tomcellwheel

I'll definitely send him an e-mail a little later today. I've heard about your incident, and I know how hurricanes can be devastating....but I'm glad to see both of you are making it out great!

Howdy Frosty! In my time lurking, must have been you that I saw the most post from...and I'll say, its a pleasure to finally say hi! If I meet Dave I'll be sure to tell him you said hi AFTER the fees are paid then . I'll start asking for any tools I can get my hands on. I know the shop at school has a 55 gal drum of scrap metal, I just wish I had a place I could put it. I'll definitely get that out before graduation though. Nice to meet you Frosty; I can't say that I have any planned trips to Alaska just yet, but if and when I do; I'll be sure to let you know!

pkrankow: I've seen an anvil on craigslist, but he only supplied his e-mail address, and I have not received any word from him. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for one being auctioned this weekend at the LAMA event, perhaps I can get a loan from ma pa and finally get me an anvil! Brian: I'll definitely do so when it gets a little closer to graduation time, thank you! youngdylan: Going to be ordering next, thanks! Brasil: I'll start reading that one now! Thank you. Thanks for everything guys.

Thank you bigfoot, I agree, I almost find it hard to believe that all of these happenings can just be co-incidental....so this makes me believe even more that blacksmithing is what I not only want to do, but need to do. I'd hate to see it die away within my lifetime, so I will probably one day be a teacher like Brian...so the art is not lost. If I don't travel, I'll definitely teach any children I have and their friends/school if possible. And Brian, thank you greatly for the offer...may I ask how much five 5-day classes would cost? The summer approaches quickly, and I'd definitely love to come up and see you a few times during the summer. The only thing is I may still be only just as experienced as I get with you this following weekend. As stated earlier, I'm still waiting on my father to buy back our house, then I'll be able to gather all that is needed. I will definitely pick up on any materials/tools I can find though, and stick them in a friends storage unit until I can actually use them.

I like that saying Brian, thanks for the inspiration. NakedAnvil was right when he said its "right in my back yard". 25 min away haha. Its unfortunate that you don't live around here, but I'll definitely have to take you up on those classes one day when I have a decent job.

Thanks for the video Dave, this will definitely be good training for me!

Indeed, I've split wood when I was younger with my Grandfather. Must say, I wasn't tremendous at it (I apparently had a lack in hand-eye co-ordination, but I've tended to have gotten better after a few times), but I got it done! I suppose my biggest drawback will be embarrassment, I tend to expect to much out of myself, and sometimes get embarrassed if I make a mistake. I'll just have to accept that it is bound to happen, and work on making it right, instead of worrying about doing it wrong again.

I look forward to it! I suppose my goal will be to do it under 2 hours then haha. If only I could have started when I was 14, but better now then never!

Wow, thanks everyone...I never expected so much help for a "newby blacksmith". I can't really describe the feeling I am witnessing at the moment....I just know its not one I experience often. All I can say is thanks, and wow. Graf: Thanks for the suggestions! I shall definitely get them all when possible! NakedAnvil: The only reason would be if I get lost (I'm not much of a direction guru, you see!) But I am definitely going to go. Zig: Thanks for the help, I'll have to see if one of my grandparents have any tools they may not be using anymore...perhaps I'll be as lucky as you! Spike: Thank you! I think I may have heard of that one before, I'll have to try and get my hands on it. Brian: I will definitely be coming (I assume I only need to bring the form filled out and some cash, yes?) and I would be honored to meet you. I will warn you now, I've never striked before, so I suppose I should ask that you have patience with me, but I would be very grateful if you wouldn't mind teaching me a bit. I look forward to next weekend! Thanks for everything guys, looks like I've got some reading to do, and I couldn't be happier. If you guys would like (or at least wouldn't mind) I will keep you all updated on my blacksmithing journey. Edit: Brian, you are truly generous and I thank you, but I think I'll work an off-day this week, and I'll be able to afford it. I couldn't ask you to do such a thing, but I thank you for such an offer! I look forward to meeting you!

Hello Nakedanvil, I've seen many of your post around the forums, and I must say it is a pleasure to finally say hi. I will admit there was a time (I would suppose I was 14 or so) when I was the "I wanna make a sword yada yada" type, but I guess I can't really blame myself since I've always been a collector of them. However, I have (I suppose the word would be "matured") enough to know that basics come first. Thank you for the compliment of perception...I know my grammar isn't the best (Cajuns speak differently I suppose) but I do dislike the new, how they say, "L33t-speek" (You know, "lol" and all that jazz). I guess I'm just an old-fashioned kind of person, and would rather be perceived as at least somewhat educated, instead of a kid that can't spell/talk correctly. I had no clue that there was a Metalsmith association in Louisiana, thank you greatly for the find...I will surely attend some of the events they host. I shall PM you soon. Thank you in advance for the books/tongs. Greatly appreciated!

Hello everyone, my name is Joseph. I live in the southern part of Louisiana, close to Lafayette. I am currently 18 years old. For years, I have been interested in the art of blacksmithing. Its something I have always had a passion to learning...but I have never gotten the chance too. My parents were the types to think it was too dangerous or too silly to actually try doing. However, I knew one day I would/will learn to be a blacksmith. I love the thought of being able to create almost anything you wish to have from metal...and have the satisfaction of you making it, and not have simply buying it. I have been lurking on the site for the past month or two, and decided to sign up...As I said, I am now 18...and the perfect time to start my blacksmithing journey...however, I have a problem in which I hope you guys can help me, and I do apologize ahead of time if this is the wrong section, and a "stupid question to ask" since I'm sure you guys have seen it more than once. Basically, I know the basics of blacksmithing, but not enough to where I can feel satisfied. I also have no tools (my parents got divorced, I moved out...my dad is planning to buy back the house from mom, which would be good since I'd have plenty of space to start my blacksmithing journey) and honestly, I don't know what all I need other than hammers/a forge/ and an anvil. So, my question, is there a book (or can you guys recommend absolutely anything) to where I can learn the basics of blacksmithing? Preferably as if I knew absolutely nothing, since I'd like to make sure I know everything I need to know before starting. Also, any recommendations on forges I can buy/build and/or anvils/tools would be greatly appreciated. It may take a good while to get the tools I need (A winn-dixie budget doesn't exactly get you much hobby-time when living on your own haha) but I will get anything/everything necessary to make my hobby how I need/want it. A little about my hopefulness in blacksmithing: I'd like to do blacksmithing for the rest of my life....I would like to be a bladesmith one day as well (probably in a few years, since I'd like to be a *pro* at my basics before moving on...I'm a firm believer in learning my basics to perfection, and then move up each piece by piece). Once I have experience, I would also like to one day help beginning blacksmiths out 1on1 since there never really seems to be any of those guys nowadays. Sorry for the length, and thank you all for anything you can help me with. You all may see me asking questions here and there, so please bare with me. See you guys around, thanks again, Joseph.