more thumps and bumps

and more than a few FRNs back into circulation BUT

I have an anvil and am now the proud owner of a Oxy/acetylene torch set. Investing in my future and more shit to haul around but damned useful tools. Next up is a portable forge or furnace. If I make the forge, it will be made from scrap. If I make the furnace, I will have to purchase refractory materials for the walls. I haven't quite made up my mind which yet but I have decided on portable (well, as portable as a few hundred pounds is. * cough* Lathe/mill *cough*. Starting to think I need a BIG enclosed trailer. (and that means bigger truck, dangit)

Update on the stirling engine: back to square one. I have the crankshaft made and am happy with the way that turned out but the block design left lots to be desired. Luckily, it remelt for the next round of trial and error I will attempt.

Here is the finished anvil. I will admit that the front half is rough but I really don't mind; the thing is meant to be beat with hammers. It can look like an ugly step sister for all I care.
This is one step I took to ease my gas usage for the final cuts. The top of the beak was cut out using a 12" gas powered chop saw. I attempted to cut part of the throat out the same way but ended up chewing up too much blade in the process. (hence my decision to get a torch)
And here is my personal boost to the economy today. $575 out the door including filled tanks and I OWN it, tanks included. I can take them anywhere in the country for refills, haven't a monthly bill to deal with, and, It has potential for far more uses than just cutting apart a piece of rail.
Back to work tomorrow and I have an outline for a post all in my head and jotted down in notes. Waiting for another shoe to fall before I post though.

Talk to ya all tomorrow.

Stirling engine project update.

Was running the foundry tonight to cast the block for my engine project.

Ran into a little snag.

The bottom fell out of my crucible during the melt. NO INJURIES!!!! Just loss of about 3lbs of fine aluminum straight to the bottom of the furnace.

Wrapped everything up, brought the flask back to the shop after shutting down Ol' Lucifer (the pit furnace) and had a smoke and a beer.

Just ordered another crucible, and some other supplies that I am running low on.(to the tune of $180) Thinking that when my bonus check comes in; I should order a couple or three more for later. Like everything else in this economy, they are going up in price and they aren't cheap to begin with.

The last crucible was actually a 1Qt cast iron dutch oven. I am happy that I managed to get as many melts out of it as I did. While not optimal for casting, it worked and in a pinch works just fine.

Funny, I am a frugal being to begin with, but this economy is making frugality just a tad painful to boot. I would hate to be someone that has to have the latest and greatest with no mind to cost. They are going to be going hungry real soon.