baker101z

Good stuff. Thanks, Larry. I think I know what my next project is.

Some good info in here. Larry, I would be interested in some pics of your bender for sure.

Hey guys, havent posted in a while, and didnt want yall to think I ran off, haha. A little update: the welding program is going great. First weld I did (which was a few months ago now) was oxy/acetylene with no filler rod. Showed it to my instructor, he called me a "smartass", and told me to go back and do it again with filler :lol: . That basically sums up how that class has been going so far. Been welding with oxy, smaw, and gmaw. Gtaw to come soon. I was looking at the requirements for the welding certificate Im getting, and a lot of them coincide with an associates degree in manufacturing technology. I think that after I get my welding certs, Ill go ahead with that, as I enjoy that almost as much as welding. Anyway, that has been keeping me pretty busy. I just got a new job though, so I should be getting my hands on an anvil of some sort (most likely an ASO...) and a welder pretty soon. Thanks again everyone!

After this I'll quit bumping this thread. Icb sent me the awesome "Edge of the Anvil," and I had to give him some forum props for that. Thanks again man! Shown here with some other awesome texts for school. I've never been excited to read a textbook until now. Again thank you to everyone for all of your support and kind words!

Really cool! A heart was actually one of the first things I made. Dont ask me how the weld got there, no joke it just happened. Cant say I wasnt pleased, as was my girlfriend. Cant wait to try your method though. Thanks!

Smithy1, cool video. I think I'm going to try to make one of these out of a railroad spike if they are hard enough. How would you go about carving out the original "dye?" I figured it would be easiest to do it hot.

Definitely. I actually haven't started yet, I start in a week. Its seriously all I've been thinking about for a few months. I really cant wait! That book looks really interesting! If you really do have two that would be awesome and much appreciated. I would def be willing to pay for it, but Ill email you about that. Thanks! Ted, you dont need to explain yourself to me haha. I completely understand. I know where you come from with safety first. I used to fuel aircraft for United (Continental now...) and they drilled safety pretty hard. Ive seen a few people get hurt on the job, and its always terrible. Anyway Ted you've been really encouraging and helpful. As one of the first people I've talked to on the forum youve set a great example as to the type of character I can expect to find here. I look forward to talking with you and everyone else here in the future!

Yup, but I dont have a brake drum, either . The forge I have now is just temporary until I can afford to make myself something a little nicer and user friendly. Trust me though I cant wait to make myself a decent brake drum table forge.

Ted I agree completely. This is a real concern that I understand. However my videos are by no means meant to be instructional (I can see how the third one may have came off that way). I am making them to document the build up of my garage shop. I have now made it clear in them that I am no blacksmith, and these aren't instructional videos. I would hate for anyone to get hurt, that is the last thing that I want. -Ted, I am sorry if this reads as "smartxxx." I assure you it is not meant to be so. Its always hard to convey they way you mean to say something through type (to me at least). Edit: Hate to leave my first post off like this. Thank you all so much for your help and encouragement. I am very excited and cant wait to learn more. The few things that I've made so far have really got me going!

I am by no means a blacksmith nor do I know what I am doing. I will make that clear in the videos I have already put up, and the ones to come. I normally am pretty safety minded with things like this, but its the one time you forget that you get burned.

Thanks! I'll check it out now.

Well first of all, wow. Really great response from you guys. Ive been keeping my eyes open for a good smithing forum, and I think I found the right one. As a beginner looking for advice, this means a lot to me. THANK YOU! Postleg and Kevan, I updated my profile. I live in the Chicago suburbs, Des Plaines to be exact. If anyone is local that would be great! Glenn, thanks for the advice man. I knew I was going to hear about safety issues, and I will heed your advice. My vids are pretty thrown together...I'm actually thinking about starting over on a new channel, but maybe not. What do you think? I thought the vids would be a cool thing to do, but its pointless if nobodys going to watch them. Maybe I'll just keep the channel but put more planning into the next videos. As for the charcoal, I know its not what should be used, but I just dont have access to anything else at the moment. Again, thanks for the knowledge! Randy and Stewart, Im always looking for more info on the art. Im the "sponge." Stewart, I will def. check out those books. The seem like a pleasure to read. As soon as I get the materials and a welder, I plan on putting together a brake drum forge (or something similar). Hell maybe I could weld it at school. The forge I threw together in the videos was just out of frustration honestly, and it seems to work for the small things I'm experimenting with. A leg vice would be GREAT, haha. I am def going to check out some local BSers, I think there is a group in southern IL by St Louis, but thats a good 300 miles away. Anything in the Chicagoland area? I will be in the chatroom tonight lurking and hopefully asking a few questions. Thanks Randy! Thomas, I love watching vids of the experts. I also like watching beginners too, though. That is how I learned a lot of what I know (which isnt much). My videos are meant as more of a way of other aspiring blacksmiths to watch and connect with another beginner. I think it would be a good way of exchanging ideas and suggestions between more experienced people and people like me too. Im not trying to "defend" my videos or anything Im just trying to explain why Im making em. As always Im more than open to any suggestions that you or anyone else has for my vids! Thanks everyone for all the help for this newbie! Looking forward to seeing you all around! :D

Hello everyone first post here. I am a 23 y/o college student currently going to a community college for welding. I just recently got into blacksmithing, and I thought I would document the building up of my metal shop. http://www.youtube.c...1z?feature=mhee Let me know what you guys think. Honesty is appreciated. Anyway, Ill see you guys around the forum!