Bare-bones tools necessities for "home" shop????

[crazyal]

I would also suggest a 4lb hammer. I often use mine to shape things or as an anvil while shaping things. A cheap HF one works fine. Well at least my 20 year old one did until the hickory handle finally broke and now I need a new one.

 

[Big Wave D]

Do many of you building projects use an anvil/hammer and "blacksmithing" skills much or do you just cut and weld things together to meet your desired design needs?

What makes a good home made anvil?

Where do you buy a more conventionally designed one from these days?

I've really enjoyed all of the comments posted here. It's really helping me flush out what my "iron" shop will contain for needed tools.

Thanks to all

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Harbor Freight used to sell cast steel anvils from Russia...I bought one, and you should have seen the damage it did the the bushhog when it got hit in the weeds. Made a good size mark on the anvil itself, but still in one piece. Its received decent reviews from blacksmith associations for intermediate use...Because any thing like it is into the thousands and this one was just over 100.00 bucks. Its 110 pounder.

But I think they have a cast steel one now that is only 55 lbs for a little over 50.00. I think its chinese and probably isn't the grade the Russian ones were. But you might find some for sale around under other names that are russian.

Don't waste your time on a cast iron anvil unless you need a boat anchor.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

What makes a good home made anvil?

My old farrier used to use a piece of railroad track. He did everything he needed to with it. It has round surfaces, flat surfaces, and concave surfaces.

 

[dex3361]

Timber,



By the way, what do you guys like for metal Reciprocal saw blades? Does a brand name last longer, or do you just buy the cheapest and go for quantity? Just burn it up and swap to a new one. I know what I like for wood, but I haven't really used my Reciprocating saw for metal work.

Lenox recip saw blades are the best I have ever used and their hack saw blades are the best as well. LENOX BLADES

 

[dex3361]

I have an abrasive chop saw that I used to use a lot but I bought a hand held cold saw that is hands down the best metal cutting tool that I own for clean quick cuts here is a thread that I started on the saw. HF COLD SAW

 

[SPYDERLK]

They are two totally different things. A twin carbon arc torch is not used for cutting at all. It is used to heat metal for bending, or brazing, and if you are really skilled it can even be used to improvise pseudo-tig weld. Plans are available to build a torch head online or used units can be purchased off ebay. Unfortunately Lincoln quite offering their torch heads a couple years ago. In essence the torch head offers the ability to strike an arc from one carbon rod to the second carbon rod and this flame is then used to do the work. The carbons are cheap and last quite a long time. I do not know how to post a link but there is a demo on Youtube.

This is a good description. In my experience a carbon torch is too intense a heat source to do good welding or brazing. The heat is not directed and relatively soft as it is with the tip of a gas torch. The intensity causes very high surface temperatures and can easily boil steel at the surface while being well below optimum temperature below the surface. This compromises penetration of the weld and leaves undue stress when cooled. Your best welds will be made with deeper more uniform heat generated by arcing to the metal like the buzz box does on stick arc. ... or like TIG. Then would be the softer directed heat of a gas torch [better for welding .. great for bending]. Carbon arc is definitely a powerful heat source, but I dont think it can substitute favorably for a gas torch.
larry

 

[Big Wave D]

Where can a guy go to get himself a chunk of railroad tie?

I see them repair and swap out rails on the train tracks around me, but I have no idea what they do with the old. I'd assume they sell it for salvage to recoup some of their money back on materials.

Certainly seems like old track would be stout enough, seeing the weight that the stuff is subjected to on a daily basis.

Is the "horn" not used very often? Seems like a critical piece would be missing off of a chunk of railroad tie.

Which handle is better, good old Mother Nature wood or today's synthetics?

I've probably got a million more questions. All the good answers cause me to think of 10 more to ask.

Thanks to all, for your replies

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

The railroad tie has to be shaped into the horn by cutting and grinding it into shape.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I have an abrasive chop saw that I used to use a lot but I bought a hand held cold saw that is hands down the best metal cutting tool that I own for clean quick cuts here is a thread that I started on the saw. HF COLD SAW

I tried searching for that cold saw on Harbor Freight Tools and I couldn't find it. Do they still sell it?