metalmangeler

I rarely stamp my work as it takes time, but the idea of useing this as a way of advertisment might make me change my mind.

You might be a blacksmith if when your friend gets a new truck you ask for the axels if he wrecks it or something.

You might be a blacksmith if you would bother to read this.

When I have a tool that I don't use and I want another different tool I make the one that I want, then I have 2 tools you may find that a fuller like the one you have is just what you need 2 weeks from now. Now if you have a bucket of fullers that you don't use......

You will likely have some time in this especially as a beginner it would be dissappointing to make a tool that is junk. For that reason I would try to use the steel that is most apropiate for most jobs.

Hinges always seem to take longer than I would think when I think about the process, and making them large makes them take longer also. The sag issue will go away a lot when they are used together on the door as then the distance beween hinge points increases enough that it takes out most of the wobble. The customers will like it to feel tight though. Nice job.

Great anvil even greater or more rare a great thankfull attitude. :D

Well I took a stab at this and it did not work so I'll try again. Here are some items that I have sold, and continue to carry.

Hey gang, this is Frosty. I'm at Metalmangler's showing him how to attach photos. . . Well, I was learning how to make a pair of tongs earlier but that's not what I'm doing right now.

Anyway, this is a pic of a door knocker Mark made on commission a while back, not that it's a current piece, heck, it sold a long time ago but it's the pic we clicked on to try posting here. Hopefully this is just the start, Mark has lots of pics.

Frosty the Lucky at Mark's.

I think that here in Alaska we have less anvils than in other states, but the reason that people cann't find one is that they don't want to spend what one is worth new. Buying new ones really increases the oppertunities of future smiths. So if you really want to help the future smiths each of us should buy at least a half dozen new anvils to be sold at our estate auctions. Then die before me. I am a little light on my 1/2 doz so I can't die yet.

That clinches the deal.

I think that the Iron Kiss is the hammer to buy. If you deside that you don't like it send it to me, so it won't clutter your shop. I thought that I remember you saying 'I don't need no stinking power hammer.' There is a differece between needing and getting I guess.

Hi Kerry, I haven't been here for a few days. I found an old price for a Bull 125. They came with one set of dies and you needed to supply what ever filter regulator oiler, or they would sell you that for additional $$$$$$$$. Any how the sheet that I am looking at says $6,950 it is stapled to another sheet dated Jan 1 1999 so I suspect that the price is about that old. Maybe that helps some. I have a list of some of the dies that they sold with prices, if you find that he had several die sets I might be able to find what they sold for at about that time frame if it matters.

I went to an estate auction last spring that had a Bull 90 for sale, I was planning to bid up to $4500 for it, but got it for less. I think that the Iron Kiss is likely a harder hitter, as it has a larger cylinder. It should maybe go for more. I have another Bull 90 that I got in 01 I think, they are good machines, they don't seem to hit as hard as the selfcontained hammers but I think that they are easier to do certain things with, so they have advantages and disadvantages. If it has an assortment of dies it may be worth more. Obviously it is larger than the 90, so that should add value, but most likely you are in a place with more options than here so that may subtract some value.

No one has mentioned the method I use so I will, I have a very large pot I mix half paraffin half bees wax and dip, after it is totally melted, (use a double boiler), then pullout after the metal is hot enough that the wax does not build up. It takes a lot of wax to use this system and it takes quite a while to get it all to temperature to use but when you are set up it is the least time consuming to do a large quantity that I know of.

The pricing has always been a difficult aspect, some people have very high oppinions of thier skill and get big $$$$$$$ for it others don't charge enough, IMO, and then you get stuck in there with them. I try to not price according to hours as then as you get quicker the item that you used to get $10 for is now worth $8 even though it is executed better. That said you will find that some things take more time than you will ever get paid for so they need to be dropped from the items that you carry. I try hard to bring things that look like they took longer to make than they did then I get paid well for them. Some day maybe I'll get Frosty over here to show me how to post pictures here. He has helped me with that sort of thing before.
I like your TP holder, good thinking to use the 1/4 x 1/2 for your countersink, you can use round stock for a different look in the same way.

Hi Bryan and Frosty

I am sure glad that Frosty is still functional, even if it is currently at a lower rate than we expect for the future. I hope to meet you at the meeting Bryan. It looks like you both had an enjoyable time, Frosty does have a nice shop you can even find the floor in it. More tongs and dies are always a good idea.

Some other items that you might want to consider that we sell are hinges and hasps these don't go away in large numbers but they are interesting to the customers and keep them there a little longer. Door knockers also fit in this same category. Completing your fireplace sets is a nice touch, but you still want to sell those pokers separate. I normally also bring suffolk latches and door pulls. putting animal heads on some of your hooks helps sell them, pick an animal from your area, if you are in Tex. long horn cows, in horse country horse heads on a horse shoe made into a hook, etc. A few trivets might work, the problem is time not ideas. I like your necklaces if you made some small leafs and added hooks you could see that same girl ear rings as well.

Mostly I make my tongs as I need them now to do some job and it does not take long to make them. We rarely see cheap tongs here but I have seen some from time to time, with other blacksmiths drooling or biding on them. I have been given a couple pair that I never use personaly I thought that they were junk. To heavy didn't look to me like they really fit anything. If I were to buy some now I would buy Off Center for thier lightness and fit, but it would not be likely as I don't plan ahead enough to buy tongs. I have some Tom Tongs and they fit the work fairly well but I like the ones that I have made better as they are lighter. When someone makes tools to sell they have to be able to withstand what ever abuse the unskilled can dish out so naturaly they will be heavier then the more skilled craftsman would like.

Jim bob you may have more mass to keep your anvil together but you might still affect the heat treatment. That said I have always upset in my hardy hole for the fit, but you do see anvils that are broken there.

I hear those saying that if I get paid it is good enough, but only if the customer remains happy with the purchase for the long haul. When a customer is not happy they are likely to tell anyone who will listen.
I also believe that we see things that our customer don't really see but they will usually chose the right one if it is sitting beside one that is not as nice. They see more than they reallize.
That said I recently desided to make some hinges without going over the edges with a flatter to take out the drawing die marks, I have never done this before as it seems undone to me but I think that to some the hammer marks may be an improvment. If they sell well then I will either have a new additional style or good enough will move in a direction that seems less good to me, but maybe better to the customer.

How can you be so sure that the Dr. is wrong? You could get a guard to put in your mouth when working but it wont help when not in your mouth.

From the face book acct. it looks like he has been able to move into the restroom with a walker and some assistance, to do his thing. This is some big improvement.

I went into Anchorage last night to visit Frosty I was somewhat discouraged, Deb was not there at the time, but today I talked to a friend who had seen him about 3 weeks ago and again yesterday she was very encouraged so I understand that there has been much improvement. Please keep praying for both Deb and Frosty. I am sure that they both need it. I will be a vendor at a show in Anc. in Nov. and again in Dec. so I will be sure to stop in to see him then, maybe beween times as well. It is good to hear that he swallowed.

I talked to one of Debs friends, it sounds like they are planning to move Frosty out of ICU tonight. He sounds confused but is talking, likely the drugs are contributing to the confusion. He still needs work done on his leg,and foot, I guess his ribs are healing OK.
Deb is going through the mill as she has been there steady, and needs a break but feels the need to be there at the same time.
Continue to pray for both of them. Mark

looks like a nice anvil.