Gary

  90 lb. block picked up in eastern Washington.  Hadn't seen a rounded corner on one before.  I also have a saltfork craftsmen block.

I've made trivets and door knockers out of shoes also.

1st pic. 237lb. unidentified English anvil,triangle on front left foot, next to 150 lb. Trenton (sold to pay for other).
2nd 89 lb. Peter Wright used for demos.
30 lb. I.I.B. Co. (Illinois Iron and Bolt co., also made Vulcans)
90 lb. Vulcan

Hi, I'm also located in Portland. There's more activity along the I-5 corridor than I'm aware of on the coast. There's a blacksmith shop in Gearhart, Or. just north of Seaside, Or. on hiway 101, run by John Emmerling one of the board members of the NWBA. Check out blacksmith.org (NWBA site) and snoop around and introduce yourself. I do some of my smithing at Ft. Vancouver National Historic site. We have a guild and are a seperate ABANA affiliate, although most of us belong to the NWBA also. Welcome!

Glenn, I have not been able to log on at my home computer for a week. I input my username and password, the site welcomes me and when it redirects me to the forums I'm not logged in again. Has my account changed somehow with the new changes? I also just tried to start a new thread through the info. forum and told I didn't have clearance. Thanks, Gary

What's a "hook rule"?

I once heard an old blacksmith saying or a toast, "May the peen marks on your forehead be few"!

I made a fireplace tool set for my daughter and son-in-law and had the broom professionally tied. They were very pleased.


Blacksmiths - Custom Brooms on Your Forged Handles - BroomShop.com

"Days like these are very precious!"
Yes they are! Good Job!

Portland (Or) Craigslist has two very reasonably priced columbian post vises for sale. Check it out if you are looking, they're in the Salem area.



Columbia Vise Co. Post Vise

The one I have like that is called a Hanson vice ( I have a copy of an old ad I'll try to post) and I have none of the fitted jaw parts for it. I was hoping to forge some. I thought about incorporating it into a portable nail making set-up. If the owner wouldn't mind maybe he'd let you take a picture of some of the different jaws. I'd appreciate seeing what some of them look like. Thanks, Gary

NE Portland. Lot's of smithing going on in the NW! NWBA, Ft. Vancouver, Brooks Steam-up for a few. A new blacksmith shop being planned at the Yamhill Historical Society in Mc Minnville. Shelton Browder (Colonial Williamsburg) coming this fall for a demo workshop and a hands on workshop. I'll post on the calendar forum soon. I'm definitely interested in getting a better price on coal!

Congratulations! What historical village is it? I too have done most of my smithing at an historical setting (Ft. Vancouver) and have enjoyed the last 5 yrs. Where do you live?

Nice Find!!

I also used Mr Warren Olney to make a broom for me. Expensive? Yes, but since the only other cost to me was time and some steel and coal I felt it was worth it. This was my first fireplace set and for my oldest daughter and family. I was pleased with the results.

Blacksmiths - Custom Brooms on Your Forged Handles - BroomShop.com

That was my question also. Does it look like it was original to the rest of the setup?

Cindy, have you tried craigslist?

Leaves for the Gum Tree Project. Will be mailed shortly.

Chris, check the Aussie Leaf Memorial thread. There's a tutorial on their web page on making a leaf. It was a new way to me. Good Luck

http://www.treeproject.abavic.org.au/pdf-articles/How-to-Forge-a-Gum-Leaf.pdf

Rains Fire Re.-Oregon Coal: John Turkington still sells Cumberland coal from Farrier Supplies LLC in Monroe Or., the price just jumped from 22.50 for a 50lb. bag to 28-29.00 a bag (can't find the receipt now). Not sure why, it was picked up for me, must be the shipping. It is very good coal. There's a farrier supply in Beavercreek that has a poorer quality for 21.00 a bag or so. I may get some and mix it with the Cumberland from John's and see how it works.

For anyone interested in early ironmaking the below link connects to an interesting 11 min. podcast by Historic Williamsburg blacksmith Shelton Browder. He is the smith who has come out to Fort Vancouver the last few years to share his expertise in historic forging.

Podcasts

I've done a few historical demos the last couple of years in roughly the same time period. I've not had anyone sharpshoot me too badly. They'll occasionally mention the safety glasses and ask if the hand cranked blower is period and I'll explain to them why not. People just enjoy watching you smith. Your list sounds good. I use an old metal bucket for a slack tub on the road. You can always dip water out to cool something if it won't fit in. There's a couple of pics in the gallery of my set up and costumes. I wear an old farrier's apron. The brown shirt and vest are for FT. Vancouver off-site demos i.e., Champoeg State Park. The red long john shirt and suspenders outfit for my own demo at the Oregon Trail Int. Center last year and the two Territorial Express Stage Runs and grade school demos.

Gary Gallery - Blacksmith Photo Gallery

Territorial Express Home Page - Tumwater Historical Association

Cooper, I'm in Portland, all the advice above is good. I've found tools on craigslist and through the NWBA to which I belong. I also volunteer at Ft. Vancouver, a cooper would be welcome there and you would be making more contacts. Antique Powerland in Brooks has a blacksmith shop and many of us smith there in the summer. Feel free to PM me if you have questions. There are more than several smiths in your area.

A local guy makes quite an assortment of digging tools, here's his site:

Red Pig Garden Tools Home Page