female_blacksmith

Hi Alex, I live in South Townsville. I have a Facebook page ' Denise Axelsen Artisan Blacksmith ' all my contact details are on there. Always happy to have visitors. I don't know a lot but possibly a bit more than you, and willing to share what I do know.

That's a very beautiful present ! Denise

Hang on a minute, I can't count. I have been blacksmithing 15 years, not 20 + as stated earlier, just feels that way at the moment ! Denise

A couple of years after I started blacksmithing I tore the tendon on my right elbow, treated conservatively and wore a forearm strap for years. Do not wear it anymore and it seems to have disappeared but does occasionally cause me grief. Developed golfers elbow in my left elbow ( pain and swelling on the inside elbow ) that settled down and flairs up occasionally too. Now, for the last year I developed dequervains in my left thumb/wrist and soon after, the same in my right wrist too. That really slowed down my forge working abilities especially the pain and loss of function. So, I have just had surgery, dequerveins release to both wrists. The results 2 weeks on are amazing....instant pain relief and full movement back again, although a bit wasted, so am madly doing exercises to strengthen them. I reckon I will be back in the forge soon. I am seriously pursuing buying a power hammer to lesson the stress to my hands because I am certainly not ready to give up yet. Been blacksmithing full time initially but part time at the moment for the last 20 + years. Hope this is useful to you. Feel free to ask more info if interested billyO Denise

I like it Colleen ! And I definitely think a hand crafted broom finishes it off beautifully. Love how you've shaped the leaves too. A good conversation piece, for sure. Denise

You could direct that little power hammer direct to my place, save you taking it home !

Wow ! Every hour shows, the detail is fantastic. Denise

Hi Ian, I really like the sandstone the sculpture is set in as well as your sculpture. Agree with the other comments on the more you do the sculptures seem to develop more flow and balance as your mind loosens up...does that make sense ? Anyway for me, that appears to be the case...I think. Good luck in the ' Arts ' competition ! Denise

Congratulations Dave, beautiful work. Looking forward to seeing many more of your creations ! Denise

Congratulations Dave, beautiful work. Looking forward to seeing many more of your creations ! Denise

I find a better quality cup brush ( fitted to 4" grinder ) as opposed to a cheap one throws out less spikes, but still wear full face shield protection and a leather apron. Got fed up pulling out spikes from all over especially my face !

Hi Michael, I am from townsville. Welcome to IFI. Corin mentioned you to me thinking I lived nearer to you. Lots of lovely friendly help here !

I use black pen in an A5 sketch book for ideas, then start messing around with grey plasticine to simulate size, method, whether I think it looks balanced, calculate length of steel I might need and then move onto making a sample piece. Most things I make are fairly small though.

I would be interested in watching the whole process. Wonder if I could make a flat pack one that would fit in my suitcase and weigh under 23kg baggage allowance on the aircraft back home !!! .....lol

Wow Alan, I did find this an interesting read and would love to have photos to accompany some of the explanations. it certainly shows up a massive inadequacy in my mathematical abilities when it comes to applying those rules in my blacksmithing techniques ! Maybe that is why I design in an organically freehand way. I like to think and believe that some blacksmiths appear to have a natural ability of knowing when something looks well balanced and just right with no calculations involved, they just seem to know when to stop. ( I certainly struggle with this ) Is that inherited, or just years of making and over time it just develops or maybe a bit of both ? Some of us never ' get it ' yet are very fine blacksmiths, and some of us very definitely do get it. I really do wish I had the confidence and mathematical abilities that you and many others have in abundance but that is what draws me to this site to strive to learn more. It is also wonderful to know that so many people like you are willing to share their knowledge with us all. Thank you !

Loved seeing your painted gate Beth. Now I would really like to see another picture of it in it's final location ! Fabulous !

Hi Geoff, I had trouble too, trying to find others in this area, think Iron Woody is our nearest. I am also on the search for a power hammer too though my workshop limits the size because it's a high pitch roof garage in a friends backyard, so not that big and also surrounded by neighbors. ( live in apt. ) Is your workshop going to be at home, neighbors not a problem ? Fingers crossed for the council approval....very exciting ! If you have no facilities set up, you are more than welcome to come and play at my forge. I have a Tabasco single burner so good for blade making. I would learn a thing or too by watching for sure. I used to have a ' blacker B ' hammer in UK, it was a real beast, vishious at times but good when you could tame it !

Hi Colleen, love the look of the pokers and especially the hooks. I might like to try that myself. When I lived in UK, I made lots of pokers with river twists all the way down to the point with a shepherds crook type handle, which I thought looked good too, another idea to try ? When straightening I took a dull red heat in 6-8" sections and straightened using a long flat 2" thick bit of wood with a wooden mallet as I went and also when I finished. Hopefully, one of our suggestions might work for you.

It is a beautiful gift, pure and simple and I love it and I am sure the ' bride to be ' will treasure it too !

Hi Geoff, Welcome to IFI site. First time I have seen someone from my local area. Don't know alot about knife making but love anything to do with bashing steel. Are there others around here too ? Be great to talk tools, equipment etc. Cheers, Denise.

Beautiful work and welcome to IFI site !

Wow, nice work/vise stand. Mine looks very rickety in comparison...lol....also very jealous ! Welcome to IFI site too.

Wow ! Love the effect of the feathers. Is it all made from mild steel and what have you put on to protect it ? Rather like the colours in it now. Fabulous !

I have just moved into a unit and have just moved my workshop into someone's back garden. There is not a blacksmithing group near me, hence why I like this site so..ooo much. I just started asking people if anyone knew of anyone that would consider having me and that was cheap because I could not afford much. This very kind lady Fiona who is a potter invited me to see her garage that was floor to ceiling with 'all sorts' but it is all coming together now and is perfect. Keep meaning to take pictures and post here. She is surrounded by neighbors but I only forge three times a week max. And keep sociable hours in-between 9.30 - 4 pm and not at weekends. I use a gas propane forge so don't smoke the neighbors washing and no complaints.......fingers crossed. Been there about a month.