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I Forge Iron

herchammer

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Posts posted by herchammer

  1. Hello everyone! I used to hang around here and pilfer as much knowledge as I could. Life has kind of steamrolled me, and I'm finally getting back to the forge. Just wanted to pop in and say Hello. I'm  not going to lie, there's a good chance that I won't remember names from my time here in the past; please don't take it personally. Happy to be plying the hammer once again!

    Cheers!

  2. Matto is absolutely right about there being more to farriery than just making the shoe. Anatomy of the horse is paramount study for a farrier, as it should be. Shoes, improperly applied will cause permanent damage to a horse. I once considered studying to become a farrier, but the thought of causing a horse to go lame, if I goofed up was enough to put me off.

  3. The eldest daughter, of a very close friend, is getting married soon. My wife and our four year old daughter were invited to the bridal shower which was today. Times are tight for us, like they are for so many, and we didn't really have the money to buy a gift. My wife asked if I could make something for them to take as a gift. I am still, very much a beginner, and as such, I am very self-conscious about my work. I didn't want them to have to go empty handed, so I made a simple letter opener, with a leaf handle. The bride was very gracious, and said she loved it. Perhaps, I underestimated the value of a handmade gift, no matter how simple.post-1273-0-17172800-1343523690_thumb.jppost-1273-0-77289000-1343523769_thumb.jppost-1273-0-56361300-1343523868_thumb.jp

  4. Folks. something that may be getting overlooked here, is that there may indeed be skilled metal workers, in some places. The fact of the matter is, that the populace is scattered far, and wide among those boulder strewn mountains, and that it would be unlikely to find a smith in each village or tribal holding. Please don't discount what these soldiers are doing. In addition to the war being fought against the Taliban, there is a war being waged for the hearts and minds, of the Afghan people. Take away the support network of the Taliban, by securing the goodwill and loyalty, of the tribes, that have historically supported them. If they were not lending support for idiological reasons, but out of fear, then you will find an ally among those tribes. Just my two cents worth.

  5. Phoenix, I know that to be true. It's a good thing that small steps can, and often do, lead to big things, because small steps are all I have time for. I have the hot cut forged to shape, and I have normalized it between each forging session. Tomorrow, if time allows, I will anneal it and then Thursday, maybe, I'll get some grinding done, and then filing. There's a chance I could have it ready to heat treat by the weekend.

  6. The bosses let us go a little early today, and one of the fellas asked me what I was gonna do this afternoon; I told him I had a new pile of coal that was just asking to make something. I resolved to start making some of the tools that I need to do some very basic things in the shop. I know that I want to make a hot cut for the anvil, a few punches, a slitter, and a drift. I thought I would start, today, with preparing part of an old cultivator axle to make the hot cut. I cut a long piece, and brought it up to a bright yellow heat. I upset the piece, by ramming it on one of my smaller anvils. That was as far as I got with it today;I only had a couple of hours today to fit the chores in, and get a little time at the fire. I worked on a Brian Brazeal heart, and a hook or two while the larger piece was coming up to temp. Here's just a couple of pics of the large piece in the fire, and upsetting it. I know it seems like small potatoes, but it was fun, things worked the way I needed them to, and I have a good beginning for the material for the hot cut.

    post-1273-0-22442900-1327717610_thumb.jp

    post-1273-0-96018800-1327717631_thumb.jp

    post-1273-0-82288800-1327717654_thumb.jp

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