Bryce Masuk

Legally in my neighbour hood 55DB is the maximum allowed noise level.
I am pretty sure my hammer was triple that hahahaha
I was forging 1 1/2 square on it and then they came and busted me.

I am pretty sure my truck is louder than 55 at idle but i better not say that too loud

The same thing happened to me recently I moved my shop twice the first time people didnt care but when I left for my adventure I think new neighbours moved in or something and pushed me out.

I am settled in and have about 1000 sq ft shop and I wired it all up properly.
before I used an extension cord in the dryer plug to run my power hammer and welder.

It really took alot of effort to work in that little place with 4 110 outlets and 2 tiny little lights and the 220 extension cord I was always afraid the rain was going to roast me or my equipment.

I can finally use all my equipment without an hour of moving stuff.

I put in about 40 110 outlets

and all the 220 volt i can use on 100 amp breaker (still not enough)

had to build a lift for the hammer dropped it on pipes and rolled it place

it took a week to get everything in and setup right.

Building some big doors right now 12'x6' four of them
made 7 windows and I am about to start on a weather vane and some brackets and caps for some cedar beams.

most of it is fabricated but some of the details (rivets handles ect) will be forged

I also have 2 houses I am doing modern stairways for with glass.

been working 12-14 hours a day for almost 2 months.

Gotta head to the shop right now though cant afford more than one day off this week

Thanks to all, hopefully I will get to come work with you one day mr Dillion and old rusty too if you don't have anything for me to do now maybe one day... I have plans to learn from as many people as I can and don't really look at this as a one time deal but something to do though out my life to learn.
I have found somebody to head to and Oakland is where I am headed with the abundance of smiths in that area I have a good base to work from and will likely learn many things
From many people, I may. Work my way up the coast until I end up home or head to Europe afterwards I really don't know
Brian has really helped me and I have learned alot of things that I will work with though out my life and be able to approach forging with a much greater understanding from now on, it's up to me to continue and find new things to learn and experiment with, working with other people will test. My limits of knowledge, this is really the best way to learn.

I practiced on my own enough to realize I was doing a lot of things wrong but I didn't know how to fix it


So far every part of the experience I would not change, I am just going forward and I have no problem with failing and I really don't want to stop doing this.

Eventually I will have most of the pieces, but you can never have them all

I have a belt on mine and next time I wouldnt use one again

the bader grinders are direct drive this is much better
the belt will always slip some when you really lean into it

I would use one of those rubber and metal drive with the rubber star in them a vibration reducer and it blows out the star if its overloaded

with a 4 inch drive wheel with 1725 rpm motor

most people have belt grinders running too slow I followed the directions people had told me and it wasnt fast enough.

the only reason to have the grinder run slower is for belts above 22o grit

everything else will work better and last longer running as fast as possible especially the lower grit belts

you could easily setup a slow grinder beside that one with a gear reduction drive so it only goes a few hundred rpm for your high grit stuff
you dont even need a wheel for the front you use a wood triangle with a notch for the belt tracking and 2 wheels one for drive and the other for tracking/tension

the belt doesnt need to be very tight with this type of grinder you can take the belt along the blade really easily and because it has the sharpish corner of the wood you can easily radius the riccasso transition on a blade where you would normally have to take a file.

someone showed me this type of grinder years ago I thought it was pretty neat

Truth is most people dont listen, or take it seriously enough to get into a position to really take it far like the teacher

if your going to be a blacksmith your probley going to face alot harder times than most, if you cant endure it and keep going eventually your going to stop.


blacksmiths share secrets because they love the craft, fabricators dont really do the same they might but its more of a job than blacksmithing.

if the teacher is afraid that you might out do them, find a better teacher

hand forging is like embroidery by hand the most skilled people in the world have a tough time making money in our society and everyone else is wanting to learn