TomN

Great programme I thought. Really informative for people in and out of the craft. It was great to see that a lot of people are still trying to carry on the craft, such as thouse in Glasgow making the cast iron fixtures. Such a shame that its not more widespread. Nice to see when British craftmanship was top of the World, but now everything is imported and generally of a lot less quality.

Wonderful stuff. You seem to have your own unique style as well. Very inspiring. Hope to keep seeing more of your work.

Just watched the clip on the birdcage. Wow! Now that is craftmanship. What a shame it would be if we lost that sort of skill.

The last programme was on armouring. A lot of work from Henry VIII personal collection and similar styles. Absolutely incredible craftmanship! The designs were functional to the point they would save a persons life but also incredibly beautiful. I was blown away by the skill on show. Can't wait for the blacksmith one on Wednesday!

Thanks VaughnT. The hold down tool, is on my rather large 'to do' list. Currently surviving without it! The anvil stand, I am still waiting on. I had last week off work to work on some commissions. Sadly I got ill and didn't get a lot done. I did get over and do some more setting up of the gazeebo, so I can work in the rain though. As you can see from the above pictures, the gazeebo now has 4 'sides' to it, made from tarpaulins. 2 are permanently closed and the other 2 can be drawn back and fastened to a corner, when i'm using the forge. The forge needs to be kept outside of the gazeebo as it will possibly set it on fire with me in it. Not really willing to take that risk. But everything else is inside and I have so far managed to keep almost totaly dry whilst using it. Once i've finished for the day I put everything inside the gazeebo and close up the sides. As you can see I keep all the electrical equipment off the damp floor, by placing it on a pallette. I made a start to a commission. on a couple of wall brackets, for a kitchen shelf. Only did a day on them before I got too ill to carry on. These were designed with the customer at the Thame show, to their exact specifications. Here are the backing plates. The shiny part on the top one, is where I got some clinker stuck to the metal and couldn't get it off. So I used an angle grinder and a flap wheel to smooth it out. Unfortunately the clinker burn into the metal a little and left some pockmarks in the surface. Not sure if I will be able to fill them in. in any way, or if I will have to make a new one. There are 2 holes in the ends to screw the plate into the wall. Then a square hole punched for the tenon, of the crossbar, with a countersink on the back of the plate. There is also another round hole, for a rivet to attach the scroll near the bottom of the plate, which is also countersunk. Here is an image of the back of the plate, with the square hole and its countersink. Here is an image of the square 'plug'. I will put in some more images soon and try and keep this updated, as I go along.

Very interesting thread here. In many different aspects. I honestly didn't realise that people were still practising a form of 'Norse religion'. Where is your friend from? The Norse mythology appeals a lot to me. But i'd feel a little wrong pratising it as a religion, as i'm not Norse. Would feel mildly hypocritical. Good luck with your endeavours!

After having some serious problems with the rain recently, I decided to try and setup a cheap gazeebo to try and keep the rain off a bit. Had a go at it today, when it was raining and windy. Got it up and tied some heavy breeze blocks to each corner to anchor it down, then tied another bit of rope to a post that is conreted into the ground and looped it around the top junction and then tied it to a brick, and put that brick at the bottom of a pile! Pictures below: Every join has been gaffer taped and all knots have been gaffer taped and held together with cable ties as well. Hoping it will stand up to a windy and rainy night tonight! Last image shows it with a side attached, which is just a tarpaulin that has been cable tied to the bars.

Cheers Beth. Yep things are coming along, bit by bit. Just FYI, plant pot holders were asked for a number of times at the show in Thame, so that might be a good thing to make! I am hoping to go to the workshop a few times in the week after work now. Just to get a few bits done and make a little progress on the commissions. Sadly that means I need to get into work early, so I can leave early. I do NOT like mornings though!

Got 400kg of good coke last week. 100kg at my workshop, with the other 300kg in my garage. I've also got my second commission accepted for a fire place companion set. Custom designed with the customer at the Thame show. Got rained on a lot this weekend. I bought a cheap gazeebo to put up, but it might need some modification to fit around the workshop area.

Might just go for my name! I've done some searches and there are no things near it. I think that would probably be sensible, seeing as the medievil things I am interested in, I currently can't make anyway. Think thats the name sorted then. Just to set going on getting a wesbite now then!

Owen - Though I do agree with you that gimicks are not really important, I do want something memorable. I definately agree that a customer is buying into the smith as well. To that end I am hoping to keep my website full of interesting information and updates. I will probably keep a sort of blog section and keep adding many pictures. A facebook page would probably be useful as well. Anything like that is essentially free advertising, even if it is slightly time consuming to keep up together. I want people to feel like they are getting a personal touch to their items. I want people to think they know a bit about me as well. I think a good website and customer care etc, will be the breaking of a business, rather than smithing ability. I'm certainly naive when it comes to running a business, including the laws but it seems only sensible to me that artvertising and keeping customers happy will be the majority of the battle. Feel free to put me right! More than willing to eat a whole bucket full of humble pie!

All of that is true, but i'd like a unique name! I think I may have found one. I was looking at Saxon Gods, as i'm interested in that anyway! The smith God Volundr (Weiland in Old English) is already taken. Weiland had no apprentice sadly. Then I found some of the other Saxon Gods. Ermunaz (Eormen in Old English) was a God meaning strong, or whole. Thats how blacksmithing makes me feel, so Eormenforge.co.uk or eormensmithy.co.uk it is likely to be. Or I could go for Thunorforge.co.uk. Thor's name in Anglo-Saxon.

Not been smithing long, but up until recently my most used hammer has been either a small 32oz ball pein hammer, which I have used for thin stock. I have also been using a 4lb lump hammer for just about everything else. I find for punching holes and making cuts, its got plenty of clout behind it, with not a lot of effort. Recently i've had to use it for drawing out the reins on some tongs, from 16mm square stock. That took a lot of hammering, but its building up the strength in my forearms and shoulder. Currently getting ready a couple of 2.5lb ball pein hammers ready for use. I am also modifying a 7lb sledge hammer into a ~6.5lb cross pein hammer, that I can use in one hand, or as a short handled sledge.

I did thnk about this John, but i'm not sure if I will be living in Oxfordshire for the rest of my life. I wouldnt mind moving away, but the wife isn't keen as she want's to be near her family. Annoying as the house prices here are pretty high. Sounds like a good idea though and I take your point about the touchmark. Would look quite smart. Will have to have a think about this one! EDIT - There is already an oxforge.com i'm afraid!

Been making a few bits of slow progress. Looking at doing the next show in the middle of May. Would like to have a wesbite up and some business cards made by then! Still trying to settle on a name. Nichollsforge.co.uk > sounds a little boring, but is my surname. Ideally i'd like something more catchy and memorable. Other options are blackironforge.co.uk ironfireforge.co.uk (there is a ironandfire.co.uk - so not sure about that) Redironforge.co.uk Ferrousfireforge.co.uk (or various permeatations of that name) Ferrousityforge.co.uk............. Will look at getting a software package to help me develop my own website soon as well....

Marvelous stuff. This is the kind of thing I dream about doing in the future! Really inspirational and its helpful to see how execute your design elements, so thanks for putting in all the photo's and the video's. I shall keep watching this as it progresses! Good luck with the rest of it.

i'm not making it to the Hatfield show, but should be going to the one the week after. Thats Woburn Abbey on May 19th and 20th. I've got a commision to finish before I start making things for the next show. From what I saw at the last one, it seems that the things that will sell wel, are small items for about £5, so I will make a load of those. So leaf keyrings, and things of that sort. I think I will also make up some more drinks holders, as well as as some larger pot holders, as a few people at the show asked if I made any of those! I think the best way to make money from these shows is to make things for around £10 - £15 to sell, as well as all the little items for £5 and then have the odd big and expensive piece. Taking cards with your details on is a good way to get commisions as well. I drew out a few designs on a notepad with potential customers and they seemed to like that personal approach!

I hadn't realise my anvil was moving to start with, until I took the tongs over for another 20 seconds of whacking, and saw a quarter of the foot of the anvil, over the edge of the stump. Was a surpise to me. Had to shift it about 5 times in the 2 hours, so not too bad. Just got myself a 7lb sledge that i'm going to grind into a ~6.5lb straight pein hammer on one side, then cut down the handle so it can be used single handled, or as a shart handled sledge. Should help spread the material quicker, by putting big divets in the stock. I'm going to have to start using my left arm as well, or i'm going to have one massive forearm and one small one. Got any projects on the go at the moment Beth?

You've just described, exactly my new anvil stand Frosty. Should help out a bit when i've got it. Then I can start customising it, but adding bits to it to hold items and tools etc.

Luckily mine isn't too heavy and I can shift it really easily. If I wasn't getting this new anvil stand, then I would have pinned it down as a priority. I seem to have an endlessly growing list of things I want to make. Might have to start going to the workshop, after work to get bits done. Not sure the wife will be happy with that though.

Hobgoblin is a nice beer. Brewed in the town I live in as well. I used to love black wych stout when they did it. Couldn't drink many these days at 5.6%. John - I have an anvil stand commisioned with a local place. They are going to tack weld it square, then I will finish it off. Got to buy an arc welder as well. Thats proving an interesting and arduous experience!

Few images from today! Made a tool for cooling bars in the water bucket. Its ugly as sin, but functional. Didn't burn my hand for the first time in ages! I then carried on with the tongs I started at the Thame show. Lots of 4lb hammer work and very tiring on the arm! Here is one tong, with the reins drawn roughly out and then cut off. And here is the other one, alongside the first, after a long while of hammering! I was giving it some serious welly, to the point where the anvil was moving on the stump and nearly fell off at one point. Had to keep shifting it back into the middle! Next time I will round up the reins and finish them off properly, then finish the head to hold some 8mm round, as I use that a fair bit. I think next time I will forge weld the reins on and save my arm and shoulder the fatigue. At least I managed a pint for lunch. Hobgoblin as well!

Well I fiddled today and got things working better. Put the blower in the shed, so it is also protected if it rains. And held the door near shut with a brick. Got used to the slidea bit more today and things went pretty well, all considered. So i'm happier now! Heres a few images. Shows the length of tubing and also the innadequate connection to the forge: As you can see the tubing is aproximately 100mm diameter and the forge inlet is 80mm. Means I have to attach it poorly with gaffer tape at the moment. Need to work out a better fix for the future! Did get more control over the fire and it was a little quieter with ear plugs in. Heres an image of me heating some tongs, whilst drawing out the reins. A LOT of work with a 4lb hammer. Next time I think I will forge weld on the reins! Thanks for all the advice. It is much appreciated!

Hah. Know the feeling mate. I had a look at your website. Nicely laid out. Seems your not far away from me either. I'm right in west oxfordshire, so would be a short drive to yours. If you ever need a second pair of hands in the forge and I am free, i'd be willining to come and give you a hand. As long as i'm learning something I will be happy.

Thats a very generous offer Dan. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted! Currently pretty busy, so wouldn't have time to get them up and working for a while. I'd like a pair of bellows some day, but i'd rather you gave them to a 'good' home instead of me sticking them in a shed for a while.