Everything Else

New here, so sorry if this is the wrong section. Im in my last year in highschool, by now most know(or at least have an idea) of what they wanna do for a living, me on the other hand, not so much. Im trying to find something i'd enjoy doing, but still make enough to get by on. from what i've seen thus far, blacksmithing dosnt seem like It could make enough, but since I know so little about it, I figured i'd ask before I wrote it off my list since its something i've always been interested in.

I just read 1/8 of all exports from China are sent to Walmart.

I was wondering if anyone on the forum is going to be at the Chicamagua reenactment this weekend. Maybe we could meet up!

Well it ain't pounding steel but it'll have to do. I been working silver and copper since my back hurts so blasted bad it hurts to sneeze. Made some decent silver rings, bracelets and such. I think I need to teach myself how to set faceted stones in all of my spare time. I already set cabs OK so on to faceted stones. Silver works just the opposite of steel, work it cold, heat it to make it soft enough to work (anneal). Nice to be hammering again even if it is backwards.:D

I was sent a link today that has been a lot of fun to play with. yearbook yourself You have to have a picture of yourself looking straight ahead but in just moments you can be transported back to high school in year 1950 or year 2000 or any where in between! Here I am 25 years before I graduated figure that one out... oh and notice NO beard...

OK, I got accused of only having a beard because I blacksmith... and although this general topic has been discussed (do-all-blacksmiths-look-like-blacksmiths) I wonder how many of us do have a beard or mustache or what ever... Post a picture of yourself if you dare!!

I had a visit from an old friend of mine who wanted the name of the dog eye doctor. It appears that his shop dog had gone blind at the age of seven. I looked at the poor thing and he has cataracts that should be on seventeen year old dog. This fellow builds mostly fences and gates plus some sculpture these days. His dog is one of them faithful types that don't lay to far away from him when he works. His regular vet told him it was most likely from the arc and there wasn't anything to be done about it but he wants a second opinion. So what do you do for your dog's eye safety? His hearing safety? To keep form setting his fur on fire? I got to thinking about that after he le…

I emptied my pockets last night,... Pocket knife always since high school Foam ear plugs always short screw driver bits assortment Money clip, no change Never anything on my belt, Been wearing tool bags too long. How about you?

I am going on a mission trip to a orphanage in Jamaica next summer. My original purpose was to help with maintenance of some equipment they own. Things like a John Deere tractor and mowers and some wood working equipment that is in non operable condition. Anyways, tonight my pastor called and asked me if I might be able to teach some blacksmithing to some of the older boys from the orphanage. The orphanage is continually looking for ways to generate income and to teach the young men and women ways to support themselves upon leaving the home. In talking with pastor further, I convinced him that building a forge is not much of a problem as with a bit of imagination I hav…

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I was currious if anyone on the forum owns sailboats! I have a green v-bottom boat that I am converting to sail. My goal is to build my own wooden boat! I was also wondering if anyone has done or is doing fencing! I have always liked swords/swordplay. I currently have one fencin foil and I am ordering two eppees. I use leather or thick protective vests and paintball gunner's mask when fighting. Thoughts?

I've got 'em Any ideas on a unbashable (indestructible) box and post?

I didn't know where to put this, but I am getting to the age where I need to pick an industry to get into, and Manufacturing and Fabrication are two of many that I would like to learn more about. However, I have done many searches on google and yahoo, and I can't find out that much info. If I am not making myself clear, just say so, and I will try to make my question more defined and clear. Thanks, John

There is a chat room on my website Hanson Custom Knives - A Bravenet.com Hosted Site that all of you are welcome to use until Glenn gets the one here up and running. It's nothing fancy but it works. Woody

Work association using only blacksmithing related words, terms, tools, etc. Let's start with Blacksmith

Just wondering how many Australian members there are and where they are located.

The recent warm(actually hot)weather of mid-June has brought out all the summer critters. For me, the most noticeable of these are snakes.Here on the farm,we've seen several blacksnakes and watersnakes.Seeing them doesn't bother me so much,but their appearance serves as a remender to watch out for the poisonous snake varieties we also have; rattlesnakes and coppperheads.The rattlesnakes are actually pretty rare here,but the copperheads are quite common. One hot summer day about two years ago,I was rummaging through the scrap pile behind my shop;looking for a piece of 1 in. pipe I needed for a project.By the way,there's a lot of rusty stuff,coal,weeds, and what…

I know there are a few SCAdians out there and I wanted to let those know that are going to pennsic. I live 4 hours from site and have crash room if it is needed just send me a PM and I will give my #. I unfortunatly will not be going this year due to life issues. But if anyone wants to stop buy on the way there or on the way home my door is open and couches available. :)

I guess that there comes a time when one must take careful consideration of how things are in ones life. Health being the major one and it is not the best in the world. My spine is going and going fast. That is a major problem for a guy that like to work heavy metal. It is near impossible to do much heavy forging let alone light metal work. Walking is tough, weight is increasing becaues of the inability to walk far or lift any object weighing more then ten pounds. So I'm not able to do bronze pours, forge or weld any longer. Just what is one to do?

Tools and their REAL uses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DRILL PRESS: A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, splattering it against that freshly-stained heirloom piece you were drying. WIRE WHEEL: Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned guitar calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, "Yow !" ELECTRIC HAND DRILL: Normally used for spinning pop rivets in their holes …

By far word of mouth and chance of discussion have been my best advertisers in the past. However, I am wondering what others have been doing that adds to the best method (word of mouth and chance of discussion). As I am really trying to get back to the forge on a regular basis I am considering what steps I can do to boost paying customers since many of my former customers have found new smiths... I am not really interested in trying to regain those who are happy with who ever they are buying from now. I think it best to build a new clientele... Somehow I don't think a TV commercial and full blown newspaper and billboard advertising campaign is in the budget... nor my …

Whats the difference between a t-bone and a Porterhouse? On both there is a small piece of meat on one side of the bone and a large piece on the other. Why is the small side always more tender than the large side and why is the large side always more tender on the Porterhouse than the t-bone? If you cut the small side off and sell it by it's self what is it called? And what then happens to the large side? Is it packaged as something else? What is it called? Why does the fat on the edge on some cuts of meat turn to gristle and on others it turn soft and full of flavor? And finally - What are you putting on the grill this Friday? Happy 4th! :D

I store coal in a 55 gallon plastic drum that is covered with a plastic tarp. It would seem that I do not use coal from the storage bin fast enough, and things grow in the coal. Click here to see

...a good book concerning Russia / Poland during the Medieval (or slightly pre- / post-) period? I'm looking at re-enacting in the future, and for those of you who couldn't tell *cough* my interest lies in Russia. Unfortunately, I can seem to find any number of books on West-European countries, but as one goes east, the information seems to dry up. Now, because I'm asking, I'm sure that one of you will do a five-second search and find something, making me look like a lazy prat who won't look for himself. :mad: That's my luck, anyway. ;)

With Fathers Day coming up I thought it would be cool to hear about your father and maybe see pics of your father. My great-grandfather, grandfather and father all worked in the blacksmith shop in Mableton GA. Both of my brothers worked in the shop but it was gone before I came along. These pics are from a plaque my sister made. 1-The plaque 2-Grandfather, Father and 2 brothers 3-Grandfather 4-Father at the release party of Bealers book "The Art of Blacksmithing"