tzonoqua

No worries, Giles, I just had to say it!! It is just that whole cast iron thingy...!! I once saw a table of a pillar drill drop, (there was no stop and it was not tightened properly) it was cast iron, and it broke into 3 pieces when it hit the floor and was quite frightening. Luckily the operator was not hurt too badly, just bruised his shin as it glanced him as he jumped out of the way, but it could have been much worse. It does just worry slightly. Having said that though, and what Owen has just said I think this block will be better used on the floor, without a stand?? Comments anyone? If you are near Chesham, then perhaps when the blocks are ready can I have a friend collect mine? He lives near Tring and we see him often.

Hi Scary Gary! I think it depends on how you want to portray yourself to your customers, and what kind of customers you have or the market you are aiming for. In this trade most people pride themselves in the work they do, and their craftsmanship that is a guarantee of quality. Why not trade under your own name? (Although I'm not suggesting trading under Scary Mc!! :) ) This may not work if you plan on hiring lots of staff. I know it sounds a bit boring, but to most people, boring is dependable. In the UK lots of smiths just trade under their own names, maybe it's a bit different in the states. However, I do like the sound of Spotted Dog...

I'm still in, as long as there is comeback in case one breaks with reasonable use, and you're sure that it will be sound.

Owen, that really is truly inspirational work!!!! And Beth, yours is definitely NOT dog poo, just perhaps a little less refined and raw, but beautiful just the same!!!

Thomas, sometimes with artwork, the weld can be a feature, I don't see a problem with it, but I get what you are saying and I don't like to see some unsightly blob poorly done sitting there either. All in the eye, as they say...

yep, that's brilliant!! might steal that one!!

Beth, what mess??? It's beautiful!! Good on you for riveting the head on, I make loads of flowers and I just mig it... I know that's like a dirty word around here though!! Your friend will be absolutely delighted with it!! The punched holes are great too, to stop the punch skidding about on the round stock, I use a tool, kind of like a very blunted rounded punch to create a round, flatish "divot?" (if that's a technical term, I'm not sure!!) It starts to spread the metal and creates a flat area for the punch to seat on. Great stuff!!

if you are very restricted with space you can do very small castings to learn the basics, like pewter or silver, which you can pretty much do in your garage (with proper ventilation), on your back porch or patio, or backyard. Perhaps start small and once you get the hang of it then you can decide whether you can "supersize it' safely within the parameters of your space, and move on to aluminum and brass/bronze/copper alloys.

hehe, don't worry, I get it John!! And yes, my poor man is sooooo neglected...!!! Beth, pretty much everything I do only gets done as a last minute thing... I know one day I should plan ahead, but it never happens... Thanks Tim, it's a little bit thinner now as I made it a little too small so had to stretch it out a bit to fit. It still retains the look of it though, I was hoping for a celtic look!! Just wish I had a buffing wheel to polish it up!

yes, I know John!!!! And, I will now tell you, his birthday was on Wednesday, I decided that this is what I was going to do on Tuesday... afternoon!... I only had two hours in the workshop on Tuesday, an hour of which was occupied by a lovely chat with Ruth, who is my farmer landlady, who is just the most awesomest and wonderful woman, I can't even begin to shrug her off with "ive got to get busy with this" because she's always got time for me and is one of the most staunchest supporters I have in this area! So time being limited I wouldn't have had time to melt it down to start over! So this was completed under pressure in an hour ... next one will be better and more refined I'm sure!! and I know I really should plan my gifts for momentous occasions a bit more in advance!!!

Thanks all, it made a nice change, and I've got a chunk more of it to play with so I may make some more, maybe make myself one! It's 925 Sterling, I was afraid to overwork it in case it cracked, not used to working precious metals!!! Could hardly throw it on the scrap heap if that happened!!!

yes Don, same process, except I annealed in the forge, was careful not to leave it in too long. Pickled afterwards. Well, it's the first time I've ever made him anything, so he was pleased I finally got round to it!

I was working it cold- because of the size of it I didn't want to use tongs on it while forging, as they'd mark it, so I worked it cold, holding it with a gloved hand.

Was my partner's birthday this week, and couldn't find a thing for him, he want a ferrari but that's not quite in the equation... so I decided that i'd make him something, been together for 7 years and i've never actually ever made anything for him so I though I'd dig out the silver and make him a chunky bracelet. I don't work in silver very often, and never really "forged" with it before, only used stock sizes and modified, or soldered together etc. It's not really forged, it's hammered all right, but made from about 1.2mm thick sheet, cut about an 18mm wide strip of around 120mm long. Repeatedly annealed and hammered into shape, couple of twists added. I was surprised at how quickly it work hardened, and how fiddly it was to make the little scrolls that are easy when you're working with 10mm or so hot mild steel, scaled up, but when it gets down to this size quite awkward, it reminded me why I gave up silverwork for the "hard stuff"!! Photos aren't that great and I've not got a buffing wheel, so the silver is still a bit white from the annealing, but that will rub off with wear. Hammer marks are deliberate, he likes it like that!! Anyway, he liked it although it was a bit small so I'm going to have to beat it a bit more to elongate it, but he's happy to finally have something I've made especially for him!! I know it lacks in technical detail, but it was quite nice to get a hammer to something other than steel to see how it compares. Would love to try out some bronze etc to see how that feels too.

you are asking one of those "how long is a piece of string" questions... it all depends on the outcomes you perceive... first and foremost, a brain!! (to work out the most efficient way necessary to achieve your goals.... and all else will follow....)

Randy, what an awesome job!! Best ones are the weird ones, I say!!! Much more meaningful than a ring from Birks... or Peoples.. (or insert jewellery chain store name here!!) Would love to see them polished up!!

Sterling silver is I believe 92.5% silver content, Britannia silver, I can't recall exact but I think about 95% and Fine Silver being 99.9%. and John B is quite correct if it has a uk hallmark you can quite easily ID it. Fine Silver would not normally be used for cutlery or functional items because it is so soft.

Also when (and if) forging, keep surfaces, ie. anvil face/hammer faces/tool faces very clean, highly polished is best, as silver being very soft will pick up anything being pounded into it. Any dents in the anvil, or uneven surface on your hammer will be transferred to the silver.

Really lovely, nicely finished. I bet she was pleased. I really like how you've put the pebbles in, makes a nice contrast! Is the pot painted metal or is it ceramic?

For $300 seems ok for the price, but I would absolutely make some modifications to it, add hinged insulated sides to be precise. Would be good if you are making sculpture, odd shapes etc, but not really ideal if you want to make blades in. Like they said, you need to let us know what you want to use it for. I've got a diamond back metal artist forge, two burners clamshell design with a hinged side. I block off the third side (end) with fire brick to make it more efficient, I think he makes them now with hinged sides all round, which would be ideal. I really like having the versatality of opening sides.. as sometimes I need to put things in that don't fit... let us know what you decide :)

haha brilliant, must have cross post up there, didn't see that pic-- that is absolutely the way to do it. I love how the metal is glowing purple too... (or maybe that's my ancient monitor??) or you must have some magic steel that glows purple instead of orange or yellow! we'll see, doubt i will be able to make that course-i see there's only one place available, i don't know if i can commit to that as of yet... :s

well, I feel my work is done here!!! hehe, I'm glad I've had an influence!! I can't watch the clip, my computer is too old and slow to watch vid, so when I've got a spare moment I'll watch it on my phone. I've never heard of this band.. but I've only lived in dorset for a year now!! And I have to say i've still got to get a stand made for mine, I use them on the floor... I've been thinking of a post vice/slack tub/swage block stand combined or some such combination, (as I've also got a second post vice that needs a place to perch) so keep us informed of your progress there!!

wow, that's really cool, looks solid!!. I love the JK way of bending... way to think outside the Jig!!

jawno, I use a chain hold down on my big anvil, it's a length of motorcycle chain which is nailed to the stump on one side (the opposite side to what you'd normally work) then slung over the anvil, you put your work under the chain and then on the end on your side of the anvil has a square "stirrup" on the end so you put your foot in to hold the stock still. Simple yet effective. I've also been known to to the "stomach vise" and even on occasion the "thigh vise" with the smaller anvil... hehe! (beware with the thigh vise!! one wrong move and there can be consequences!!) Anyway, Randy the shells are really amazing!! Just seems having a press and the tooling to go with it... and the knowledge to make the tooling opens up all kinds of possibilities... I'm still working on the preliminary stuff though!! The longer I do this the more I realize that there's so much I don't know how to do.... Couple of pics of my latest things, been quite busy on the run up til christmas, selling lots of candlestands etc on the market in town, here is a heart fire poker for a lady who keeps coming back and buying heart things.... beth you might like!! bigger heart is how I normally make hearts, do all sorts of things with that theme, thought I'd try something new with the smaller one, split and then turn down the point to create the heart. Didn't really work out and I'll be cutting the top off that -it's a fail !! and welding something else on, think I need to practice my splitting ( I don't really do it very often, as you can tell!!) ...and i left the point bit too long, but I think it will be a nice way of doing it once I've got it right. oh yes, and John B, if you're paying attention I've finally sent my cheque off to join the blacksmith's guild..!

looks good. I'd not be too concerned about the"rough edges" as I prefer some of the shaping edges a little worn down, ie. rounded, (and actually dressed some of the edges on one of my blocks as they were too sharp.) Thing about swage blocks is, that you can get along fine without them, but once you have one you wouldn't be without it, if you know what I mean!!