Chris_Riffe

Brian, It is no wonder that the bottom cut hardy I took a picture of looks so good. Daniel just pointed out that it was the one you made! He had swapped it out with the one we made becuase the hammers and your hardy are going into the iron in the hat next weekend. Daniel thought folks would be a whole lot more willing to pony up for your hot cut than ours. Cheers, Chris Riffe

Clinton, Very well done. I am ashamed to admit that Daniel and I still have not finished the two pairs we started when we were with Brian. We have two pairs we made while in Mississippi to allow us to build the hammers, but we really should finish the others just to stay in practice. Maybe tommorrow night...or this weekend

Brian, Thank you. Daniel will be tickled that you replied! We forged the first hammer at our HABA demonstartion (and the hot cut hardy) and then the following weekend forged the second hammer and a top cut hardy to give to the George Ranch Historical park. The second hammer was much better than the first one, so Daniel decided that we had to re-forge the first one to more closely match the second. He is becoming more descerning as he forges more pieces and more people are looking over his shoulder. As always, Daniel and I much appreciate the assistance you provide us. We are constantly going back through your forum posts and pictures to learn the techniques and processess. Time to roust the boy and head to the forge..... Cheers, Chris Riffe

Clinton, Truth be known...Daniel made the chisel in a hurry after we returned from Brians shop so he could practice making flowers. It works well but it ain't pretty. I threw it in the picture to try and encourage the young'un to strive and produce better looking products. He is none to happy to have his "less than stellar" works posted either here or on his blog page. On the other hand, he does pick up the pace afterwards! This morning we are off to forge another top cut and a hammer eye punch for the next "iron in the hat". The mean ole' Dad.

My son Daniel and I have been practicing the tool building skills that Brian Brazeal and Lyle Wynn tought us several weeks back. Attached are some of the tools we have forged. Not quite perfect reproductions of Brazeals forgings and we are a lot slower. On the other hand we are getting better as a team every weekend that we forge together. Cheers, Chris Riffe

Lyle, Very nice! Here is a picture of some of Daniels forgings. You will note that he is purposely trying to make them a little different than the ones you and Brian showed him. Daniel and I are also forging tools together on the weekends. I'll post another picture in the general section as Alex had asked to see some of the tools we make. Thanx again for all you do. Cheers, Chris Riffe

My son 15 year old son Daniel (www.theapprenticeblacksmith.com) took Brian's Forge to Finish class at the Louisiana Area Metalsmiths Conference (a really great group) and I was so impressed with Brian's ability to show one how to move metal that Danial and I traveled to Brian's shop in Mississippi to learn even more. Now, I am able to forge fairly respectfully and Daniel is leading tool making demonstartions both within our association (www.habairon.com) and at the George Ranch Historical Park where he works as a blacksmith. Daniel is much more confidant of his skills after spending time with Brian and has a better grasp of how to start a project without wasting a lot of time. I would (and do so often) encourage anyone wishing to take there forging up a notch to take any opportunity available and spend some time with Brian Brazeal.

Lyle, Daniel and I sincerely thank you for chronicling our efforts at learning the blacksmithing craft from you and Brian. I suspect that the nine days we were with you folks seemed like quite a while to you; but it flew for Daniel and I! Thank you also for showing us the Mississippi Craft Guilds facility. Both it and the Agricultural Museum are first tier facilities promoting the best of the best of what Mississippi has to offer. I know of no other states with such an impressive devotion to the crafts. Also, please pass along Daniel and I's scincere appreciation of the efforts of the Mississppi Forge Council in putting together a very fine conference. Your council is populated with very skilled and personable individuals, and we much enjoyed the hospitality extended to us. Daniel learned a great deal from everyone he met during our time with you and Brian. I cannot imagine that a more productive learning experience could be found anywhere else at any price. You folks (spouses included) are one very fine team that really went the extra nine yards to ensure that we were as productive as we could be. Daniel is back to work at the Ranch Forge and he and I will be practicing making hammers this weekend in preperation for this months HABA meeting where we are expected to demonstrate what we learned. I would have posted this note sooner, but Moma is out of town with the Red Cross and I am pretending to raise the kids in her absense. Do you reckon Brian would let Karen come over and cook for the next week or two? Daniel and I will definitley be back to spend time learning with you again. Just let us get a little more practice on our anvils and we will be ready for the next in the Brian and Lyle series of forging techniques. Time to pull the casserole from the stove..... Cheers, Chris Riffe P.S. Alec.....we got to finally see your snails. Nice! Daniel and I talk about your skills often and imagine that you are as happy as Daniel is now-a-days when he is at his anvil.

Lyle, What a wonderful job that you and Brian and Karen and Patricia are doing in promoting blacksmithing to younger folks. The four of you are a great team and my son Daniel is totally at ease when learning from you all and we are both looking forward to making the trip to Mississippi. I have a lot of respect for those who give back to society, and you folks certainly do so! Alec has obviously taken away a great deal knowledge, confidence, and is certainly "jazzed" up from his time in Mississippi(as if that young man needs to be any more excited about metal working). I am also glad that Alec was able to meet so many good smiths while he was state side. Daniel did a good job demonstrating yesterday. He was at it for about three hours and ran through just about every process he knows. Several of the peices are ones that you and Brian have shown him. The only hiccup in his presentation was a failed forge weld that was just not quite there. He is getting pretty good at forge welding, so it was a bit of a blow to his ego. However the students and teachers were just as impressed with him pulling apart the hot forge weld (full body and a leg up on the vice; it was pretty funny) as they were watching him make it to begin with. I am hopeful that Daniel and Alec will stay in touch as they both seem to have quite a bit in common (forging anything they can get there hands on). Thanx again, Chris

Lyle, Thank you for posting the pictures and passing along the total dollar amount the event raised. My son Daniel and I had a great time with you folks on Saturday and are still talking about what a talented guy Alec S. is. Daniel was hard at it again at his forge on Sunday and will be demonstarting for a private school tomorrow. He will definitley be pointing the teachers and students to view your photos of Alec S. in action. Daniel and I are looking forward to seeing you at Brian's shop come the end of May. Cheers, Chris Riffe