Tim McCoy

Find a partner who will help cut and haul for all but a 4x4' piece :P

Prayers up from Vegas Tim M

No explanation needed - I hope that grin didn't hurt your face!

Another wonderful experience for us to share with you. Your skill progression is so very impressive - can't wait for the BP. Tim

Thank you, to those that have patiently answered the questions I have sent out. Thanks for the responses in the Prayer threads. Thanks for not pointing out too harshly when I offer an opinion without having very many creds to back up what I say. Thanks to those of you who try your darndest to mentor the overly eager newbies. In the couple years I have been part of IFI I have witnessed men and women work through personal challenges, diminishing metal work, and a world that is changing even as we visit here. I have never been made to feel less than important and have developed some online friends. I remember the overwhelming amazement once I found IFI. Like a blind dog in a meat house, I did not understand which way to look or what to ask for. Seems that some of us learn how to fit in and how to ask and how to respond by trial and error - those are the people that stay here to accept what is offered and to maybe provide a little encouragement to the latest batch of newbies. I will, hopefully, spend the rest of my life working at developing the skills that I have seen exhibited here. I happily stand on your shoulders - thanks for allowing me to be present in your virtual smithy.

Wonderful !!

As I have learned more and begun to spend more of my time at the forge I noticed that I have begun to develop a ritual. First I gather my kindling and some small wood blocks to start my fire. Lighting the kindling is done with an old BIC lighter. I sweep the rough floor of my little smithy and then gather the metal for the project I will tackle. I put on my apron and consider the moves I will probably make during the forging process and try to make sure my space is "large" enough to work in . . . nothing that is not needed can be in the way. Choose the hammer(s) and other tools that I will need and set them close by. I work without a vent/smoke stack (it'll be there one day) so I watch that the fire grows slowly and is not throwing too much smoke before it gets the charcoal going. Slack tubs uncovered, extra fuel is nearby, ready, set, go . . . I wonder, do some of you have ritual that you have developed or gown into and how much has it changed as your knowledge has grown?

Your work, like the background music in your video, is lyrical. When seen at an unhurried pace a craftsmans skill has a certain music to it ... timeless and mystical it touches us all deeply. Thanks for sharing Tim

What Glenn Says . . .

You look up while shaving and see your old man standing there looking back <_<

Anything by Queen . . .

Prayers up from Vegas. Tim

Very well done - like the size.

Slick as a whistle -

Murat & Eylem - thank you for the input and welcome to IFI !!

So, I'll turn the shoe over ... but NO to the My Little Pony Doll, perhaps a GI Joe Doll with a leather apron :lol:

For a personal shop I would have a space about 20 x 20' with a single door on one side and a 10' roll up door on the opposing side. Windows round about with external shade and overhead light for the night time. In one corner would be a couple stools and a fridge filled with potables for friends who may stop by. A brick forge, a gas forge and a 12' work bench holding both a post vise and a machinists vise. My old stick welder somewhere close to the acorn table(just a small one, maybe 4 x 4') , two london pattern anvils (125#, 250#) and several smaller anvils for little work. Storage for short metal and short pipe. Tool racks and two slack tubs, a 5 gallon metal one and a 25 gallon tank for big stuff. Wooden block floor in the area surrounding the forge and anvils - poured concrete for at least half of the space for mounting a Sarver style hammer and grinding station. Poured drive leading to the roll up door and a side walk leading away from the single door with a gravel bed surrounding the rest of the building - just cause. Mine would be shop for work that most would consider "hobby" or "art" work. No intention of building anything for others professionally. Too late and too much insurance needed and the money is too small - who said it? Wanna make a million with a blacksmith shop - start with a million. :P Tim

I do stained glass, but nothing involving melted/slumped glass on the scale you want. Find a nearby art glass studio and/or group and meet with'em and you'll find all the help you need!

Nicely done Big Red

Quick60 - Yep Mama likes it cause it's close enough to see but far enough away to not be a bother and she thinks it's "cute" :P

Just a thought and please don't think of me as being sacriligious for this, but could you cut off the head of the screw and weld it on the other end thereby taking advantage of what was the trailing edge of the thread ???

You will find it very helpful to find a nearby smith that will let you visit their operation and talk with them about what they have and why. Most of what you "need" can be put into a 5 gallon bucket, including a 20# block of steel - depending on what she decides to "do" with metal will help narrow the basic tool list. Most of the possibles have been listed above, but most important I believe is the where-with-all to see in her mind how she wants a piece of metal to look when she is finished. Someone else can show us how to write our name, but until we get that image set in our mind it is just some lines. Practice after being taught makes us get better and perfect practice makes our results more perfect. I envy you in your new adventure with your child. :D Tim

Spent about 2 hours last night in my little smithy using Kingsford - yep, you gotta watch out for the little "fireflys" when inside. I agree with those that start letting the size of the fire get smaller as you near the end of your work. Once I was done I spread out the remaining fire/coals and covered it with a 1' square piece of scrap ... most of what was left was 1" or less in size. Next time I forge I will dump the down tube/ash dump ... I use pressed briquets but prefer lump charcoal (after coke and coal) as it seems to produce much less flying ash and residue around the forge. Any fire requires attention at the end especially if you don't have a set up that will allow the fire to be unattended. There is seldom much smoke at the beginning of my charcoal fires, I start with kindling made from construction site cutoffs and some small card board and crank enough to keep a steady flame until I get that stuff glowing ... then it is on it's own. During forging I get little or no smoke, but can generate some hefty flames ... deeper fires work really well with charcoal for generating enough heat to do almost anything. Tim

Let's see, she knows how to handle intricate metal work, owns an anvil and other cool tools and has a rifle - I say invite her to your next get together and hand her a beer! Great stuff :D

Good start - keep us posted.