Ecart

You aare both in my prayers. A redhead? And a nurse? I'll certainly pray! All jokes aside, we will remember you.

I went to a local show as a customer for theh first time this past spring. The best things I saw was an Old Timer pocket knife that I had been looking for and an axe forged from cable. the guy wanted $600.00 for the axe and I told my wife that most likely somebody will come along and buy it. Everything else was pretty sad. I was rather disappointed and I don't plan on going back. I see much better stuff on sites like this. JPH, sorry to hear about the parting of ways. That's always a hard thing. I always look forward to seeing the work that you post.

Those are some nice lookin' tongs on that page. I'll have to make more than just the chisel tongs. Thanks for the link.

That would be simple enough to make.

I dunno. I'm still very new to this and I don't know enough about the tool to tell you.

I was searching the blueprints for a set of tongs suitable to hold axe heads. One tool I noticed that is used, and one I really need is a spring fuller. Unfortunately I did't find a blueprint for making one. Does anyone have any plans that they are willing to share? I'd love to see them. As for the axe tongs, I'll have to go back and search for them .

Worse burn so far (I'm still pretty new, so give me time ): Several months ago, I don't remember what I was making, but I cut off a piece of 1/4" round stock. The "cold" end hit the ground and without thinking about it, I reached down and picked it up. It left a leathery scar across the palm of my right hand. It was prety tender for a while, but it's gone now. While I was working at the fair last month, I grabbed a piece that the heat had transfered into and very quickly let it go. It was then that I heard a woman in the audience laugh and say, "That's how I'd look at it." I had to grin about that one.

I WISH my horn was in better shape. I have a Harbor Freight anvil-look-alike. It's all I can afford at the moment. Yesterday I took an angle grinder to one edge to round it off. Next time I am going to start shaping up the horn a bit. I found out recently how important a good horn is to the work we do in the forge. Doc, you're doing a fine job on that old anvil. Keep it up and put it to good use. Ecart

You're trying to make me jealous, aren't you!? :mad: Except for the girlfriend thing, the wife would frown on that.

HA! I think that is the same hammer that I have from Blacksmith's Depot! Mine just doesn't work as good as yours. I can't seem to get the same quality as you - yet. Hope you enjoy.

That would work.

Smokin' Anvils? How do you keep them lit? (as in like a cigarette) Anyway, I have not had this problem yet; I work too slow to heat multple pieces at this time. But when I was working the ABANA booth at the state fair, I brushed scale off of the anvil face with my bare hand and somebody in the crowd asked me, "Hey, isn't that hot?" I told him it took a while for the heat to transfer from the work to the anvil. I should have said, "Nah, not when you've been doin' it as long as I have." :rolleyes:

Okay, you lost me at hypotentoosie. I was blessed enough to find a guy who sold me the firepot and blower for $40. But I suppose that is for people who can't make it themselves. It is really good to see that there are plenty of people out there who are making their own.

Well, Pault17 and I met yesterday at the fair. I think we both had a good time. I was off to a rough start, but then again I was trying some things that I have never done. Of course they didn't turn out exactly right. By the end of the night I was working on door pulls for screen doors and leaf keychains. Don't let Paul fool you, he's better than he lets on. I'm looking forward to getting back into my own forge and putting out a few projects and taking on some more complicated things in a little time.

2@25 doesn't seem that bad. Especially considering that I would spend much more than that if I had it shipped or if I went to get it somewhere. PM me and we'll set up the swap. :D

I'll be looking forward to meeting you. Great shots there, Pault17. I'm about to head out the door, pick up some breakfast and get on down that way. See you there, hopefully.

YES!!! Bring me two bags if you can! Thanks, I appreciate that.

I'm still fairly new to blacksmithing, considering that after two or three years I am finally actually learning something, but I agree with the advice given so far. In my day job as a saw filer, I was taught that when hammering out lumps in a saw blade, as you hold the hammer, someone should have little problem pulling the hammer out of your hand. You hold it loosely. I'll have to practice Ian's technique and see how it works for me. But I'll probably do it when no one is around. Do you know just how offended people get when a cross peened hammer comes flying through the air at them? :confused: Oh, and welcome to the forum. Glad to have you.

solvarr, yep. But I've never burned coal in the new forge I finished building recently. I have to get some. I also have to wait until this burn ban is removed, I guess. Pault17, GREAT! I look forward to seeing you there.

That is one good looking hawk! I'm always amazed by your work, Robert. Once our burn ban is lifted and I get some coal, I can't wait to try my hand at my first hawk.

Nice forge ya got there, Sam. That's a good looking future tomahawk . . . I mean ball peened hammer laying with the fire pot in that second picture! My grandfather was a mechanic. He passed away in '92 just before I got out of the Army. His tool box is wasting away in the garage of my mother's house. Last year I found his ball peened hammer - in good shape- a punch, a chisel and a body hammer. I carried these in to my mother and asked her if I could have them. Her response was, "You're not going to melt them down are you?!" "NO!" Said I, "I'm going to use them! I need tools for my forge!" I like the ball peened better than my cross peened hammer. Anyway, I thought it was a good story. Now we need to see some new blades from your new forge. I'm still in enamored by that custom seax you made.

It sounds like you've met up with some of the same guys I have! Edited to add: This has been a rough year for me as I know it has for a lot of people. My stress levels were through the roof, I'm sure. But my wife commented this week that I seem to have mellowed out after getting into the forge at the fair. Anvils, hot iron and hammers are pretty good for beating out a lot of frustration.

Solvarr, This was the first of our events that I have made, but it obviously left a good impression. Up until now, I met a few grumpy guys that said they would teach me, then didn't for whatever reason. These guys at the fair really were eager to teach and to help however they could. Candid, I agree with you there. This art is fascinating to me. I enjoy having people around who will not only tell me how to do it, but show me too. Then let me mess it up a couple of times until I've got it down.

Didn't really know where to put this so if it is in the wrong place, please feel free to move it. First, I've been offline for a while since my father's death in early Sept. So, I'm glad to be back. Now, earlier this summer, I joined NC ABANA. I haven't been able for various reasons to go to any meetings since. Well, they always run the booth at the NC State Fair. I volunteered and got the chance to work there this past Saturday. It was a blast! I learned more in 12 hours in that booth than I learned in two years basically going it alone! I didn't get any pics though. But I'll be back there this Saturday and trying my hand at something new. If my wife will trust me with the camera, I'll take a few pics and see if I can learn to post them. Last Saturday I made three meat forks and a hook. I gave one of the forks away (shouldn't have done that, maybe) but I still have two. I think that this weekend I am going to work on a dragon's head finial for a fire poker. We'll see how that works out. Any local smiths going to be there? Stop by, ask for Eric and say, "Hi."

Thanks Candid, I am going to sit down very soon and write a tribute to my father. It'll be something that I can pass on to my children and they can have some recorded memories of their grandfather. Leah, I'm spending a lot of time in his shop now, because I feel close to him there. But later this week, I'll be back home and won't be able to take that time. There are many questions that I could ask him now. But he's physically not here any more. But like you, I rest assured that he is not sick any more. I told him when he died that we would be there soon enough, just wait for us a while.