Ted T

Diamondback Ironworks Forge I bought the “Metal Artist 2-burner Forge” and the Idler Valve Kit I know that sometime Dennis has to take business trips, and at times I had a hard time reaching him at first. But I found out that it was well worth the effort. He will work with you and advise you as necessary. Dennis advertises that the Metal Artist Forges are perfect for the Artist and Sculptor. I would agree! The unrestricted design allows complete access to the firebox. But understand there is a trade-off for that kind of access. It is a decrease in efficiency. But you are the one who can control its use. Down-side: I also agree that it would use a little more fuel than the Blacksmith models when it is fully opened up on all three sides. Up-side: The advantage is that you can use it for most sizes and shapes that you cannot forge with a closed in style. Without being able to open a forge up, you are restricted in the size of material you can forge. Because you are able to fit a piece of stock that is larger, or takes up more room due to design (such as forged bends etc.) in it, you can still keep forging and are not limited to a small opening. I love mine!

smithy1, or (AKA) Larry Hagberg, Either identity distinguishes you as a seasoned veteran blacksmith by anyone who knew you by either moniker. But I think it is a good thing to clearly reveal your name for up-front for business reasons. Like you say, when you start teaching, people will want to refer to you by name as to who is teaching them, or who taught them. By you using your birth name, it will eventually mean a lot to your self, and to the people who you have taught. For a good Example: Out here in Utah, if someone said they had training by Frank Turley, we did not question their ability after that. He taught The “Granddaddy of Blacksmithing Schools” i.e.” Turley Forge Blacksmithing School located in Santa Fe, NM” Franks name has become like gold to most of the blacksmiths who have been around this area for a while. I always wanted to take training from Frank – but age and health issues has made me into a “Blacksmith Wannbe” again. I am sure you will make your name to mean “one and the same as quality blacksmith training”. Your sound advice and excellent examples in the blacksmithing craft have already preceded you, and have identified who you are. And that is a good thing in this case. I wish you the very best in your as you venture into this new opportunity in your craft of Blacksmithing. Ted Throckmorton

Issue: Video Copyright V. Having Permission This is just some thoughts about what we are seeing. The first video was made by Mark Aspery “Jim Austin’s Bearded Viking Axe” This first video also had copyright protection The question is, was there permission given to make the second video? If there was permission given, there is not a problem. We would not be likely to know what went on behind the business end of making the video. If not (permission was not given), then it is between Mark and the maker of the second video who produced “Blacksmith Shaping A Battleaxe” FILM SYNOPSIS The second video was made by (looks like) Militia HQ “Blacksmith Shaping A Battleaxe” This is about what the FILM SYNOPSIS said about this film (video). Clearly the maker who produced this video intended for the recognition to go to them. Here are some Key words and Phrase’s used to show intent by implying the following: References: #1. “his forge” #2. “Shot live” #3. “This film was shot live following the making of #4. one specific weapon from its beginning to its completion. In this 40-minute video from the "Steel-edged Weapons" series you will be invited by master swordsmith #4. Richard Kazda to his forge and guided through the half-forgotten world of swordsmithing. In the film you will witness: - - - - - - - - - Then, Several paragraphs in-between - - - - - - - - - The film was shot live following the making of one specific weapon from its beginning to its completion. There is no acting involved, the footage shows only authentic production in a real forge. The questions that come to my mind is as follows: 1. Did Mark Aspery give permission for this video to be produced? If so, not a problem. If not! Then it would be between Mark and the producer. 2. Was Mark also videoing the sword maker master swordsmith Richard Kazda ? My opinion is based on the face value on the information we have. But it most likely not enough information to make an informed and accurate opinion. We do not know The Who, What, When, How, How many, and Why. Only the originators know about the details. But reguardless of the outcome, I think it was still a good observation by TechnicusJoe and proper action taken by Mod 52.

Thank you both for being on the ball! We are members by choice and it should also be our choice to protect this fine vehicle of information "I Forge Iron".

Shop Tools Arraignment My small outdoor Forge Station is about 14’ x 14’. I feel it is just right for forging only. I am still adjusting the placement of certain items so they will fit my style of working and the type of things I make. I have a larger shop where I do my finish work in. So far, I feel you have had some good suggestions offered to you. This is just a couple of my thoughts about organizing your shop. Due to design issues at times, a question would sometime come up of where to place the side walk In-between buildings we were designing. We found if they put the sidewalk in last, people would make a path in the soil that would mark the proper place to lay the sidewalk so it would be effectively used to connect the buildings. I use that same principal to organize my shop also. I am constantly “Adjusting and Adapting”. So my suggestion is consider all of the good suggestions sent to you, get busy working and see exactly how it feels to you. One other thing that may or may not come into play for you is to make a trap door through the wall to the outside of your shop, that is in-line with your Band Saw, Chop Saw, Shear, or whatever it is you use for cutting off long lengths of steel with. OOOOPs I just seen where this was mentioned before. I will leave this in due to it being a double good Idea! This way you are able to feed long lengths of steel directly to your cut-off area from the outside and not disturb the inside of your shop. I think you will always continue to make small and sometime large adjustments as your skills and interests develop. Enjoy! Ted Throckmorton

Travis, now I question why you asked the question. Because you seem to know a whole lot about the company that manufactures the hammer than someone who is just probing for an opinion. And; they must know you. What difference would it make to say "Travis sent me"??

I had a Mark Hammer. I could not say enough good things about it. It was well balanced and very adaptable to my needs. I got very sick a few years ago and sold it to a good friend. He was very happy to get it. The advantages of an "In-line" hammer are many. Without going into detail - If I was not so old I would buy one in a "New York Minute" Ted Throckmorton

Liability and Blacksmithing To start, my response in no way suggests that I am providing you with legal advice. I am not an attorney. I am sharing with you information made from my observations while I was an investigator for 36 years. I have investigated civil and criminal matters as well as accident reconstruction only as I was assigned to do. I write this as a WARNING from a layman’s point of view I found out that nothing is etched in stone when it comes to tort liability. So make sure what you do is reasonable and sound. Then be ready and willing to pay the price of you actions if you are incorrect about how you think the law deals with your situation. Talk to your attorney first before you act. Not after you have been notified of a civil action against you. Steve I believe you are close to the target with the concept that you cannot sign your rights away, but only to a point. By signing a waiver, you not only indicate that you read the contents, but that you agree with the provisions of that document. There are other mitigating circumstances that come into play such as how the document was written up, confirmed, and much more. A study of the subject of tort liability and all of its ramifications will quickly give you an understanding of why we have attorneys and courts. Nothing is final until the judge says it is final. Thomas I believe that you are on track about the third party subrogation. If you have been injured in an accident that has resulted in damages, at some point you will undoubtedly hear the term "subrogation." Literally, subrogation means one person or party stands in the place of another. Subrogation issues surface when a person has been injured and someone other than the person or party at fault pays for all or some of the damages resulting from the injury. By definition, a subrogation claim allows the innocent paying party, also known as a "collateral source," to stand in the shoes of the injured party. My position about this matter is one of using caution and common sense. Unless you are set up with your insurance carrier specifically to cover your activities of teaching blacksmithing, I would avoid it like the plague. We are all playing in the legal play ground like it or not. The attorneys are the monitors and the courts are the principal. Now the question is how can we assist in finding someone to help the boy scouts in Las Vegas pass the Metalwork merit badge? I was in the process of setting up to help our Boy Scout troop with their Metalwork merit badge. But this issue has brought back so many unwanted memories about some of the cases I have worked on that I have decided to decline. .

Thank goodness that kind of news is overshadowed by the Good News that was given to us approximately 2,000 years ago. The good news opened the way for us to pray knowing that we have a mediator who helps us, and is closer than a brother. We have added our prayers expectantly with the rest of you who are in common agreement about the benefit of prayer for the positive good health and welfare of our blacksmithing brother and his wife Janice. Smithy1, you have done the right thing by asking for prayer. It is powerful. Ted Throckmorton

On the far right of the photo, notice the blacksmith who is hand hammering with a hammer that has a handle that is very long (2 1/2' maybe?) Maybe he broke his hammer handle and is using the strikers sledgehammer? :P

Jesse Thanks for the video. It is always a treat to see a pillar in the blacksmithing craft at work. After watching that video of Hofi, I clicked onto your other videos. Well; there went my morning of good intentions of getting some work done around here. Of your many skills that you have developed in your lifetime, I noticed one that stands out to me. And that is your natural ability to communicate about how to build. You demonstrated how to make and transfer a pattern of a motorcycle gas tank, from a gas tank. And then you demonstrated and narrated how to transfer the pattern to a piece of sheet metal along with useful information about several things to consider while doing it. My point here is that your obvious skills make what you say trustworthy. And then when you link that earned credential along with your natural ability to clearly explain the process in a very simple understandable way, makes me want to encourage you to do more. Thank You for posting. My very best to you! Ted Throckmorton

I watched every interesting second of that film. After seeing that massive operation and realizing the mind power that had to figure out the "order of operations" that was set in place over-whelms my mind. We are all carried in on the backs of highly intelligent and very hard working people. None of what I saw in the film looked like an easy way to make a living. After watching that Huge Operation it made me feel like a very small piece of sand that is found about 10' deep somewhere along the coastline of California and Oregon. Makes my place look like nothing! Thank Goodness! Thank you for that video. It help keeps my feet on the ground and my head looking upward! Ted Throckmorton

Marek In my innermost awareness I cannot find any aspect of your creation to criticize. Instead; words that come to my mind would only be founded by appreciation of your skills, your ability to express, and the content of what your subject represents. In fact, I believe it would be a tragedy if you did not continue to following your path of blacksmithing skills in order to be able to express your inherent gift of artistic interpretation. I wish you the very best! Ted Throckmorton

Check and make sure you that none of your fingers are broken! Just kidding! I have no Idea what it would be, I am functionally deaf But not kidding about that! I have not experenced anything like that even when I could hear. Sorry not to be of better assistance! Ted Throckmorton

Mitch Welcome to I Forge iron The word that comes to mind when I see your videos is: WOW They are very nicely done. Thank You Ted Throckmorton

John, I feel you are on the right track of expectation. When you find a qualified blacksmith that will provide you with the training, it will be between you and the blacksmith about how to proceed from there. Here is a quick first lesson just for the fun of it: I sound very fussy I am sure. But I also understand that it must be difficult to see out of a wooden eye. I would suggest very strongly that you insist that safety issues must always pave the way blacksmithing is taught and absorbed. Fifty nine (59) years of exposure to the craft has left a deep impression in my understanding of how important it is to error on the side of safety (every time). Your safety and each person found in and around a blacksmithing shop must take personal responsibility for their own safety. But the leaders must teach them how to do it. I would suggest that in each new process learned, your training should include taking a moment to ask yourself a question about what are the possible safety issues that accompany these actions I am ABOUT to do. The operative words are: “ABOUT to do”. Think First; then you will not have to have “First Aid.” - - - - - - - - - - Here is an organization based primarily in Utah, but includes Nevada in their area of membership. I would suggest calling them or emailing them asking for assistance to find who would meet your needs. If you are not successful, please contact me through the I Forge Iron contact system. I will try to assist you in finding the right person. Nevada Bonneville Forge Council Again, I wish you the very best! Ted Throckmorton

Greetings and Welcome to I Forge Iron I am pleased that you found I Forge Iron! Your request sounds reasonable and simple enough on the surface, but it may have a deeper expectation that I feel should be clarified. I think it would help to better clarify exactly what you mean when you say; “who is willing to teach a group of Varsity Scouts (14-15yr olds) how to make a hatchet?” Question: How many scouts will there be? For the sake of receiving an accurate understanding of what you envisioned by your request, I will suggest for the sake of clarification, two scenarios that may be useful to help us understand exactly what you are requesting. Being realistic, after whatever training they do received, they would not be able to make a hatchet on their own unless they have full access to all of the blacksmithing tools required. Expectation #1. If you wanted these young men to learn how a blacksmith forges a hatchet by watching and assisting the blacksmith as it is appropriate, the request would make good sense to me. And then have the blacksmith lead each boy on a one to one bases safely through each phase of the process, that would be another thing that is also doable. The skilled blacksmith will handle and be aware of safety issues that no one will even know about but the blacksmith. He will make it look simple and will give you an impression that “all you have to do is get a hammer and start swinging”. That thinking is only the product of inexperienced people. Most people do not understand and will usually underestimate what a highly skill blacksmith is required to comprehend and be able to control This scenario would leave the students with a good Impression of what it takes to forge a Hatchet and give them a feel for the skill that is required to be a blacksmith. The end result would not prepare them with the skills that are necessary and required to safely forge independently later. There would always be an issue of having tools available, and a place. Expectation #2. If the request is meant to teach each person the skills of how to make a hatchet, then that is a horse of a different color. The issue is this; To teach them how to make a “Hatchet ONLY” and then not require them to first learn and be able to apply all of the basic forging skills safely such as anvil etiquette, heat treatment, safe quenching, identification of dangerous steels, use of acids, tool dressing, all forging skills, use of tongs safely, fire tending, safe propane use, Carbon Monoxide detection, heavy metal sickness, on and on……..would not be acceptable at any level of liability. That simple (well meaning) request would be like putting the horse before the cart. First Things First; There is an order of operational and safety skills that has to be taught to anyone who would be undertaking the task of forging a hatchet, or anything else! For anyone to omit learning the foundational (basic skills) of blacksmithing and the associated safety practices would be to imply and pre-suppose these essential skills of the craft are not necessary. And that would not be correct. The craft of blacksmithing is a very potentially dangerous craft for untrained people. I would suggest that it is like trying to step up to the 6th rung of a 12 rung latter in one step. It will not work for most of us and it is Dangerous. Each step of a ladder is so engineered and placed in an order to where it is doable, and will also position you for the next step, and the next. And so it is very much the same with learning blacksmithing skills. One skill at a time! I hope this will give you some thought about what your expectations are. I would also suggest that you obtain a copy of the Boy Scout Metalworking Merit Badge pamphlet. If you started there, it would help you with some basics. I wish you the best! Ted Throckmorton

Kendall “YOU’RE THE MAN” I am always impressed when someone such as you takes a vision of a “thought seed” and then plants it into the soil of determination and then waters it with action! “Bingo” it turns into a blacksmith shop! That fact that you had to mix and pour your concrete I think is a good thing. It seems as though the more skin a person has in the game of life the harder they play! Sweat equity invested in your shop will make it hard for someone to take it from you because it came at a valuable price (your sweat, tired muscles………………….) I certainly enjoyed viewing the development of you new shop. It is NICE! It will be a place to make your dreams develop into reality. What you can do in there now will only be limited by your dreams, desire, and skills. I wish you the very best! Ted Throckmorton PS. By having a shop of your own, you must be careful to not catch the “Tool Junkie” disease. I have tried to avoid it, but from what I can tell, there is not a simple cure for it. So I guess I will have to suffer with it and make as many tools as I can so my kids will have something to sale at a garage sale after I leave. :)

Doc, Welcome to I Forge Iron I read not only what you have said; But to some degree I believe I have some sense of the depth of what you are expressing. The uncertainty of a new, but unwanted experience in our lives challenges the metal of our resolve and the ones that are close to us. One of the positive things that come out of my own challenges of overwhelming uncertainty is that my own personal humbling circumstance taught me Humility and Compassion for Others in a way I never understood before. Those experiences turned out to be a gift that has made my life richer. Although they were an unwanted experience’s I would not trade what I learned for anything. As a result; I send you this note hoping things are leveling out for you. My prayers have been expressed to our creator for the best good of you and the ones who love you. Ted Throckmorton PS. Here is just a thought that has helped me many times to keep my hope up! Hold Fast to Dreams Dreams by Langston Hughes Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow

Welcome to I Forge Iron Sanddraggin Now that you are a member, it is no longer “You Folks”, you are one of us! I expect that I will see you assist others in time. It is just how this site works. You said “I'm pleasantly surprised at the attention to detail you folks have. I noticed the ash dump open a little while after this and once I tightened it I got a much better results” After about 5 years I am no longer surprised, but I am still amazed everyday when I see how openly so many expert blacksmiths and Knife makers give of their wisdom and knowledge to those asking for help. It seems that when a person reaches a certain skill level they no longer feel threatened or insecure about their skills. I think they know that many who seek help will make a lot of noise about starting, but not actually do much. And they know that some others will not use the information because of the additional effort it would take to put it into action. So the information is still safe. But: we have people come in here who take to Blacksmithing and Knife Making like a Hungry Bull Dog takes to a Cow Bone. And to give this type of a person some hard earned information is a privilege because they will carry it forward. Yes, we are privileged to have the expertise of the many members who are the top of the line Craftsman in the field of Blacksmithing and Knife makers. I am sure you are going to do well from what I have seen of your posts. I THINK YOU ARE HOOOOOOOKED! Please be open to all safety issues. The very best to you and your helper! Ted Throckmorton

Mike Welcome to I Forge Iron!! I know what it is to live out in the sticks. Try to find a blacksmith group near you. I consider a couple of hundred miles as being close enough out where I live. By contacting that group they may be able to tell you of a blacksmith living in your area that you did not know about. Then they will have meetings. There you should be able to find a starting point to be mentored by someone who is qualified. Here is what I found in the I Forge Iron Blacksmith Group list. North Carolina North Carolina Chapter of ABANA I wish you the very best in finding what you need! Ted Throckmorton

Welcome to I Forge Iron Kevin Anything you are willing to share will be appreciated. As you can see the skill and experience levels found at I Forge Iron will range from “this is my first day”, to “highly skilled Blacksmiths and Knife Makers” who hover over the top of the heap of craftsmanship. The advantage of mixing every level of experience and skill in the same bucket here at I Forge Iron is that I think helps polish all of our skills of understanding. Many times a new person asks a question that the answer is generally thought to be a given. Then it turns out that it is not! And at times the feathers will fly! Questions from any level of skill sometime initiates an interesting “Point” and “counter Point” discussion. The bottom line is that we all gain from this process. I say all of that to say, "please understand that your input is important". This site was built on the concept of sharing information. I wish you the very best as you progress forward! Ted Throckmorton PS. NICE WORK! :)

STRGRAW, There is plenty of room for YOU. Please find a soft seated chair, something to snack on (I prefer Twinkies), and then sit back and be ready to enjoy yourself. I suggest that you read, read, read, read, and then read some more, ponder, ask questions, and then simply enjoy the benefits that hundreds of blacksmiths have generously provided for our use. What makes this information so valuable is that it has been honed at the price tag of excessive heat and sweat, aching muscles, lots of time, a burn or two (or three), and sometime a well thought out excuse given to wives or girlfriends of why we need a new tool or two! - - - - (or 12). And the best part is that it has been shared freely with us for our use here at I Forge Iron. OooooooH I forgot! "Welcome to I Forge Iron" Please take advantage of the Search feature, and then I STRONGLY suggest that you take the time to learn and understand all of the features this site has to offer. It will serve you well if you do. AS soon as you are able, I would suggest that you find a skilled blacksmith or a blacksmith group in your area so you will start the wheels in motion to be mentored correctly the first time around. It is very difficult to “Un-learn” bad habits. Here is something to consider: http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/23500-what-do-you-need-to-get-started-in-blacksmithing/ or You may want to check this out: http://metalsmith.org/ You may live closer to another group, so here is the path to find the I Forge Iron List of Blacksmithing Groups: Go to "Blacksmithing, General Discussion", then to "Finding a Blacksmithing Group near you" I wish you the very best as you add blacksmithing skills to your life portfolio. Ted Throckmorton

Welcome to "I Forge Iron" To enjoy, and being able to work with your son, far out-ways what you end up producing with your hands. To strengthen the bonds of your relationship with your children; I believe is the most important product you can produce at the forge. I have had MANY Fathers and Mothers who have taken advantage of the Blacksmith School located in my area tell me the reason they attended Blacksmithing classes with their children was to use it only as a vehicle to become closer and bond with their children. It worked! So to the pleasant surprise of many of us, that became the positive and unexpected side benefit for families who attend the Blacksmith School. I wish both of you the very best! Ted Throckmorton

You are made of the right stuff, as well as Icb!! I will be looking forward to see what you create. keep in motion and you will get there! My best to Ya! Ted Throckmorton