Arean Ellis

Just got served a 'zoning violation' for blacksmithing. Looks like I'm shut down for a while.

It's sooo low grade that I was finding more bubbles as I ground deeper. It's value as a swage block is very low. I'll grind deeper later to see if I can pass the current bubbles. I'll post some pictures later on.

I was given a piece of pattern welded steel yesterday... just the left overs from another project. What a pain in the butt to work! I put a twist in it and then tried for a bottle opener. I spent more effort trying to avoid splitting the fragile steel than actually forming the bottle opener.

1) Name
Arean

2) Location
Paradise, CA (Nor Cal)

3) What type blacksmithing do you do, what do you make.
A lot of bottle openers and cork screws

4) How and when did you get started in blacksmithing
Less than a year ago. A friend invited me over to his house for beer and piton forging.

5) What object or thing did you use as your first anvil,
Large chunk of pot iron, probably a weight of some sorts

6) Tell us about your first forge, hole in the ground, camp fire, brake drum, stacked bricks,
Steel bucket, lifted off the ground with bricks, many holes drilled in the bottom. Actually worked great. No need for forced air.

7) Who assisted you or encouraged you in the craft
Dave Richer and Brent Bailey

8) What event changed your attitude about blacksmithing
The first time I walked into Dave's shop and found how willing he was to show me around and share information. He could have changed my whole attitude about the trade right then and there.

9) What tool has changed or made your life easier in the shop
Better hammers and an anvil

10) What advice would you give those starting out in blacksmithing
Find a mentor

11) What advice would you give those already involved in blacksmithing
Find peers

12) What are some of the interesting things that have happened to you in your life as a blacksmith. Please add any thing we may have missed or should have asked.

I do have a doubt that it is a Harbor Freight anvil....So, here are some pictures....

The markings are "USA IAF"

Awesome! Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

Go ahead and do it if you want, but that HF anvil is not tool steel. It's cast iron.

:) I'm pleasantly surprised that no one has said "Don't do it, you'll regret it!"

Thanks for the replies!

What is a cone swage? A groove that tapers?

Good point about using the sides! I'll use those areas first.

I'm very tempted to turn my small 15 lb harbor freight anvil into a swage block. I would put a veining groove and a depression for 'dishing'.

I figure, 'where else am I going to find an adequate piece of tool steel that size and weight?'

Currently I use a piece of mild steel for veining, but have already noticed some deformation of the groove.

I bought the anvil for $10 at a garage sale.

Any thoughts or opinions?

Is there another low cost alternative?

Searching hasn't brought any good threads...though I'm sure they're out there.

Any tips and tricks or a link to a thread on how to do collars?

I've found copper makes it easier....but still want to know the 'right' way.

Thanks!

I lived on Friendly Way in Paradise- not so friendly bunch lived there also, bum fights in the street a couple of times a week

Great area! Are you going to the CBA Octoberfest at Cazadero? You're luck to have so many great smiths around you!

Just remember when forging copper there pretty much is no length where it's safe to hold it in the bare hand when heating the other end!

please tell me where you live is, actually called paradise.......................

Good job- looks like Paridise not Chico. I was up there for a year when I went to Butte College for pipe welding

Thank you all, for the compliments!

The finish is bee's wax and boiled linseed oil.

Thank you all for the responses! I had a blast making this sign. I'm very happy with the way it came out. It's the largest piece I've made to date.

It is one sided...but this basic design concept was what I wanted to go for.

Here is the finished product:

Just saw this in a random search and had to share...





I need one!

I haven't. Just did a google search though. Seems difficult to find. I don't have the funds to purchase one right now. Thanks for the tip.

...I'm using 5/8th round for the main 'trunk' and 3/8 round for the scroll. The lettering is 5/16 round.

Here is my best design so far...
Any other ideas or changes you could think of making? I'm having a hard time settling on any one idea. Nothing seems to fit the lettering as well as I would like. I'm tempted to go with a vine theme...but am worried the final product won't turn out as well as I would hope.

Cheers!

Drilling a starter hole in the cube will help center the ball.

Grinding a decent sized flat area where the hammer strikes the ball works well to protect the upper die from hash marks....

Beautiful job!! I really like the effect the ball gives.
Those edges and bulges are the look I'm after exactly. Did you also use the quenching technique that Peacock uses?
Do you guys start out with a true cube shape I.e. As wide as it is tall under the hammer or have you found a better geometry?

i'd weld a flat plate to the top of the ball ..... or you may end up with a bunch of divots on your top die in the powerhammer...

just in case

This one was done with a power hammer. The tool used was a broken tow ball welded on to a length of steel for a handle.