swedefiddle

Jim Keith is a big name in Farrier Competitions. I would call him a 'Master' not just a 'farrier from Indiana'. Yes he also has a list of Tools with his name on them. If you couldn't find information about him, you didn't look very hard. Neil

Good Morning Davor, I would keep that knife as a reminder of your love of your grandfather and his love of you. If he didn't care for you, you wouldn't have found the knife. Things like this, in life, are PRICELESS! No amount of money would break that family connection. If you wish to honour your grandfather, give your knife a name, your grandfathers name. Neil

4340 is called 'Alloy Steel', not Tool Steel.

Good Morning,David Please put your area where you make shadows, in your Avatar. There are people from all walks of life and most countries of this world. You don't have to be specific, just your town is good. There is probably someone close to you, that can help you on your Journey. It is way more gooder (LOL) to put in time with someone else, who has already started down the road. Every 2 Blacksmith's will give 3 or 4 answers and the reason's why, to support their thoughts. 1045 is considered 'Shaft Material' that is, shafting for machinery. I have been using 1045 for Hammer Heads, with all the different Classes that I teach. It is water hardening and water quench for the Temper. I have only had one student break a Hammer Head and that was because he hardened the eye of the hammer. Most Breaker Bits are 1045 to 1060, I also use water to harden and Temper (straw colour). They also make great Hammer Heads. Neil

Happy New Year, Alan Evans lives in the UK. Check with UK Rivet sources. Neil

Good Morning, Ace I made the dies for my Kuhn with T-1, salvage plate (2.5" thick, 6" Long). T-1 is used for big Loader Buckets. I never heat treated and that was over 20 years ago. It is better if they are not hard!! Neil

Good Morning, nobody, There are a lot of members in your area, all around you, Port Townsend, Anacortes, Mt. Vernon, Seattle area (etc) It is just a matter of meeting some of them and getting together in their own Shops. The Fairgrounds at Longview is used because it is axcessable as a central location, for Washington, Oregon and Idaho. I travel to the Spring Conference. The monthly events are the same day as our Vancouver Island Blacksmiths Association monthly meetings. This is 'Life'. Before Longview, the Spring and Fall Conferences would move around Washington and Oregon, not always in the same place. The 'Teaching Trailer' would also follow and this would allow anyone to get in and get hot. Now there is a Shop Space, at Longview. Now the Fall Conference is called 'Swaptoberfest' Lots of different stuff available from other members. Otherwise it is called 'Tailgate Sales Area' open season for what you didn't know you needed!! Neil

The Anvil you have is way gooder than the one hanging in the tree!!! Neil

Good Morning Northman, Quoting previous conversation is frowned on. Some folks have slow hinternet and it loads their system down. Enjoy the stay!! Neil

Happy New Year, Big trucks and busses use only one colour wire, they have little number tags for the different wires. The tags are small and wrap around a wire. Keep it simple (K.I.S.S). Nothing worse than a Hood acting like a guillotine. If you had a stick holding it up and bumped the stick, same thing. Let Mother Nature mend your mittens, with time, slow time. Good Luck!! Neil

Good Morning Cory, There is quite a strong Blacksmith group, Gimli/Winnipeg area. Matt and Rudy have their shop in Cloverdale, Cloverdale Forge. Connect and get to learn the basics, so you can use that fine piece of 'Old Rock'. They are a little singin', sometimes we stick a set of Tongs in the Pritchel Hole to take the ring out. Make sure you have your ear and eye gear on!! Enjoy the journey Neil

Welcome Northman, You are in the North West Blacksmith Association (NWBA) area. Yes I am a member, even though there is an imaginary line between us, there is no difference. There are a huge amount of VERY talented individuals who generally don't blow smoke .........something about where the sun doesn't shine.... The web site is blacksmith.org . Their workshop is in Longview at the fairgrounds. They have a monthly get-together, a Spring Conference and in the fall Swaptoberfest. NWBA covers, Warshington, OhRegon, Idaho, B.C. and Alberta, quite a large area. Lots of members between Blaine and Ohregon Enjoy your stay. There is a lot of information here!! Neil

Good Morning, Don't be sorry! Be happy we are alive!! Grant is turning in his grave, with a SMILE on his face, saying "They still remember me!!". For me anyway, Grant was a mentor, he asked you to think and answer your own questions with reasoning and logic. He also was a hard working person, who always made time to talk to you, if you asked a sensible question. No fool!! Love ya Grant!! Neil

Happy New Year, Temper as soon as possible after hardening. Yes, temper it now!! The example I have and learned; A friend reforged and hardened a Ball Pein Hammer, he was going to temper it later. He forgot that he put it in a drawer of his workbench, he opened that drawer about a year later. The hammer face was a multitude of cracks, it looked like the moon. The stress from Hardening in the steel, relieved itself. No sunlight, no heat other than normal workshop temperature, no bumping into something. Stress!! Neil

Good Morning Ace, You have to measure your Hammer for what size and what taper for the wedge. It is easy to make the keys, heat them and drive them in. When the key cools, it will shrink, repeat as needed (or measure the taper and let a machinist make them). My dies are approx 2.5 wide, 6" long, 3.5" (or whatever you need) tall. Flat dies are the best for general work. Use a Fuller Flatter by hand for whatever aggressiveness you want, flat or drawing. Off-Center used to make a double Fuller Flatter, Spring Fuller (Grant died in 2012, now Kayne has his Tools). You are in the heart of NWBA country. Lots of really knowledgeable people within 20-30 miles of you. I am not far by water, just an imaginary line between. Neil

Good Morning, I made my own from T1-2.5" thick salvage plate (used for making digger buckets). I did not heat treat and have been using them for over 20 years on my Kuhn. K.I.S.S. Neil

Happy New Year, Ride If you put your area of where you are making a shadow, in your avatar, people will know who lives near you. Looks like the Vice needs a good cleaning and lubricating. I have access to roller thrust bearings (clutch release bearings), which I add to the thrust washer. It is entirely up to you, it is not necessary. You can put some grease, lubriplate, bear grease, on the thrust faces too. It doesn't matter who made it, or when. Enjoy it!! Neil

Happy New Year Geoffroy, Welcome from the left coast of North America, Vancouver Island. Looks like you are making a good start with using what is available. Don't worry about what you have, that is all you need/want to get started. There is no wrong way to getting going. There are no Blacksmith Police to say you are/may be doing something incorrect. Use what you have to achieve the results you are after. Neil

4:20 is the time on the video, not the temperature. If you start with smaller cable, you will figure out what works and how. The larger the cross-section needs welding heat in the center, to weld. Neil

Merry Almost, Where is her neck tie with a big Bow? If you want to know something about her, quietly roll her over a scale. Don't make a fuss, just heat some iron and tickle her saddle. Start out with a light Hammer and warm her up before turning the switch on. Enjoy!! Treat her nice. Merry Christmas from the left Coast Neil

Good Morning Tom, Twas the night before, the night before and all through the Shop. Not a Press was working, because the pieces hadn't been combined yet. Up on the rooftop there arose such a clatter. "Put your pieces together, it just doesn't matter". Use your noodle to make it work, Solar is the center of the universe, maybe not a Press. Butt then, who says No!! Welcome from the left Coast of Canada, Vancouver island. Neil

Good Morning, Art Anderson is still involved with the NWBA. I have looked at his Forges with him, many a time. They are simple and they work awesome. If you wish to contact Art, PM me, I will get you his contact information. Neil

Good Morning, That is the shape for making 'Jingle Bells'. roll them up and add a steel ball. Neil

Good Morning, You found it in your Fathers Garage. You would like information about the Anvil, so can steal it or sell it? You are not interested in using it? Pity!! What is it worth to your Father? Neil

Generally, there are identification marks on the sides of the McAnvil. We could make up a very convincing story, but it would mean nothing other than make a story. Look on the sides, gently clean with a bit of sandpaper. The markings will be more visible. Sometimes a light shake of talcum powder and a wipe will also bring out the highlights. Quite often there also is some numbering on the outer edges of the feet. Neil