Larry H

I think the NYS Designer Blacksmiths have a southern tier in your area, welcome to the trade

I think you must be a top notch craftsman before you can elevate yourself. when you transcend your craft ...there is art. When people say "he's more than a............( fit your trade here)...........  he's an artist", you must be doing O.K.

I've found short of "forging" a forge weld, there isn't cheating. Smiths through out time did what they had to do to get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible, you will find at times you will make a quick tool for single use out of mild steel just  to get what you need to do, done.

years ago I forged a horn on a rr track and welded a piece of plow blade on top with the sq. side of the bolt hole up, it gave a "step" at the horn and had a 3/4 hardy hole, the owner is still using it

It's funny.... but not really, I repaired the carriages that work Central Park NY for fifteen years, all kinds of "stuff" except the wheels. (I missed learning how to hot set the metal rim by my predecessor, by a month ) but I don't know any of the parts by name, it was like " can you make one of these ?" or "can you fix this? ". a real shame on my part

make a key and a lock, that should keep your mind busy

bentiron, how did you know about my rock ?

you already have the basics, you can only go up from there, a lot us  of started with less, and became more !

Зігмунд, вы сапраўдны майстар сваёй справы, it is a pleasure to view your work

turn of the century ? ......prob wrought iron

there are a few around here, You should have come to the Northeast Blacksmith hammer in at  Ashokan, several anvils there. contact Mark Emig, he has two of  Bobby Hanson's anvils

gotta try that one I use a rasp

I have bad euro grammer, "Der" is also "the"

I happen to have been one of the last 125 smiths to take the test for blacksmith in NY, the practical was a breeze, the written, a bear, I don't remember exactly but i think i was #5 or 6. ( two I taught the practical part to, did better on the written, so scored better over all ) I will look around to see if I can find the study guide. By the way, only 25  passed, 20 hired

although I'm currently using a "torpedo" heater, the plan for heat is a pot belly stove, the forges will have an exhaust blower,  I like the clean look without four stacks poking through the roof. As for the flames, I think I have to redo them, they trail off to low to soon

Flames over the door, have to redo. First look at the unfinished inside

by the way, nice improvements

He looks like my cat

Full contact =  Kendo

video agreeing with Frank on a 2 1/2 rounding hammer

forge a smaller tool on the other side

use the yellow teflon  its made for petroleum products, the white may melt. Don't use oil near any gauges

I'll talk to you about that hood, next week

thats sacrilegious 

make a gas forge