ThomasPowers Posted September 3, 2021 Share Posted September 3, 2021 I picked up swageblock near OKC back around 1982, US$1 a pound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted September 3, 2021 Share Posted September 3, 2021 I found my first swage block a month or two back for a $1.50 a pound In Woodall, but it still kills me when I ask someone and they have blacksmith stuff and they reply they hauled it off…. Grrrrrrrr, sorry for ranting its still fresh on my mind, regardless of weather or not I need something I’ll buy it anyways because someone else will need it and it keeps good tools out of the scrap yards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 3, 2021 Share Posted September 3, 2021 I got my Lancaster pattern swage block when a new heavy duty shop foreman wanted the junk cleaned out of the welding area. I got a call from one of the mechanics saying they were tossing most of it in the scrap bucket. The bucket off the large loader, when full it got loaded in a dump truck and hauled to the recycle center. Anyway, the mechanic said he thought it was some blacksmith tool and if I wanted it come get it. It took two of us to lift into the pickup. I've never weighed it but it weighs considerably more than my 200lb. Trenton. It's a rescue. The best kind of good stuff. I may not use it very often, it may take up space on the shop floor but I'm very happy to keep it safe till it's time for me to pass it along. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dax Hewitt Posted September 4, 2021 Share Posted September 4, 2021 That's similar to my swage block. One of our customers was closing a site down, a dolomite quarry and paid us to remove the compressors and overhaul them before they shipped to the new site. I found the block and a couple of tools buried in the mud whilst I was clearing a path to move the machines. This was in the 80s and the site manager said it was at least 50 years since the blacksmith on site closed down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 4, 2021 Share Posted September 4, 2021 In the early days, before Alaska statehood, the Alaska Railroad and the Road Commission were part of the same department. The railroad still maintains a pretty impressive foundry but in territorial days it was pretty much a full time production foundry and made steel castings for all the sections of the transportation department. A swage block was the jouneyman test for foundry men and every road maintenance shop has or used to have a Lancaster pattern swage block just like mine. I'm betting from the same pattern. There used to be mandrel cones with the tong groove in every shop too but they've been long gone, I've only seen one and I had a job that took me to almost every road maintenance shop in the state. I've heard rumors the 250 lb. Fisher anvils still in road maintenance shops may not have been genuine. They do however sound just like a Fisher but in it's hayday the railroad has as good a foundry as anybody. Cast and machine transmissions, gears, casings, drive trains, etc. good. Sorry for the wander down memory lane. Back to your regular reading. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazer Posted September 5, 2021 Share Posted September 5, 2021 A coworker dropped off a vise and workbench today. I'll be getting a steel plate for the top of it so I can use it as a layout table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 Sweet score Frazer! What inch jaws does it have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazer Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 4.5" jaws, 4" throat. So it's not particularly large, but it'll do just fine. It's the only swivel bench vise I have which I think will come in handy. Once I have the new top for the bench I'll probably swap this one with the 4" fixed vise at my cutting/grinding/filing station. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 Ive got two Columbians both have fixed bases, one is a 4” and one is a 5” they seem to be pretty stout tools, yours looks like it’s in excellent shape! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 Ran over to my steel supplier during my lunch break to pick up 1” square tube for my biggest commission yet. Also grabbed ten pounds of drops, which was less than I'd wanted. The price on drops has gone through the roof! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazer Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 So has sq. tubing and sheet metal for that matter. Drops are up to $1/lb at my place IIRC. I haven't been there in a couple weeks though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 There was a sign on the drop bin saying "Because of extreme volatility in steel prices, all drops are $1.50 per pound." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazer Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 yeesh.. I have to stop there tomorrow, looks like I'll have to break open my piggy bank before I go! What do you have planned with the 1"tube? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted September 9, 2021 Share Posted September 9, 2021 The other night while dumpster diving I visited the Fastenal dumpster. I painstakingly dug out a 80-100# roll of 1 1/4" x about 1/6" strapping (average size spray paint can for reference) and a lot of stainless and other bolts. The ones in the bucket are different sizes and types but layered. This was not in a metal hopper but in their regular garbage hopper/dumpster. Debating on saving the strapping for pattern welding or scrapping it for cash. Being a nice neat roll to store, it's a tough decision. Either way, their dumpster will be a regular stop from now on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted September 9, 2021 Share Posted September 9, 2021 I'd hang onto it and look for the tools to go with it, The coil is close to $200 new. I have some strapping tools here in the smaller sizes, and they come in handy at times, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted September 9, 2021 Share Posted September 9, 2021 Nice score, Das! I foresee a lot of smiths dumpster-diving at their local Fastenals in the very near future! On 9/7/2021 at 1:57 PM, Frazer said: What do you have planned with the 1"tube? A friend has commissioned an ornamental arch (7' tall x 7' wide x 8" deep) that will hold floral decorations for her son's wedding and then will move to a permanent location in their garden. The 1" tube is for the frame, and there will be scrollwork (in 1/4" x 1/2" flat bar) connecting the front and back frames. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted September 9, 2021 Author Share Posted September 9, 2021 Das, hang on to that strapping as it can be used as cross bracing on some projects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted September 9, 2021 Share Posted September 9, 2021 BigGun, I'm convinced. I'll hang onto it for now. If I had the tool it would be a nobrainer. Never know, the tool might end up in there next I look. I've been told they throw away thousands. My friend had given me hundreds of pounds in bolts from his scavenging there and said it was a regular thing. He was right. Just think, those bolts would at least be $1. Or a half each to buy them. John, thanks, and it is deffinately worth checking out. I've found out all places are different. Depends on how management acts. Some places pitch stuff while some recycle. Best of luck with your project. Sounds like a big build but you can do it. That is a good "other use" for the strapping Glenn. For the amount there and fact it is neatly coiled to tuck away, it is deffinately a keeper for project material. Free with a little labor getting it at that. If BigGun is right, which I wouldn't doubt, that is a free $200. in material. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad J. Posted September 10, 2021 Share Posted September 10, 2021 Got a call at work today asking if I was interested in a double burner forge and an ASO that was left behind at a local machine shop. The price of free couldn't be beat. I need to reduce the volume on the forge to get better heat and then use it for longer projects. The aso is really loud and I've set it off to the side for now. I'll figure it out later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted September 10, 2021 Share Posted September 10, 2021 If it rings, it’s probably not an ASO, but an improvised anvil. Some magnets and chain should reduce the noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad J. Posted September 10, 2021 Share Posted September 10, 2021 (edited) It is an improvised anvil, my mistake on the wording. Either way the steel they used to make it is soft enough that I can tell they used hammers that weren't dressed to work their steel, and they weren't very accurate... Edited September 10, 2021 by Chad J. Fat fingers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 10, 2021 Share Posted September 10, 2021 Yup many people start out with bad equipment and then give up because they are not getting good results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted September 10, 2021 Share Posted September 10, 2021 As long as the steel is harder than the hot metal, that shouldn't be a problem. Also, are those horizontal pieces C-channel or flat bar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 10, 2021 Share Posted September 10, 2021 I was referring to hammers that were not dressed correctly: "they used hammers that weren't dressed to work their steel" . Using such tools tend to leave nasty dings that most new smiths can't remove from their work save for excessive filing/grinding that leaves the item too thin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted September 10, 2021 Share Posted September 10, 2021 Sorry, Thomas; I was addressing Chad J.'s comment, not yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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