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I Forge Iron

JFCat

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  1. Wow, that's really nice. I remember seeing the original thread on this design. I think to get more of the "knothole" look you need to make the hole more oblong. You have it a perfect circle, great for rivets, but not the design you're looking for. Then put in deeper chisel marks above and below. Also, make the chisel marks deeper at the hole and shalowing as they move further from the hole. You could also make the leaf more horizontal and a little bigger and it'd be a cool candle holder. Or bring it more vertial and put on a iris type flower and use it as a nick-nack holder (pens and pencils stuff). Lastly, turn the leaf sideways make it more cupped and turn it into a business card holder.
  2. After relooking at the cost for the gas forge I was a bit high, I added the price of the pre-made burner twice. The school is $550 for 6 days plus $500-600 lodging plus materials. But, it has formal instruction from 9-12 (lunch) formal instruction from 1 - 4 and then open forge into the evening. So lots of hammer time. I plan on building a large reference library, I will start with the books recommended. I think my plan is to go ahead with the school. Getting the right instruction from the beginning makes most sense to me. Plus I will know what tools are supposed to feel like and have the opportunity to try out many different types. I was able to watch a few blacksmithing videos on youtube (a 2 min video takes about 20 mins to watch) and I see a huge variation in the skill and style from smith to smith. So, I may be able to find someone local to teach me, but that doesn't mean they know what they are doing. If I have the basic knowledge I can at least determine if the smith I am watching is someone I'd like to emulate. I'll get a few hammers, that I can afford regardless. Anvil, probably just a chunk of steel (RR) for awhile unless something falls in my lap. Still going to go with a gas forge, simply because of the location I live. Once I move I will learn coal as well, time will tell which I prefer. I guess I can make up a burner myself, at least to start. I've been looking at the Ron Riel design, seems straight forward enough. The just a 10" - 12" pipe of some kind for the outside and all I need buy is some kaowool and ITC-100 and something for the floor (brick or board). Shouldn't be much, fittings and regulator will be the most expensive I think. I'd still prefer to purchase a T-rex, simply because I'd rather be putting hammer to iron than fussing with getting the forge tuned and such. There is a customer built bee-hive shown on the hybridburners site that I like a lot. For now, I'll just continue to read and learn. I learn a lot from the posts you guys make on this forum. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible in the future. If anyone thinks of a reference online I can read up on please let me know. Right now I spend most of my time here and on anvilfire. I've also read the beginning intros on ABANA, good stuff there.
  3. I'm new to all of this, have yet to put hammer to iron. I am kinda wondering the best route to go. I live in central NC so am fairly close to the John C. Campbell folk school. I was thinking of starting my training there, however that's about $1,200 for a week. I can afford it, but just. Or, I could use the money for a beginning shop and learn by trial and error with some guidance of the local smiths (I understand there are a large number of blacksmiths in NC). I'm old enough to know that a solid understanding of the basics will make learning much easier and faster. However, I also know that there is no substitute for practice and having my own (quality) equipment will give me the unreplaceable time at the anvil. Even if I go the school route I can still get a few hammers, hobble together a brakedrum forge and if lucky get a deal on an anvil, if not I can find some kinda of big metal to bang against. Because of the area I live in I may have to use a propane forge, and a home made set-up is $300 - $600, depending on if I make the burner (I think I'd prefer buying one as it is the main factor in forge quality). Nothing will happen prior to the start of the new year (give or take a few months) as I am active military currently in Iraq. Right now I am just reading everything I can find on the subjects and locating resources to use once I start. Already panning on joining local groups and ABANA. Now, changing subjects, I will also be joining the SCA, heard a number of persons here mention it. I had almost joined a number of years ago, but life happened and I never got the chance. So, now I'm stable enough and the wife is interested as well. I know this will be a good compliment to smithing also. So, how many of you are actuallly members? I read a post that someone went to Pennsic this year and there was a smithy set up, love to hear about that. I guess lastly, my expectations for my smithing. I am looking for a business that will augment my military retirement (3 years left). I will be concentrating on small decorative things, fireplace sets, candelabras that sort of thing. As well as the sundery items for the reenactors. I may dabble in small knives, but not the high end speciality stuff. I may also shift focus to ferrier, depends on situation and circumstance. The idea of having a shop in the backyard that I work in is very appealing to me. My brother just retired to a hobby farm (25 acres and 4 horses) and I am very jealous of his lifestyle. So, questions are: 1) How would you start your learning. Formal school or trial and error with (hopefully) the tutiliage of an "ole timer". 2) Who's in the SCA? Persona and kingdom etc... 3) Anyone in the central NC area (I'm in fayetteville) wanna help a newb get started? 4) Resources on the web I can use to get my knowledge up prior to comming home. Gotta be graphic lite as our internet here is really slow, so no youtube unfortunitly. Lastly, ya'll would die if you saw the scrap metal lying around here. A tank (old blown up iraqi T72) is 60 tons of 24" thick steel and just sitting here rusting. Now, that's an anvil! lol
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