Glenn

This is the finished product needed. What are different ways to get this accomplished. How would YOU go about making a dozen of the items?

RFD TV

Buddy is ok. house got some damage to it and shop did to. but they are ok. Source a friend of Buddys over in Louisiana, by Garey Ford.

BP0119 Rose Hair Stick From the illistrations this is already all one piece of matal. You could heat the base of the rose a bit and depress the stem into the flower if you wanted. You could even work the rose to be a little more realistic by using the Russian rose pattern as Josh mentioned. Josh just handed us the cat, the rest is up to the individual smith to get it skinned - his way. How would you improve on the design? If you have a different design for a hairstick, let me know and we can make it into a blueprint and start a series on hairsticks. Don't laugh, they sell. Give a lady with long hair one 3-4 choices of different designs for hairsticks, and she will most likely buy one just to get the hair off the back of her neck during the hot weather.

Here are a few pics we took while delivering in New Orleans to the Army. Mike and Genia Edit: photos moved to a photo page

Newlad, when suggesting links, please use IForgeIron.com as that is the primary site and covers all the information related to blacksmithing. The blacksmithforum.com is but a part of IForgeIron.com Thank you for thinking of IForgeIron.com and suggesting it as a link for information on blacksmithing.

Strine, tools like this are always the result of problem solving. While solving the main problem, discoveries or connections are made that can be used in other areas. Many times the comments after a blueprint presentation refer not to the subject at hand but to a tool or object in the background of a photo. The answers given here is problem solving in progress. Please keep challanging us, as turning our imaginations loose and letting them run unteathered is great exercise. :!:

Ok, close enough The item depicted is a "Chain Grip". It's a Surveying relic from the days before the modern electronic/laser gismos. Sadly, days which I remember but remember fondly. Surely the tool could not hold/grip a chain you ask."Chain" refers to an even earlier measuring device called a Chain or Gunters Chain (See attached) made up of 100 links ( 1 link = 7.92 inches). They were generally 1 chain, or 22 yards, or 8 furlongs etc long. The more modern "Chain" was actually a steel band about 3/16 x 1/16 and sometimes 300m long. The name was retained, possibly colloquially, as a link to the past. Being high tensile steel it was hard to hold once the required tension was applied. It would cut into the back of your little finger. You couldn't bend it around your hand either as it would kink and stuff up the accuracy of the thing. The little tool just slipped over the chain (steel band) and made life so much easier. So did the electronic/laser gismos I often come across antique tool shows and the like and always test the stall holders knowledge with the chain grip. (It lives with my car keys). No one has ever got it right with out a lot of coaxing and I thought it would give fellows a run for their money even though I already know what it is. Cheers Strine from Oz

Well those workshops in Maine (on the calendar section) are too far then try: Tannehill State Park is located approximately 25 southwest of Birmingham, Alabama. They are going to try to have a conference in Dec last I heard. Alabama Forge Council MISSISSIPPI FORGE COUNCIL will normally meet on the second Saturday of each month at 9:00am at the Agricultural Museum, on Lakeland Drive, in Jackson, Miss. This may be canceled due to the hurricane.

$0.20 per pound is what the steel yard charges for drops in the dumpster (new material). Scrap yard is $100.00 per ton for processed steel (4 foot lengths or less) or $0.05 per pound, rust included. That price changes each week depending on how the market fluxuates. Just a few weeks ago it was as low as $60.00 per ton. One scrap yard uses a short ton and the other scrap yard in the area uses a long ton. That is some 200 pounds difference. You need to ask which ton is being measured.

Jeanette is doing fine removed spleen today,,was larger than a football.. should be about 3 to 4 inches in size platlets over 95,000 tonight great news thanks for the prayers. JWolfe

Two french fries and a pickle short of a happy meal. Photographic menory but no film.

Rich, how far are you willing to travel to a show one way?

Can you explain that ? I don't follow as to how, but it has been a long day and I may not be hitting on all cylinders at the moment.

Buck, as long as your honest with your customer is the main concern. If you are not sure of traditional methods of joinery that can or should be used, show us drawings of the project or ask questions in the forum. There will be folks that offer their advice and opinions of how to solve the problem. The rest of us can learn by following the conversation. Take good notes and photos of the construction and turn it into a blueprint when you finish. :wink:

IForgeIron is concerned about those blacksmiths living in the Gulf Coast of the United States that have been impacted by hurricane Katrina. We know several blacksmiths in that area, we talk to them on the internet, have met some face to face, and know them as much more than friends, we think of them as family. Joe Rolfe is a blacksmith in notheren Louisiana. His location is close to, but not in the hurricane affected area. As the banks in the hurricane affected area may or may not even exist, and the mail service may not get through for many days or weeks, I ask if he would assist in helping these folks. He said that he would be glad to help. Joe Rolfe will act as a gathering point and will start receiving donations in the form of money orders and cashiers checks that are made out to him, that way he has no porblems with cashing checks, or waiting on money to be released by the bank. Once the money is received, he will distribute the money to Garey Ford, Buddy Leonard, Tom Walker (Lurch), Jack Frost, Cap (Rob Whitehurst), and Charv (Curt Harville), all blacksmiths, all names we know, and all affected by the hurricane. They, Garey Ford, Buddy Leonard, Tom Walker (Lurch), Jack Frost, Cap (Rob Whitehurst), and Charv (Curt Harville), may then use the money as they see fit. Many folks do not contribute to fund raisers, or telethons, or national charities, as the bureacracy eats a portion (sometimes a small portion, and sometimes a larger portion) of the money collected. Your donation in this case goes straight to Joe Rolfe, a blacksmith we know, who will distributed the funds to other blacksmiths that we know. Joe wants no money for his assistance in this project. IForgeIron is NOT asking for donations, and will not accept any donations for this project. We are just presenting a way to get your donation directly to a blacksmith you know and talk to on the internet, who will distribute that donation to blacksmiths you know and talk to on the internet, that have been affected by this hurricane. Donations will be collected between now and October 31, 2005. Send money orders or cashiers checks to Joe Rolfe PO Box 146 Oak Ridge, Louisiana 71264 Donations web page

Talked to Tom Walker this evening. Things are going OK, but they are uncertain about the future. They are hearing rumors of serious health problems - including quarrantines. I hope it is just a rumor. I have been looking for information - but have not found anything. If any of you learn anything about this - I could use somthing authoritative to report to Tom. by Joe-Rolfe

All folks listed are now located, checked in, and OK. We have all seen the same news photos too many times. So the rest of us can try to get some idea of the magnitude of the situation, post personal photos or links to photos not on the news. SCA Gulf Wars battle field http://www.townleytextiles.com/greendragon.html

Find the photos or take new ones. It gives the rest of us get ideas, and challanges us to keep looking in odd places for usable items.

I heard from Travis Parker - Cyralynx21 - in Baton Rouge - he is fine. by Joe-Rolfe

From the email Mick Connor from UK Just to let you know Susanne gave birth to a handsome boy of 8lbs 6oz at 4.30 am sunday 4th Sept. Mum and baby are both doing fine. Mick Sometimes we also need to give thanks. :!:

I have been a little slow in getting legs under that acorn. I am considering my options (procrastinating) as to round, square, or angle iron being the best choice for the legs. That all changed today as the wife suggested that the little square holes could be packed with planting soil and seeds and plants started in each of the square holes. Lots of drainage, and a large size area to extablish a good root system. But it is too low just resting on the pallet. Could I raise it a bit, oh say about the height of the kitchen counter top, so she could work on it? I guess a shared Acorn is better than no Acorn at all.

J Wolfe has been in the hospital 8 times sence March 28, 2005 Jeanette she has been in the hospital 4 times. She got out of the hospital yesterday, but has to go back in Wednesday to have spleen removed. Then when that is well, she goes back in to replace the aortic valve in her heart. It has been a ruff year. Prayers for J Wolfe and Jeanette would be appreciated.

This was sent in for identification. Any ideas?

YOU GOT IT !! We threw this up as a question during the Blueprint reading and (I am sorry I forgot the name) recognized it as a tool to install ear tags on cows. Thanks for having at go at identifing the tool. Any more out there that need identified ? Post them.