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I Forge Iron

aranree

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  1. Brian is offering classes in Bryan, Tx a few days before the demo. It's short notice but a great opportunity if you live in central Texas. PM me or Karen for details.. Alan Lee
  2. Welcome JustinJ, You could not be more fortunate, to be so close to Thomas Dean in Hallsville. Most of the blacksmithing community is a very sharing bunch, but Thomas is over the top. Go take a beginners class from him. He will put you on the true path and save you time and money. Then begin to take every opportunity to hang out with like minded people. The East Texas Group is fairly defunct now, so go meet the guys at ntxba.org and habairon.org(Houston). The ntxba.org event, labor day wknd, will be a great event to start. I will be there Sat. and Sun. For you, go see Gordon Williams, he will light a fire under you. HABA has an event Oct 5-7 that would be excellent for you. Come to the Combo-Demo Feb 16,2013 at Steephollow Forgeworks in Bryan, it's free. Alan Lee
  3. I'd like to thank Brian, Karen, and Lyle for extending an invitation to and the opportunity of a lifetime to three talented young smiths. I view this as testimony to Brian's ability to convey understanding of what is happening when we forge. The demo will be an inspiration to all ages, but I hope especially to young, interested folks. We need more of them. Unable to attend, I to I'm looking forward to the videos. Back home, we at the Houston Area Blacksmithing Asso. and Balcones Forge are thrilled that two of our best will represent us at a national conference. Way to go guys. Again, thank you to Brian, Karen, and Lyle. Alan Lee
  4. Tycho, I would recommend Chuck Stone in the Dallas area, but any beginning course will be a start. Then take another and another until your skill level increases. Get in touch with Mike Clark at the North Texas Blacksmithing Association( ntxba.org). They just had gas forge workshop last month and I believe they built more than 25 forges. I would hold off on making or building any forges or tools until I had a chance to spend some time with other like minded people. Blacksmiths are generally very willing to share knowledge and info. Being self taught in blacksmithing is difficult, so make some connections and by all means take a class. Alan
  5. I got quotes last week for 20' pieces of 1 3/4" & 2" 1045, as I prepared to help some homeschoolers make their own hammers. That was over $400. Of course, that was enough for 120 hammers. Then yesterday, a customer in my shop said why don't you ask a hydraulic cylinder repair shop if you can have scrap and drop from their repairs. So I approached the manager of the local hyd cyl shop, told him what I was doing and he said I could have all I wanted. All the rams are made of 1045. When I told him I would make him a hammer, he lit up. This round stock has one half of one thousanth chrome on it, which should grind off easily with a flap disc. And the price is right. Alan
  6. For the record,there is a knock off of Roger's firepot by Laurel Mississippi Forge. That's where I bought my first one. They are identical, very thick. Not sure if LMF is still producing them and would really rather see Roger get the business. Snachted the last one I bought was right out from underneath Brian Brazeal at the 2010 LAMA conference that someone had put in the auction. No one else could figure why either of us was willing to pay $200 for a used firepot. Been in this firepot for 8 years now and still not sure when it will burn out. Also, for the record, Brian has burned out three of these firepots in his lifetime and it probably would have been six of any other. Back when he had a lot of industial coke.
  7. Thomas; Yes we encourage all to tailgate with Jeff, Carlton, and I. We will certainly have a number of things for sale, including anvils and forges. Jeff and I plan to demo at the same time side by side, similar to what Amit and Sur Sudan did in Memphis. We'll see if we can pull that off. We plan to utilize all 5 of our power hammers, so that everyone will see that like a boat, each power hammer has it's own use. A big plus is that James Johnson is going to bring either a 33# or 55# Anyang for anyone to test drive. We plan to start early and run hard all day. It's going to be our comming out party because we've never done a demo before. Jeff and I have been taking and taking from blacksmithing community for years and we feel like it's time we gave something back. We hope it could become an annual event---wish us luck. Would be honored if you could be here. 77iron; as an aside----My mother was born in Commanche, both sides of my grandparents lived in Brownwood, where I spent my summers and both my parents graduated from Howard Payne Univ. So I appreciate the landscape you live in. Hope can be here on Feb. 19.
  8. 77 iron; Listen to Thomas Dean and join a group of like minded people. Balcones Forge would be the easiest for you. They have 2 conferences a year, one in spring and one in the fall in Marble Falls. Their monthly meetings often have a green coal forge set up and plenty people to offer help. The north Texas group is still viable and another option for you. And the last is HABA(Houston Area Blacksmithing Asso) which has their 2 conferences In Oldenburg,Tx(Outside La Grange) in the spring and the fall. It just so happens that the monthly meeting of both groups in February(19) will be held in Bryan,Tx at Steephollow Forgeworks. Come join us for what we hope will become a yearly event. My brother, Jeff and I owe much of what we do and know about forging to many members of these groups, and this meeting is going to be our way paying back the blacksmithing community at large. That includes you to Thomas Dean,old friend, hope to see you there. Alan Lee
  9. Kerry; You also might consider turning the anvil 180 degrees when you set this hammer up again. One of your pictures shows the key for the sow block in the back of the anvil----it will work either way----but it is a lot easier to deal with when it enters and exits from the front. This also should put the key for your bottom die in front as well. Alan
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