horse

I think many of us (me for sure) are humbled when watching blacksmiths move steel with tremendous efficiency, with each hammer stroke being pretty much the exact stroke they intend.  They take a look at a project and the steps to creating the item are clear in their mind for the outset.  These folks to me are blacksmiths.  I love to "heat steel to become black with scale then smiting it".  It makes me uncomfortable to be denoted as a "blacksmith" as I consider myself one who admires the art and when possible light the forge and make things that can be useful and or decorative.  I consider myself a person who is engaging in "blacksmithing".  One of the questions I think many have asked is at what point is one comfortable being referred to as a "blacksmith".  I feel like it may be "never" for myself.

I am far from an expert blacksmith, but I have done a lot of coloring with heat on leaves that I have made.   I polish the steel on a wire wheel so I will be able  see color when it appears.  I like to hold the steel in the dragon breath of my gas forge so I can see the color, when I get the color I want I quench to hold the color.  No idea if 400 degrees is the right temp or not.  I then Immediately warm the steel again so it is hot enough to melt beeswax or carnuba, coat it with my wax and wipe with a cloth.  It has worked for me.

I know that this is an old thread, but I found it interesting to read.  I am a Newbie here on the site.  I have been soaking up what I can for quite some time and have contributed less than a handful of posts.  I think that there are some of us that try to find a way to post something, anything so that we can feel a part of this community.  I have read through enough posts to feel like I know some of the regulars on here and now know something of their personality etc.  I assume there are a lot of friendships that have evolved here with folks that have never met.  I think it is great.  I know that one of my first posts was an attempt to be funny, gotta say it didn't translate well as no one knows anything about me.. Lesson learned.  Long story short, I believe that there are some folks that may come across as ignorant or even trolls that are really just trying to "join the party" so to speak.  I hope to be a non offending newbie with a worthwhile thought or question from time to time. 

Thanks guys

Nice post regarding the plow work Glenn.  I have some draft horses (no plow) and have attended many plowing bee's.  Most of the old plows in use would not go into the ground and bounced in and out if you could get them in at all.  One of the old horseman (now deceased) was a blacksmith of some note in these parts.  He loved to chuckle as most of the plowman cursed and adjusted draft etc etc. on their plows to get them to work.  His son was the beneficiary of a plow that had been set up in the smithy and always plowed along happily making nice straight furrows and having no trouble at all.  I regret not getting into his shop and taking some note.  I did overhear him one day "dress" a man up pretty good when he asked if he could send his son over for a "half a day" some time to learn the blacksmithing trade.  I don't remember the conversation word for word but at the end everyone was clear that a half a day in a forge does not make a Blacksmith.

P.S I do have what I have been told is a plow makers anvil in my shop.  It is a nice anvil (a friend is allowing me to use it) I would love to buy it but not sure I will ever talk him into it.  He does not blacksmith but found it cheap many years ago.  I will take a photo and see if someone can identity it.  I believe it may be a Hay Budden but cannot find legible markings on it that would identify it for me. 

Very nice work, took me a long time on my own to get anywhere close to that kind of finished work.  Incents me to get a few more lessons.

I am right handed and left eye dominant.  I learned this at a relatively early age but paid little attention to how it might affect me. Recently I have blamed this for most of the "misses" in my life I.E. blacksmithing (when I miss my mark) pool, horseshoes, baseball etc.  I was interested in Thomas Powers comment about angling for his dominate eye.  I never really think about it but seems I might improve if I were to focus on the stronger eye.  Have played hours and hours of pool and still get beat all the time.  Must be the opposite hand eye phenomenon.  Right??  Or I just cant shoot pool more likely

I have been whacking away for a couple of years now and very part time at that.  My first and only hammer at the time, was the one you pictured.  I made a lot of stuff with it and knew no better.  It worked for me at the time. As time went on the projects I was working on told me what I wanted for the next hammer.  I now have a cat's head straight peen, a few ball peens (different sizes are nice depending on what you want to do) and I recently acquired a nice diagonal peen that I really like.  I still use the original hammer a lot as it feels good to me on light work.

As others have stated, as a pure novice I can tell you the most important thing is to start hitting some steel, getting it to move in the direction  you desire and you can have all kinds of fun with the only hammer in your  possession.  Yep just start hitting some steel, get a simple plan or project and see where you land.  You will also soon learn how to best shape your handle.  Take a little off at a time until it feels right for you.

Whoops was just trying to be funny with a ridiculous no point question not a bait, just hoping and believing that Mr. Thomas would get it, maybe not.  Mostly I just wanted to say thanks to all the smiths  on the site.  Sometimes it is impossible to see one's tongue in cheek via the keyboard.  My hat is off to Powers for his succinct responses to specific questions. 

As to my skill level I would say I am very much a beginner but have been spending as much time as I can for a couple of years.  I mostly use a gas forge and have not yet been able to weld in it.  I use a coal forge from time to time, it needs some work, and I occasionally get a weld to stick.  I make odds and ends and the people I give them to seem to appreciate them.  I have draft horses so have made quite a few horse head wall hooks, door knockers and other things with the big shoes.  

Again no harm meant just a bad humor attempt I suppose

Cant think at the moment of a specific vernacular issue, but sometimes I struggle to follow series of elements to completing a project when it is described by smiths that share the common language.  No fault of the person giving the guidance just hard to visualize sometimes.

Paul 

Mr. Thomas, I possess a forge, hammer and an anvil.  Where can I find some steel and what should I make with it?  I hope that is specific enough for some great information. 

My first post, but have been lurking here for some time.  I have learned much from many of you here.  This is a great site and hope to continue learning from those (which is almost everyone) that have more experience, knowledge and wisdom than me.  A couple of years ago my neighbor gifted me with a corner of his welding shop and I have set up a bit of a smithy in there.  I have access to grinders, vises, welders etc. etc.most of which I could  not afford if I had to source it on my own.  He has been a great blessing. 

I do have one thought, many of us who are very self taught can get confused with some of the standard vernacular used by veteran smiths.  I ask for patience in the future if I ask a question that may be obvious to those that have been doing it for a long time, but still confusing to those of us just beginning.

Thanks to all who post here.