Mark Emig

See if this works... IMG_4275.MOV

I think a lot of us have struggled with the "scrapyard tool steel" issue. When I was starting out I had no money, and I used coil springs, etc for my tools. They functioned fairly well and I was able to have some fun using it, but as time went on I used "store bought" tool steel. Much easier to work with a known entity and known heat treat. Basically, if you've got some extra dough, buy the good stuff, if you don't scrap stuff will work-somewhat... I did like uncoiling coil springs-took a long heat, dropped it over a pipe and pulled-unwinds quite easily-kind of like toilet paper coming off a roll.

Wish I had my Fontanini there.... But, we got it done with what we had to work with-everyone went home with a finished hammer.

Beauty and value are in the eye of the beholder-or those with the cash.

One of guys in the class took it with his phone, I'll contact him to see if he can do it.

Lucky fella-Daniel Miller is a very skilled man.

Also, for those who can't see it, maybe try the Northeast Blacksmiths Association facebook page. Sorry about my ineptitude in posting the video-I may be a darned good Smith, but my computer skills stink.

Just a little something to add. I am a professional smith with 20 years experience, Nathan Robertson is a professional with a decade or 2 of experience, and Doug Delrey has many years experience, the dramatic "someones foot could have been crushed and needed amputation" statement serves no one anything. Yes, the anvil was not very stable-dangerous, No. I was there, I caught it with ONE hand for crying out loud, I know what's what and that statement is ridiculous and inflammatory.

Oh,my..... And I wonder why people are too scared and afraid of lawsuits to actually do something.....Nuff said. Goodbye.

The worst that could have happened would have been the anvil tipped over and hit the floor. We were striking like that a good portion of the day.

That's the problem using other peoples stuff-it was at Pat's Forge at Normanskill Farm in albany New York. Hammer class put on by the Capital Districts Blacksmiths, taught by nathan Robertson. Good teacher, fun class. That guy can hit pretty darned hard-he's a heck of a smith. The other problem besides the stump is a small anvil, and a big chunk of steel with 2 guys whaling away with sledges.

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I think my new mantra will be "I have enough tools,I have enough tools....." But it would look good in the shop...................

Get well soon.

Is that what you do at work, instead of work :lol: ???? Seriously, though, nice stuff.

Better a small space than no space at all. You can make a bunch of nice stuff in a little space.

Forgot to add, I'd do the loop first, then twist. When you heat for the twist, dip the loop in water to cool-you can then grab it with the tongs to twist it and not damage the loop. But, that's how I'd do it-there is many other ways, I'm sure.

I'd do the twist and loop after the bowl. The little "loop" is easy. Just let the tip of the nail protrude a little over the far edge of the anvil, and kind of "brush" it with the hammer to start the bend downwards. Push it out a little more and do it again. Then flip the loop so it points upwards and tap it with the hammer towards you while you raise the tongs. Making a loop like that is easy-just don't hit the same place twice. If it'll help I can post some pics for you. If you have a couple boxes of nails, you'll get good at them quickly. If you don't have the stuff to make that jig, you can just make a round hand held punch and use a block of wood-just set the nail on a block of wood and drive it down with the round punch. If you soak the block of wood in water it'll smoke less.

Besides the journey, it's the process of it all also. Spinning is absolutley facinating-it's just a time thing-with kids, 80 year old Dad, rowing........ And I have LOTS of projects partway complete-I'll always have something to do.Thanks!

I get to spread out on too many things, then nothing gets done well. Now that I'm back on focusing on forging, things are going a lot better.

Nice!

Just as a suggestion, you're a Blacksmith doing forgework-make the scrolls bigger (stockwise) than the commercially available stuff-you're making eye-candy-it should look stong, yet graceful. If you're going with lighter stock, the bracket could be 1/4x1-1/4, and the scrolls 3/8x3/4. The 1/8 is just too thin. If you use 1/4 for the brackets you can chamfer the edges with your hammer-it creates another line for light to play on. Another suggestion is rivet the scrolls on. It will be a nice clean look, and the rivets are more eye candy. It is not much more work-by the time you weld, grind and blend the welds, riveting is not much longer. Do it "production style". Figure your length of stock, make a test piece. Then do all the tapers on one end of the stock, then all the tapers on the other end, same with the scrolls. Take a look at the thread "Yard art" -I have some halfway decent scrolls in it-thick material-nice tapers. Just a suggestion-these are in your home-make it nice :) you'll be looking at them for a long time. I have some stuff in my place that I look at now and think "I should have......" And, when you make a nice piece your wife will be more understanding when you need more stuff to make nice stuff........

I make a lot of scolls, and have a suggestion or so-no criticism intended-just some notes from a guy who learned the hard way. Material size- use at least 3/8", and 1/2 is better, and classically designed, the taper should start at the beginning of the curve of the scroll. Long, smooth tapers make a very graceful "light" look. When you look at classical scroll design (and you might not be going for the look) the "negative" space should increase as it spirals around-not be closer to the center as it goes around. The Cosira books (free on-line) have a great section on scrollwork. Once again, this is not criticism, just trying to be helpful. I had a very hard time learning scrollwork-being self taught I had a lousy teacher-and it took me a long time to get good at it. But, once you do some practice work, all of a sudden it becomes easy to make a nice scroll. Also, look at some of the "Golden Rectangle"stuff. Once you have the pattern made from that, it will fit almost any space-and look great.

In answer to the question,have I had any luck with it, yes. I sold it. Spinning is a whole other art form, and I just don't have the time to dedicate to learning it. I spent a bunch of time trying, and realized that I was spreading myself too thin and am going to concentrate on ONE craft. I also tried wood turning with the spinning lathe, and realized I hated that-too many wood chips spewing out all over-don't understand how people like that. So, I sold it to a guy in Colorado who is going to use it for what it is meant for. It is way too nice a machine to sit and rust unused.

I hope you have access to a big hammer/press. Something that size will be fun to knock down into usable size.