Ted T

Nick, Nice visual. Thank you for the post. Even though I have seen safety glasses that had been struck by a broken piece of grinding wheel, I sometimes still think about saving time by not putting on my glasses. Because I saw what damage was done, I have so-far not yelded to temptation, and I always wear them. When people talk about safety issues, they become like a hero to me. We need to remind each other, over and over again. Most times when we get hurt, we knew better! Be safe! Ted

Glenn, How true, how true! I would like to have some of the talent and skills I have seen some lady blacksmiths exibit! I will take my hat off to lady blacksmiths anytime. Be safe! Ted

Ten Hammers and Irnsrgn, I agree, I agree, I agree, I agree with everything you have both said. There is no sense of going out to the shop to work if you do not intentionally plan on working safely. To understand and apply safety factors into the work process is what adds to the making of a skilled craftsman. My opinion is: If a person can walk out of the shop or off of the job at the end of the shift, healthy and without an injury, it is a good day at work. Everything after that is cake. That sounds like shallow thinking I know. But one slip of your attention of about what your doing, or not understanding the consciences of what your doing can be a life changing event. As a result you may be out of work for a short time or forever. Your willingness to incorporate safety into your work process may affect you and your family the rest of your life, if you live! My wish is that I had the power to boldly proclaim the safety message in some way that people would listen to men and women like Ten Hammers and Irnsrgn. There message is so important. And that is to have safety concepts incorporated and applied as a critical part of the work strategy. It seems we all need to be reminded over and over, about the safety issues that Ten Hammers and Irnsrgn have pointed out about ear and eye injuries along with knee, back and frost bite injuries, the list could go on and on. I would suggest the following: A. Think about what you are doing. B. Plan on working safely. C. If you have any questions, ask them now. D. Answer them now. E. Don’t wait until after. If you do, you or your family may be asking a whole lot of different questions to a doctor or a mortician. What I am attempting to say is real. I was an Accident Reconstructionist for my principal vocation for about 36 years. In that time, from time to time, I was also called on to be a consultant for OSHA. I have seen the after math of what bad judgment or a lack of knowledge can bring on. It is never good! As a result of my investigations, I found that most people knew how to do better than what they did to got them selves injured or killed. The short cut used (at the expense of safety), was generally to save time or additional expense. To some extent, I feel like a voice in the darkness when speaking about safety. Many people only hear “yada, yada, yada, . . . . . . .yada. . . . . .safety”. It may be that most people who have not been injured are smart, lucky, or have not been injured yet. Be safe! Ted

John, Glad to see you here. The blacksmiths found here can teach us a lot. Be safe! Ted

Larry, I also welcome you to the IFI. After reading your post, I did some homework. I found that you only live about 206 miles from me. I live in eastern Utah. At one time I belonged to a group of blacksmiths in Colorado. They are called the "Rocky Mountain Smiths”. The contact person (RMS – Editor) is Kalah May. Phone: 303-838-2619. Bailey Colorado. They are an excellent group of blacksmiths. As I remember, they held demos all around Colorado. I cannot travel much any more, so I don’t visit the demos. Be safe! Ted

Bear, I heard it through the grapevine that somewhere there is a set of instructions that said we are not supposed to lust. Oh well! I was born in 1940 also. That anvil looks much, much better than I do. Looks to me like you got your self a prize. Good for ya! Be safe. Ted

John the Blacksmith, I have read your post, and I get the impression your are most likely standing just outside of the blacksmithing starting gate, trying to see in. Note: This is just my personal opinion only! I would interpret your inquiries to be generally as follows: 1. Safety issues with blacksmithing. I would suggest that blacksmithing safety is first and foremost a wise issue to explore. Safety is an issue that surrounds every procedure in the blacksmithing process. Through out time, I have no question that when standard blacksmithing procedures (basics) were developed, they were done responsibly, which included safety aspects. If you do not understand the potential consequences of every process performed while blacksmithing, you may get yourself into trouble quickly. Injury or death may be a result. Education is the key to your safety. There is no simple answer to your safety question. But, I have a quick answer for your question. And that would be: “for you to obtain competent basic training as a blacksmith”. As a starting place, I suggest that you review the “Safety Section” as found on this forum. It should give you a direction and magnitude of the topic. “YOUR SAFETY” is something only you can own. It takes effort and time to develop safety habits simultaneously as you train. It’s all up to you. 2. You indicated you are interested in making a wide range of products. You mentioned jewelry and a large sword. That being said, then you must consider product type v. equipment and tools v. shop space (construction) v. training v. time v. effort v. financial investment. I feel any questions you have may be answered as in-depth and accurately as you are willing to pursue your study of the topic. The broad range of information found on this forum, books, videos, and hands on training should be considered as a source. Again, it all depends on you and your willingness to pay the price to learn. 3. As you develop in your blacksmith training, you will also gain the knowledge to understand the value and use of the tools you mentioned that you own. I know this is rather lengthy, but I care enough to take the time to respond in the best way I know. I have tried to reflect the attitude of the other members I found that use this site. And that is an attitude that “we care”. Good Luck, and be safe! Ted

Gaffanon, you would not have to say a whole lot more at this time to know with no doubt about it, you fit in here. The reason I include (at this time), is because I would hope you will share your opinions with the members of the forum in the future. The words knives, swords, and tools, are operative words I hear just about every time I come on line at this site. Welcome to the forum. Be safe! Ted

Jim, you have come to the right place to find support in your quest for information about fabricating knives. Welcome to the forum! From what you said, no doubt you have had some experence and have done your homework about making knives. The advantage of being active on this forum is that it allows you to get a lot of experenced opinions about what course of action you may take when you need direct advice. For starters, I suggest you visit the chat room. A lot of world class knife makers/ blacksmiths visit often. As I listen to them, you will find me taking notes. I have become more interested in making knives just from listening to them. Primtechsmith's offer for you to attend the Guild Of Virginia's demo sounds like a good move also. I hope you have fun and enjoy your adventure. Be safe! Ted

jayco, it was good to have you join us in the chat room last night. I found the blacksmiths using the chat room understand blacksmithing, and are not worried about how well someone spells or types. I am a prime example of someone who's typing has been tolerated. The longer I am associated with this site, the more I am suprised and amazed at the high level of skill and talent shown by the blacksmith/craftsman found here. What is more amazing is that they are willing to share their knowledge with each other. I would bet you have some tricks up your sleeve. I hope you would be willing to share with us. Be safe! Ted

Stretch, It was good to talk to you this evening at the chat room. You fit right in. I am interested in finding out more about the use of a flypress. We like it when craftsman like your self posts photo's. As you know, one photo = ........ ..... ....... .......words! I hope you will feel at home. Be safe! Ted

WoW, good looking knifes. Ted

Glenn, Thank you for effort to continuously promote safety in blacksmithing. I don’t have the talent to write in such a way to effectively express how important safety aspects should always be infused in the work process. I can attest that potential safety issues and safety solutions should be considered as important as the whole project. I have seen the aftermath men who were killed or crippled, which resulted in them living life as vegetables. In most cases I investigated, the person involved knew better than to do what they did. They were willing to take a chance with their own safety in order to save time or additional expense. Because they took a short cut with safety, they and their families got to experience everything that comes with being killed or injured. What scares me is that on occasion I still find my self taking short cuts at the expense of personal safety. Safety Plan (. My safety plan ( is that as soon as I realize what I am doing is unsafe, I STOP. Then, I ADJUST. I found it was more productive, less painful, and less expensive to “Stop and Adjust” than to risk who knows what? I owe it to myself, my wife, and family to be responsible for my safety! Again, Thank You! Be safe! Ted

I am always impressed with craftsman who builds their own tools and equipment. The satisfaction of using tools I fashioned multiplies the feeling of accomplishment each time I produce a product with them. My dilemma is that all I want to do is make more tools for my self. If I was to join a 12 step program, I would have to introduce myself in the following manner: “Hello”, my name is TED. “I AM A TOOL JUNKIE”, and I don’t want to stop! Ralphy thanks for sharing your photo’s with us. Proof is in the pudding. I like your towel holder. Dr. Dean, I hope you will share photos of your anvil development in progress. Be safe! Ted

My vote with the given scenario. 1st choice = 7014 2nd choice = 7018

Tony, welcome. My bet is that you are correct. The volume of information available on this forum has made me feel like I had been in the dark ages but did not know it. As I became more familiar with this site, I knew I had hit the jackpot of Blacksmithing information. I found the Blacksmiths here to be well rounded. They are willing to share suggestions on how to accomplish the same thing in different ways. The best to you! Be safe! Ted

hammerandtongs, Welcome. I will be interested in reading your posts. When I read your post. It made me smile at my self. I sometime I still do the reverse of what you said about "turning junk into something useful". Every once in a while I still make junk out of something that was useful. Then I place it in my pile of shame (scrap pile). The best to you as you develop your skills in blacksmithing. Be safe! Ted

herchammer, Welcome. You said it all. It sounds like you are at the starting gate. I think all you need is for someone to say is "GO". So, "GO for it". I wish you the best in perfecting you new craft. Oh! I forgot. In the late 50's & early 60's, I was a jump master with 101st ABN. I made a lot of jumps out of c-130's. Tailgate, door, night, heavy equipment, and troops. Be safe! Ted

ApprenticeMan, Nice! Keep it up, and we will be calling you the"MASTER" before long. Be safe! Ted

Dean, Welcome. I am also rather new to this forum. I have found that most all of the blacksmiths associated with this site are experts in my eyes. And the perk is they are willing to help us. Also, that all we need to do is to be sure to ask the question. A lot of the answers to questions I had, have already been posted somewhere in forum. I am thinking of changing my moniker to "Just Starting Again". I really didn’t know I didn’t know what the blacksmiths have taught me here. Be safe! Ted

Ouch! I had a big old race horse kick me just about like that when I was 12 yrs old. He hit me above the knee and just below the hip on the right leg (quads). It was quite a serious injury although it did not break my leg. You might say it left quite an impression on my mind also. That is why I never, never considered becoming a Farrier. Be safe! Ted

Greetings Ulf, I am of Swedish and English decent. My grandmother and grandfather came to America in the late 1800’s from Sweden. When we traced my Swedish ancestry (way back), they found a blacksmith in the family. I named one of my daughters after his daughter. I would bet his old tools, forge, and anvil are lying around there somewhere. “I am just kidding of course about the tools”. I agree with you that there is a large volume of information to be found here, and I am trying to take advantage of it myself. Be safe! Ted

Phil, That is nice, it shows great craftsmanship. The bonus is that you get to use it. Thank You for following through with the info and photo's. Be safe! Ted

Phil, Nice! How about posting more photos when you are done. I would like to get some ideas for building a hood over my gas forge. Than You. Be safe! Ted