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  1. #1
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    Default Portable smithing Demo Station.

    I have been asked to demonstrate Blacksmithing at the local show.

    Now this poses a small issue. Blacksmithing by nature tends to involve large, heavy and bulky equipment designed not to move.
    For my needs, It needs to be transportable in the boot of a sedan.

    This is what I'm working with.



    It will knock down into three main parts, two wooden A frame ends and a steel centre piece.

    I have made some z shaped cross bracing that will have a saddle on the wood and pass through a hole in the steel with a nylock nut. Hopefully it will hinge for packdown and bolt in and stay put when assembled.




    There is going to be a bracket in the centre which will sleeve a removable post for the stake anvil.
    . Which needs some serious work to get back to a useable flat surface. Fingers crossed I can get that sorted before the show as the little anvil doesn't have any good square edges and has been de-horned.

    A seperate small plate with a hole will go under the foot of the leg vise. Also thinking to add a few eyes to the legs for some hold down stakes.

    Between the steel rails, I plan on adding some racks for hammers, tongs and chisels. I made a mistake here as I should have drilled hole on the inside faces of the RHS to run ladder bars between the the two. Unfortunately there is already three braces welded in under the anvil, which I welded on all four sides, preventing me from doing it now without cutting it all apart again damn hindsight and after thoughts.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  2. #2
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    Murray Bridge S Aust.
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    Default

    Hi Dale, I'd also look at placing some timber screwed under the legs, a couple of holes through this will allow for a couple of pins to hold them in place and prevent it from sinking in the ground when hammering on it. An easy solution to 2 problems, if the legs are splayed back and front, it shouldn't require cross bracing.
    Could you weld a piece of RHS on the inside, spaced far enough for your tool handles to drop through?
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  3. #3
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    Kryn, Not a bad suggestion mate, thanks.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  4. #4
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    Dale, I took some 'reference' pics for you over the weekend;
    WP_20160918_008.jpg

    WP_20160918_010.jpg

    Both have been in use a few years now.
    regs,
    Andrew.
    'Waratah' spring hammer by Hands & Scott c.1911- 20, 'Duffy, Todd & Williams' spring hammer c.1920, Premo lathe- 1953, Premo filing machine.

  5. #5
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    Thanks Andrew. Interesting the use of the small clamp on bench vices.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  6. #6
    Ueee's Avatar
    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
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    You dont have a picture of Wayne Saunders/Ironlord forge mobile setup do you Andrew?
    He has a carved wood stand with multi position post vice on the heel end. he can have it to hold work on the anvil or at 90 deg or remove it entirely. Very compact but looks like it works well.
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  7. #7
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    Default

    saw this portable set up at a show a few months back. The post for the post vice detaches.

    IMG_0343.jpg

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ueee View Post
    You dont have a picture of Wayne Saunders/Ironlord forge mobile setup do you Andrew?
    No, haven't. Wayne is a clever lad.
    A.
    'Waratah' spring hammer by Hands & Scott c.1911- 20, 'Duffy, Todd & Williams' spring hammer c.1920, Premo lathe- 1953, Premo filing machine.

  9. #9
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    Feb 2013
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    Setup looks good dale!
    My claim to fame is I sold that mini vice to Wayne!

  10. #10
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    Thanks. Wayne is away at the moment but he said he'll send me some photos when he gets back.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  11. #11
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    I saw a portable set up on the weekend (no pics - sorry) but if you contacted the smith using it, he may send a photo or two. Website is Wrought iron, heritage country gates & metal art | Farmweld

    I'm not a blacksmith so may have this completely wrong, but in your picture you effectively have the anvil sitting on one end of a long table. The anvil stand I saw and the one Andrew has in post 4 both have legs directly under the anvil. I suspect that with your design you have introduced some spring on the back end of the anvil - depending on how rigid you need the anvil to be that may not matter. Steve's pic in post 7 has something similar to yours, so it can't be unworkable, but something to bear in mind perhaps.

    Michael

  12. #12
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    I'd didn't want a separate anvil and vise stand as the vise stand is never rigid enough. The anvil will sit almost on the end leg and it is only a baby so there won't be any heavy hitting on it.

    I have considered the spring and there is going to be a drop in post for the bickern this essentially will be a sing vertical leg that sit in the centre of the whole stand and should alleviate any spring in the rails when it is in place.

    I'm sure after the first use I will come up with a list of 50 things that should be done differently.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  13. #13
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    Made a bit of progress on the demo station today.

    Morticed out the post for the bickern and fitted the steel sleeve so it can't split.



    Bent up the tables rail and welded in some locating plates to the bottom and drilled the bolt holes.





    Whilst I was at it I made up a little tool caddy to hold all the punches and chisels I've been making.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  14. #14
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    Here she is ready for her main showing in a week.


    I intend to oil the wood and maybe plane some chamfers in. But I'm going to leave all that till after the show as I'm sure the experience will inspire some tweaking to the stand.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

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