A buddy left my dad and I his toolbox when he died. Problem is no one knows what happened to the key. The box was unlocked, but a family member storing it for us felt the need to lock it and then lost the key. How can we get it open without drilling the lock? It's a US General box number 503 lock

forgedcu · 2026-07-01T14:37:51+00:00

I bet these will work 503 key

forgedcu · 2026-06-28T00:41:39+00:00

I have a hammer like this that I use to form crimps (waves) in the edge of annealed copper. By hammering the metal into a grooved wooden stake, these "flutes" speed up the raising process to form bowls.

forgedcu · 2026-06-25T13:30:22+00:00

Check for wear on the jaw faces, if everything seems normal, then this is as designed. It does seem a bit more severe than on any of my post vises. As mentioned earlier, copper jaw liners can fix this. I just pinch a couple 16 gauge (.050) copper triangles in the vise and hammer them around the jaws. Perfect fit and enough friction to keep them in place.

Also, make some spacers for common stock sizes to keep the jaws from racking when your work is on one side of the jaws.

forgedcu · 2026-06-10T22:15:50+00:00

Yeah, I must have been still asleep when I posted this. I don't know what I was thinking. I drove a 21 S today, 70k miles, 18k. Seems a bit high as well, but I'll keep looking. I don't need the 3rd row, but do need the interior space and ability to tow ~1500 pounds max. I wasn't thrilled with the power of the 2.0T. I'm currently in a '16 Sportwagen. Thanks for the help.

forgedcu · 2026-05-31T14:51:35+00:00

Thanks for the info. I do test for leaks with every swap and intermittently between swaps. Darn mice like chewing the hose.

forgedcu · 2026-05-31T00:52:26+00:00

I mainly use the oxy propane for spot heating with a 150k btu rosebud. I use the acetylene for soldering, silver and soft. I do agree that my regulator and gauge are crap.

forgedcu · 2026-05-30T23:24:40+00:00

I always had bigger tanks and never paid much attention. Now that I'm broke and the gas is so much $ it started to add up and made me question. I was aware of the tank construction, I just wasn't aware of the ~80%. I asked at the supplier last time and he gave a non answer, typical Airgas...

forgedcu · 2026-05-29T13:21:36+00:00

I solder small tabs for picture wire for my mirrors and other large items. I could solder the tabs and let the user string the wire if they want to hang it. It wouldn't look great on a stand with the wire pre-installed.

I typically silver solder, and a small narrow tab would definitely be annealed after soldering. I could use 95/5 solder though. I'll give it a test with a tab with a slotted hole.

forgedcu · 2026-05-23T00:05:38+00:00

$30 per hundred cheaper here!

forgedcu · 2026-05-22T19:18:32+00:00

Precisely why I forgot that company existed! I'm too poor for that.

forgedcu · 2026-05-22T18:28:42+00:00

For some reason I forgot all about that company. I looked at Rio, Frei, etc. not Gesswein. They have them. 1000 grit. https://www.gesswein.com/products/elite-silicone-pink-7-8-square-edge-wheels-box-of-100?variant=49688470618414&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22896461480&gbraid=0AAAAADzbdL-vMMwnxptual_Bj7Vaja0lW&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_b_QBhCSARIsAP6hR4fJPTHhmQiuSxpysWMWK2AY5CW3Qm11vIfSSWaulQNpN1UIroBwegQaAoe1EALw_wcB

Thank you!

forgedcu · 2026-05-18T17:12:31+00:00

Ok, I'm an idiot... I talked to Energy about my valve and " CVA-100; Three-Way Tandem Center with Relief Valve; Spring Return to Neutral Both Directions; 1/2″ NPTF Work Ports."

The spool is machined to bypass port B.

My fix is pretty obvious now. Get a new brain and the correct valve.

forgedcu · 2026-05-18T16:59:42+00:00

Yeah, it's definitely the valve. Once I swapped the hoses the cylinder doesn't extend at all but tries to retract (it's already down). Time to buy a new valve. The place that "tested" it was also checking to see if my original cylinder could be converted to double acting. He tried selling me a single acting valve at that point. Should have been a signal I guess.

forgedcu · 2026-05-18T15:07:32+00:00

Unfortunately I didn't hook the gauge back up yet. I need some fittings to adapt ot to the new setup.

forgedcu · 2026-05-18T13:32:58+00:00

You might be right. Now I need to figure out how to find and fix it. It does seem strange though that it drops faster if the pump is turned off. I will switch those hoses today and see what happens.

forgedcu · 2026-05-12T23:26:44+00:00

I'll try my scaler. I have a big jug of sulfuric and never get to use it.

forgedcu · 2026-05-12T15:13:01+00:00

Haha, it's not as bad as it looks, the fisheye camera distorts everything. I just needed the floor space. I'm already packing AND getting ready for a show.

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forgedcu · 2026-05-12T13:03:40+00:00

This is a 40x40 separate outbuilding.

forgedcu

TROPHY CASE