New/Beginner Intro

[Tbates]

Hi all! My name is Tyler and I live in Woodland, AL. I have been a member here (albeit a VERY inactive one) since 2013 when I first discovered my great grandfather's blacksmithing equipment in our basement. 10 years later I own my own property and I am finally going to begin on my blacksmithing journey. I look forward to meeting and learning from everyone here. Included are some photos of my current equipment. The blower I bought locally. The anvil, post vise, and firebox all belonged to my great grandfather. According to my dad, he was a farrier in our little community in the early to mid 1900s, mostly shoeing mules for a nickle a head. I look forward to breathing life and purpose back into these beautiful pieces of history and maybe, in some small way, reconnecting with an ancestor. Cheers!

[TommyVee]

Very, very cool, Tyler, to be starting up your blacksmithing shop with your great grandfather's gear. 

[George N. M.]

Tyler, welcome back aboard from 7500' in SE Wyoming.  Glad to have you.

Your equipment looks fine except for thr crscked/broken anvil.  I'd treat it gently  I imagine that it will be OK for anyhting you do one handed but I'd avoid smiting it with anything needing two hands.  In case you don't know, a hand crank blower should windmill for a couple of revolutions after you release the crank handle after cranking it at a moderate speed.

I hope that you take as much joy in the craft as I have done.  I've been doing it since 1978 and it has helped me through rough times and made good times better.

"By hammer and hand all arts do stand."

[Tbates]

Thanks for the kind words fellas. I am very much looking forward to getting started.

I will definitely take it easy on the anvil. I hope to buy a replacement in the near future and keep this as a sentimental piece.

The blower does need a little grease. She turns fine and makes plenty of wind, hut she doesn't t windmill as you put it. Any recommendations on lubing the old gal up?

On a side note, I also have a post over in anvils if anyone can help ID this beauty. 

[Irondragon Forge ClayWorks]

Those Champion blowers were designed to run with oil as a lube. A lot of folks would pack them with grease and wonder why they were hard to turn. I would pull the top cover and clean it out with kerosene. Then put in just enough oil for the teeth of the bottom gear to run in. They use a splash oil system, the gear teeth will lube the rest of the gears and bearings/bushings. Too much oil will just leak out. I like chainsaw bar oil with some STP added or 80 wt gear lube. Folks in colder climates use even lighter oil like transmission fluid.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

 

[Tbates]

I tried removing the flathead screws after a penetrating oil bath but to no avail. I don't want to strip them. I may just try to add some bar oil and see how that goes.

Also, it looks like the anvil is an ARM & HAMMER serial number 25640 as best I can read it.

[Irondragon Forge ClayWorks]

Kroil or a 50/50 mix of acetone & Dexron ATF are the best penetrating oils. Either one will out perform any of the commercially available oils. Let it soak like over night and try again. Sometimes tapping the screw driver handle into the screw while twisting back & forth will break stubborn rusted screws loose.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus