Our Sponsors and My favourite equipment.
None of what we do would be possible without great sponsors and great tools. Thank you!
Squarespace
One of our longest running sponsors is Squarespace. A website building platform to empower creatives like us to build a beautiful website to showcase our work or sell our products. Go to www.squarespace.com/forge and use code “forge” for 10% off
LMNT
LMNT is an electrolyte drink mix that keeps me hydrated in the forge and in the mountains. It is absolutely amazing. My favourite flavours are Lemonade Salt, Citrus Salt and Orange Salt. You’ve got to try it! Go to: https://drinklmnt.com/forge and use code “forge” to get a free sample pack with every purchase!
My Power Hammers and Presses
From left to right:
70 KG Stanko Power Hammer. Bullet proof machine that has been very reliable. Aquired via Facebook marketplace in 2020 upon my return to the UK.
25 Ton Norton Hydraulic Press. I first purchased this in around 2016, I used it to make the hammers and tools I used to sell. It is super quick, but doesn’t have a lot of squeeze. I sold it in 2018 when I left for the US and re-purchased it in 2022 back in the UK.
1915 2 Cwt Massey Steam Hammer. I purchased this in 2024 as a project to restore. The 17 part series was chronicled on my YouTube channel. I have converted it to run on compressed air and a 37kw 220 CFM screw compressor just barely keeps it running. It’s an air guzzler. It hits way above it’s weight. A great machine to have in the shop. However it does like to rattle itself apart.
50 Ton Hydraulic press. Aquired through Ebay - much more squeeze than my other press. I haven’t used it much at the time of writing. But machines are always fun to aquire.
Steele 140lbs Anvil
A product I created when we were operating the Alec Steele Co in Montana. I wanted to make my dream anvil. All the function I would like, with all the looks too and designed to be shipped with US ground carriers to make it as affordable as possible to get to customers in the USA. Hence 140lbs…Leaving 8lbs of packaging weight and 2lbs of just-in-case.
Unfortunately, our foundry fired us after we rejected too many anvils. These were an expensive product for our customers and we didn’t want to send anything out the door that wasn’t as close to perfect as possible. I am very proud of the team that helped bring this tool to life. I hope those that have one will enjoy them for the rest of their lives.
Plasma Table and Welders
Our Plasma Table is provided by https://xtremeplasma.com/ and has been a great addition to the workshop. They have provided me excellent customer service and helped me get up and running in no time.
It is powered by an R-Tech Welding plasma cutter 101D, R-Tech also supplies my Mig/Tig/Stick Welder - the MTS251 Multi.
Wazer Waterjet
My waterjet cutter was provided by https://wazer.com/ and has been essential for prototyping and profiling parts from an incredible variety of materials. From diffusion bonded and hardened stacks of titanium and steel, to rubber, aluminium and more. I love having it in the workshop.
Bridgeport Mill
An essential tool in my workshop. Hard to beat a bridgeport. I personally now consider it an essential requirement to have a DRO and all 3 axis equipped with power feeds. Having a powered knee is so nice. I purchased this in 2020. My third bridgeport…Not my nicest one, but perhaps my favourite.
Harrison 600 Lathe
This is a monster of a metal lathe. I have never come close to using the whole bed length, but I love the horsepower. Being able to take properly sized cuts has made the efficiency of any lathe work much better than on my previous two, much smaller lathes.
2x48 Belt Grinder by 84Engineering
Ewan at 84Engineering in Australia has created an incredible product. So much so that we proudly sold hundreds of them to customers all over the US during the life of Alec Steele Co. It is compact, powerful and very cost effective for the incredible capabilities it provides. This model has been one I have used since 2017. She is still running strong, I have had to replace 1x platten and 1x wheel in that time. I no longer sell these products, but I have a lot of respect for what Ewan and his team have built and proudly reccomend them to anyone who asks.
On the tracking arm is an amazon coolant mister. Great little product for the £30 or so it cost. I sometimes use it, I sometimes forget it is there…For working on knives it has been a game changer though. You get soaked though…yuck.