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I bought mine from Dave before he was sick. I spoke with him quite a few times, in between his Pack Trips in Alberta, as we were exchanging ideas. After he died, I think his family let Jock have his material for distribution. Neil

Asking about an anvil that you haven't looked at or tried to bounce a steel ball bearing on, is like trying on clothes that are in a picture book. Candy is Dandy, Licker is Quicker, the Proof is in the Pudding, etc..... If you don't have an anvil, then even a poor anvil is better than the one you are using now, regardless what other people think. Sometimes you have to take a gamble in life, be brave.......... :) :) Neil

Good Morning Mr. Straw There are quite a few knowledgeable Smiths in the planet, Ontario. Check out OABA, I think they are having a get together this weekend. The knowledge base in Hontario is HUGE. Show your location, There are quite a few who frequent this site. Forget the coal, use natural gas or Propane. It is easy to change the size of a gas forge, by changing the configuration. Don't build the box that curtails your ability to think out loud :) :)

Dear Trana, Check out the OABA, they have got a bunch of things happening. All of us can stop anytime we want!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, Right. Get Hammered, Flattered, Twisted, Punched, Drawn out and Upset. It doesn't change, you still have shoes on your feet and a parka for when you get a chill. CanIRON is next July on the Cape (Baddeck, Cape Breton). See you there!!

Good Morning, A typical newby statement. Start by thinking Swords??? Start by doing the Olympics, before you can walk??????? Start with learning the basics!! purchase "A Blacksmithing Primer" or something similar. When you are comfortable working through everything Randy is teaching, you then maybe have some knowledgable reason to consider talking Swords. It is better to do something positive and you have a hope in finishing, than starting a huge Project that will break your heart because it isn't done after 3 years!!

Purchase a new Anvil, for not much more. Who supplies farriers near you? Ask them what Anvils are available. A rock would work just as good as a beat up, abused, can't tell the story, kind of Anvil. $0.02 If you list your location of residence, You might be surprised at who lives close to you. Network, Network, network!! :) :)

Good Morning, The reality is, you will never acquire ALL MATERIAL AND TOOLS. Start with what you have, make more tools along the way, write notes and drawings to remind yourself later (in a scribler, sketch book or 3 ring binder). Join a Blacksmith Association in your area (even if you have to drive a few hours to get there). Ask questions while you are there, take pictures and notes. Learn with your eyes and ears. If you show an interest, someone will help you on the journey. There is NO END!! :) :)

Good Morning, Fred Ribbon Burner Blower was a topic here in 2011. John Emmerling wrote an article in the Hammers Blow and the NWBA Newsletter. There is lots of information available. Neil

Nice steel toe safety boots :) :)

The proof is in the pudding. If the hammer face doesn't show excess wear after a couple years of use, the temper is correct. it doesn't matter what a hardness tester says. I have made hundreds of hammers with 1045. I use the sequence of hardening and tempering both ends at the same time. The only time there has been a problem is when someone gets greedy and quenches the center of the hammer.

Good Morning and welcome to this side of Life. There is nothing wrong with lurking, It is called learning with your mouth closed and your mind wide open. I have a couple sawyers anvils, that look like that. Any anvil that works, is good. Regardless of what it looks like. Your English language is fine, no problem. It is WAY better than my German!!!! :) :) It is quite normal for people to start out making different knives, It is the form of learning manipulation. Sorry for the big word, It is the form of learning how metal moves. I use clay or play-doh to figure out what something will look like and how to shape it in sequence. Enjoy the Journey, there is no end!!! Neil

Pay attention to what Stash said, this is not a difficult job. When I am making hammers with 1045, I quench in water. I heat the whole head and start to quench the large end first, until water starts to stick to about the end 1/4". I then flip it over to quench the pien end, I flip it back and forth and watch the colour run to a light gold then quench the ends, gently. Leave the heat in the center of the head to push the temper. I harden and temper both ends at one time. Make sure to not hold the head in one depth, you HAVE TO keep moving it to not create a quench crack.. Don't look at it as impossible, just do it.

12 cm Chimney is too small!! We use a minimum 8" diameter, preferably10"-12".

Each leg is 1" different in length, makes 3 different tones. If you can't make it ring, don't hold it, hang it by a light cord/string.

Sorry, I meant is the cup half full or half empty!!

Good Morning, When you are making tongs, the MAIN RULE is to turn left, left (if you are right handed) or right, right (if you are left handed). NEVER TURN LEFT, RIGHT!!! OR RIGHT, LEFT!!!!! When you watch the Brian Brazeal video, he turns left, left. This means that you start on the near side of the anvil. TURN LEFT 1/4 turn, go to the far side of the anvil at a 30 degree angle (to start your hinge area). TURN LEFT 1/4 turn, finish defining the back of the hinge area / start the base of the rein. Left, Left. If you tell yourself you can't do it, you can't do it. Is the cup half full or is it half full. Think Positive. If you don't like the tongs you have already made, look at them close, figure out what went wrong, don't do the same mistake again. They are not junk, they are part of learning!!! Neil

If it was a boat, would that be the hole that you pour your money into?????????

Good Morning, Look up the previous posts on making tongs. There is enough instruction to solve your question, here. By the time you dick around with water jet, you could have at least one set finished. Start with the jaw on the near side of the anvil, half faced blows make the shoulder for the front of the hinge area and start your definition for the jaw. Next go to the far side of the anvil, 1/4 turn left (if right handed. 1/4 turn right if left handed). Hang the back edge of the jaw at the edge of the anvil, using half faced blows holding your material at about 30 degree angle. This defines the back edge of the tong jaw and sets the angle where the two jaws will come together when riveted together. This step also defines the thickness of the hinge area (DON'T MAKE IT TOO THIN!!!!!) Turn 1/4 turn left (again, left. right if left handed). Hold the section of the hinge area 90 degrees across the anvil, approx 1.5 inches of your hinge area beyond the edge of the anvil. Using half faced blows, this finishes the definition of the hinge area and starts the rein. DON'T MAKE THE JUNCTION TOO THIN at the start for the reins (normal mistake when making your first tongs). Continue to draw out the reins. Flip the material end for end and grab by the jaw, draw out the reins about 3" at a time (this gives you control and you can see the progression). Break all the edges, this will allow the tongs to be comfortable. Make 2 identical pieces. Cut the reins before you rivet them, so they are the same length. You should be able to forge a set of tongs in a couple hours, when starting. There is no problem to make tongs in under one hour after having a little practice. Don't be ashamed of your first Tongs. I still use my first set of tongs. Neil

1st; Do you have space to make a dedicated area for blasting. It needs to be a confined area as the grit will travel to the places you didn't know you had places. If you don't, Don't start. Calculate extra in your estimate. 2nd; You will NEED A RESPIRATOR!!!!!!!! An air fed helmut system is not a corner to cut, unless you wish to get LUNG CANCER!!!!!! 3rd; There is no perfect system. Acid, you have to deal with the environment problems, as you do with Blasting.

Before or after having a coffee :) :)

I can't remember, Is there more ways than one to skin a cat, Or, was it a mouse trap???? :) :) :)

Grind out a bevel inside and out. Weld it up. After welding and finish grinding, heat up with a rosebud or propane forge and let cool in still air.

Good Morning, If you have been looking for an anvil for quite awhile and not finding one, buy it. As long as the edges of the top face are in good condition. You will find a larger anvil sometime, but the 88 lbs. anvil will be good for most work. When you are working on something heavy, you will learn the advantage of a heavier anvil. If there are some nicks in the edges, try to dikker on the price. It costs nothing to ask if they will take $???.00. Have you looked up the price for a new 88lbs. anvil??? You will be surprised at the price. :) :) Neil

Some of the Excavators and logging equipment are using vegetable oil as the hydraulic oil. The reason is, if there is a spill or a hose bursts, you don't have to contact the "HazMat Team". A new application for "French Fry Oil". Logging Trucks with the smell of French Fries!!! (just kidding). :) :)

Born too Late!! You need to do some experimenting with similar material and figure out what works and what doesn't work. If you have a habit of forgetting, write your findings in a book so you can refresh your memory in a year or two (or more). Git your hands away from the keyboard and do your own leg work.