, Joaquin. Just needs a little polishing. How heavy is the wooden mallet? I use a heavy one to strike a hatchet for splitting kindling or notching timbers. The wooden mallet doesn't mar the hatchet.

..... and forge down the opposite end into a grotesque face---my favorite is my "tyrannosaurus wrench" ........ for people to "discover".

That's a great idea. I just assumed I'd find something to do with so many pieces of tool steel. I've got a few to practice on now.

I saw a forge for sale on craigslist for $50. I called and went a checked it out. It was a homemade forge with a champion 400 firepot/tuyere attached to it. Plus, they gave me a locked up buffalo silent 200 blower to go with it for free.

I will try to get pictures tomorrow.

Larry

Anyone know how to remove the gear cover on the buffalo silent 200 14" blower? It doesn't seem to have any screws on it. I will look at it again in the light tomorrow.

Larry

Anyone know how to remove the gear cover on the buffalo silent 200 14" blower? It doesn't seem to have any screws on it. I will look at it again in the light tomorrow.

Larry

One screw on each side, countersunk in the main casting near the top of the smaller removable cover.

Is that one of the ones you have to *slide* the cover off one end?

Note that "tool" steel is not "Tool Steel" most wrenches are made from a medium carbon steel not a high carbon steel. more like 4140 rather than 1095/O-1/D-2, etc...

Use them to make up some pattern welded steel if nothing else.

Note that "tool" steel is not "Tool Steel" most wrenches are made from a medium carbon steel not a high carbon steel. more like 4140 rather than 1095/O-1/D-2, etc...

Good point. Thanks, Thomas.

Beware of any plating too! I tend to look for nice rusty unplated wrenches at the fleamarket and scrapyard as "possibles"

$10 anvil

Picked this up today for a friend off of Craigslist. It's only 20 lbs. but he has nothing now. It's just 17" long.

I'll help him clean it up and reinforce the web. May even attempt to harden the top. I've read Weyger's method. Anyone have anything to add to that?

The top of the rail may already be "work hardened" from the train wheels. I have a section that is just harder than @^!#. :)

Thanks, Curly. I'll test it. It's a piece of old mining rail out of Wyoming. The fellow who owned it said his grandpa had it made for him. Grandpa was a carpenter.

That looks like a Craftsman ratchet

I'd give it a close look.

I've got several OLD "Snap-On" ratchets that are that same style.





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I'd give it a close look. I've got several OLD "Snap-On" ratchets that are that same style. .

Under closer inspection the 1/2" square drive ratchet appears to be an Indestro. The smaller 1/2 hex-socket ratchet is stamped Indestro.

After a little more research I've found that they are both indeed Indestro ratchets.

She's a beaut! Give us a bigger picture.

man, I've been looking for a 6-inch vise..........

Anyone notice that the thread "it followed me home" has over 3000 replies and over 264,000 views?
It now spans over 150 pages of information.

We're scavengers at heart.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41924895@N07/sets/72157628439741909
he only wanted 40 bucks!
it hasnt followed me home yet, but it is on the way!

Wow woody!
That is outrageous!

....he only wanted 40 bucks!

It's probably worth 20 times that just as scrap.

no way that is ever going as scrap!!!