ianinsa

Thanks for the info

Nice Rose! What's the reason for the high value on 1930 pennies?

Hi Gert, I've sent you an e-mail , we can get IR units that easily read up to 1650 degrees Celsius but you spend about $1200 plus the DHL cost plus duty plus Vat. Ie. Long bucks! If you want you can 'play' with mine and compare to a 'K' type thermocouple in one of my forges when you next come around. As you know I'm not really a 'knife maker' so I'm pretty sure you don't need one(though its a nice to have) also Bowler Udderholm isn't that far from my place there you can buy 'all the exotics ' you may want and they do the heat treat as well.

I think its more a case of : not enough money in it and too easy to make and very forgiving....:...... John Emerging saw them in his neighbor's glass blowing kiln and found out how they were made and in his generous way posted a really good "how to" I'm really impressed by and grateful for the 'sharing nature ' for the Gearhart folk(both John and his glass blowing neighbor)

Merry Christmas to all!

Hi Adrian, I'm currently on a months holiday at my home in Uhmlanga near Durban. However as per usual I'm always ready to offer free accommodation to traveling blacksmiths at my place in Kyalami in Johannesburg , I have a large fully equipped shop there. Furthermore depending on timing we may be able to help with accommodation in Natal as well. I will E-mail you soon( say in 2 weeks) I'll also see if I can organize something with some other smiths. Regards Ian

Too long a drive for me so please post pictures!

Traditional methodology, as opposed to traditional materials, either way its all in the marketing! The Luddite mentality will say "no power tools" , well they usually haven't a clue as to just how long power hammers have been around. Then some weeks ago I saw a reference where there is now credible speculation that the Romans may have used water driven grindstones? So I guess as long as you are using charcoal, gathering your own ore, black sand etc. and have a rock tied to a stick and a large stone to beat on then no one can accuse you of not being 'traditional'...... Marketing =BS wins hands down. You might not need it but 'everyone knows' that 'things go better with Coke'

Stunning

Gote, if you check the dictionary definition of 'mythology ' maybe you'll understand ! Glenn, my understanding that is, with actual dateable iron (cast not meteoric) artifacts comes from my travels around China. They have artifacts from the Zhou dynasty of iron items. I believe there have been recent finds of iron foundries and artifacts that C14 dating had placed at much earlier than this in Uttar Pradesh in India.

BG, how would you propose picking cherries (think large but fragile trees) with an engine hoist?

Where did you pick up this system of timekeeping?

Try putting a bit of 'essential oil' like peppermint into the tank and 'follow your nose' That said, it's good practice to shutdown and drain your tank regularly maybe you could do it overnight every night

Very nice, did it take much more time than expected?

Ditto, but I might get a clip on the ear if caught doing so!

There are quite a few around! Most are concentrating so hard on making the biscuits they are ignoring the crumbs. Ian

Is that some form of 'exotic dancing ' by plus sized girls/boys ?

Vaughn, whilst I agree with you in principle wrt. The first world I was trying to bring some balance for the OP who for reasons known to himself neglected to add his location. I would guess (this is from observation not research mind you) that there are more blacksmiths in Southern India than the entire population of Alaska (sadly only seen during Tourism season) then too there are probably more metalsmiths in Khan Al Khalil market in Cairo than in all of the British isles. Many of the goods that westerners presume are made by large automated machines(like nailclippers) are often made in a factory using smiths operating a series of fly presses. On my last trip to Abu Dhabi my friend there got a contract to supply hand forged balustrades for some 140 villas(30m each plus a staircase plus a chandelier each) so even with a low oil price etc.

Panda (sorry spellcheck won't let me add the y) no dis intended. Whilst I can sew(made curtains for my home after a divorce) this would be something for the 'tent and canvass ' guys IMHO

Vaughn , it may seem like I'm spoiling for a fight, which I'm not! Yet your comments are very Eurocentric (although you are American) vast parts of the world and millions of people (not some arbitrary 1%) still rely on the local blacksmith. You refer to the civilized world? The middle east has been civilized for eons (not that you'd think it the way many of them are currently behaving) yet the blacksmith (well metalsmith) is still very relevant and is by no means a 'dying ' trade. The Affluent and there are still many of those and the hotels that serve them are still discerning customers. You might be surprised if you got the 'blacksmith spend' in the USA alone if you looked at upmarket residential and not at 'kings ' clientele.

Panda, that 'pouch' solution looks just the thing. You could have canvas eyelets to hang it up ! And you can roll it up for storage/demo etc.

Panday, personally I don't care what your beliefs are, and frankly they are not really relevant, it's rude and uncalled for to refer to another person's religious beliefs as mythology! When someone refers to their religious beliefs, and yes you may not believe in Lord Rama, the Jin, Ganesh, Seth, Pan, Lucifer, the great earth Mother, Buddha , Ron L Hubbard, Jesus , Yahweh or Muhammad etc. it causes uncalled animosity surely we have enough troubles in this world without you also peeing in the tea pot. Ian

Matto seems to have it sorted! Check it out in "brain went blank"

As they say" plausible but questionable "

Nice looking shop! And Dang that place is clean! However, a "WHITE " set of chisel holders, probably also hand crafted by the owner of the iPad? You seem to have your ducks well and truly lined up.