Little project

[john k]

I just finished a 3 day weekend of blacksmithing, had a good time but nothing happened like this project last year.   Fellow brought in an abused wrench, wanted it straight to hang up on the wall, was bent in 2 axis, took 3 of us but got it straight.

[Papaw]

Hot!
Need more pictures of the process!

[john k]

What we neglected to do was snap a pic of it before.  The wrench was buried in a tree stump, and the stump grinder *found* it.   Was corkscrewed near half a turn, and the handle curled up a good 3 inches.   That's me on the left,   the other smith with the sledge, wrenches owner is wearing shorts, yeah I know, hot sparks, heat, but it was so long it took two of us to steady it on the anvil.   That anvil is a 140lb. Hay Budden, just that the wrench was huge. 

[rusty]

The first picture just makes the forge look like it's about 14 inches wide lol

Need the second to put it into perspective, big hefty wrench.


How a giant wrench got itself stuck in a tree should give the fellow something to ponder for a few decades or so.....

[oldtools]

""The wrench was buried in a tree stump, and the stump grinder *found* it.   Was corkscrewed near half a turn, and the handle curled up a good 3 inches. ""

What happend to the Stump Grinder?
did the grinder cause the corkscrewed handle?
Must have been there a very long time for the tree to grow around the wrench...

[john k]

When the grinder found it, seems that a bunch of those hardened teeth broke off.   About 60 of them.  Which had to be bought out of pocket as the chipper was being used off the job for a friend.  I imagine that made it memorable.  I am guessing that the wrench was fine until it was dug out.    They couldn't tell if it was actually in the tree, or buried in the ground at the base.   A block away used to be a rail line, and the wrenches size and shape rather shouts out Railroad.   No names on it.     I imagine there was some loud noise and sparks associated with this also.     

[oldtools]

YOU THINK?!! 
Lighting & Thunder! maybe some spotting also.

[rusty]

heh

DHWIUG!!!&(*#!%^(*&----ZING!

Oh.....*that* didn't sound good......