Christopher M

Nothing to do with Francis Whitaker

Thanks you guys for the compliments.
Ed I that bit about the hooks I did that on my second rack with using right angle bend on top. I'll try getting some pics of that one up.

Mine is a 2 1/2lb crosspein that I picked up at a garage sale.I have a couple of japanese style that I use alot also but for all around forging I use the garage sale find. The head is angled slightly downward and hits sweet.I'm sure it was owned by a blacksmith type since I got it with an old fisher anvil and a couple of drifts at the same sale.

This is a pic of my first potrack.It is made from 3/8" square mostly.What do you think????

Oh yeah please post pictures of your own.Here's a closeup of my anvil.

This is my forge setup in my garage.There is just enough room left for my pickup truck.I figure I've forged about 50-60 tantos there so far.

Yoyu can probably find some big hunk of steel somewhere try a scrap yard.I'm not saying that that anvil will not work heck I forged my first tanto blade on a 10lb enders anvil.It worked and it came out great but I think I got that one for about 4 bucks at a garage sale.

I just use plain old dish soap the cheap kind you get for a buck and a sponge.I works great for me of course my blades usually go right to etch after sanding.

Iwas really happy with the way it turned out I made it after seeing a tutorial on primal fires.

I used that at my first real job 29yrs ago as a custom picture framer.We used it for blending the finish at the mitered corners.A lot of the frames were gold leaf.

Could it be for use with a tape measure?

Angle iron is very handy for making escutcheons for plant hangers door knockers and such.The center rib makes a nice architectural feature especially for crafstman type hardware.

Wool !!!!!!! Yipes that would be torture for me can't even wear it in cold weather.

I live in the Grand Valley of Western Co. and it really gets hot in my forge since I use my garage.I get to a certain point were I'm covered with sweat and then the heat doesn't bother me in fact it kind of feels good but plenty of liquid is essential.