Neil Blythin

Well, OABA has their meetings and such posted on the website: http://www.ontarioblacksmiths.ca If you can let us know a more specific time frame for your friends visit, someone may know of other events, etc going on. Cheers, Neil

You really can't beat that Glenn. A question (with some fairly obscure clues) asked and answered within a few hours. That's why this community rocks!

Good point.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! ... I searched all over for this video. Couldn't for the life of me remember what it was called. Have it saved to my 'Favorites' list in YouTube now. Cheers guys! Neil

Hey Folks, I'm hoping someone can help me. I saw a video posted here some time ago (link to one on YouTube); and I can't for the life of me find it. I've tried every combination of search terms I can think of, but just can't seem to spot the post or remember which thread it was in. Anyways, the video was an old black and white film, looked to be part of a documentary. It showed Blacksmiths making gates, grilles, etc using a lot of slitting and drifting, passing the bars through each other. It looked to be in a rather heavy, industrial setup rather than in a small smithy, yet they were using hand hammers. If I recall correctly, what voice over/text there was was in German, and it had classical music playing. Any chance one of you knows the video I'm talking about and has the link bookmarked? Or remembers which thread it was in here on IFI? Cheers, Neil

Turpentine is the traditional one to use in this mixture. Not sure I'd want to expose acetone to heat like that - its far nastier stuff.

Frosty, you seriously need to have that printed on some t-shirts. I'd buy one.

If you want a free CAD package, try DraftSight (from Dassault Systems). They offer a full functioning 2D CAD package that's completely free: http://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight/overview/

Huh, I did not know that. You really *do* learn something new every day!

A full apron is to protect the smith from... their spouse (who is tired of seeing ruined clothing).

Hello all, Was just browsing on Kijiji and came across a listing for free bags if coal. This isn't my listing, I have no idea what type of coal or how much. But if someone is in Toronto, it may (or may not) be worth the effort to swing past and see if it's still there: http://www.kijiji.ca/v-buy-sell-other/city-of-toronto/free-bags-of-coal/1016134261?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

It all looks very deliberate, not 'damage' per se, but a modification that was done for some specific purpose. A dedicated anvil for a particular repetitive task...

I think I should get a shop goat...

That's a thing of beauty! I'm going to go do that to all of my anvils...

Not exactly 'weird' or uncommon, but I had two baby opossums. Their mother had been scared off the night before when I took our dogs out for a walk (I didn't see them at the time, but makes sense that's that the dogs were all worked up about). They're far less creepy looking as babies... I've also got a family of bunnies living under an old utility trailer out back of my shop that serves as my scrap pile/'resource centre'. Nothing too exotic. Don't know how those of you with snakes can handle it. That'd drive me nuts. At least most other animals you can hear that they're there.

+1 for Draftsight. For 2D work, it's just as capable as AutoCAD without the extortionist licensing fees. For those not interested in learning a proper CAD system, SketchUP has come a long, long way since it started. Very easy to learn and a lot of downloadable pre-made bits and pieces available from an active user community.

Question Dean... What do you have draped over your anvil stand/stump, and why? Doing demos is so much fun! When I'm loading up the truck, I almost dread doing them (I'm a big time introvert), but always enjoy it once I'm there. I find myself re-energized by the high level of interest shown by the general public in smithing. And you certainly do meet some really nice people. Lots of good resources out in the world, once you can force yourself to go talk to people.

Try the old army trick of packing it in a ziplock bag. You can still use the phone through the bag - but it'll keep even the finest dust out. If you're concerned about noise distortion when talking on it (i.e. the mic picking up crinkling noise from the bag), then use with a wireless headset. The headset may not last as long, but are far cheaper to replace than the phone itself.

Is this the link you meant me miller? http://www.binghamprojects.com/products.php?cat=45

This video isn't shot from as good of a vantage point, but shows more of the process:

Just watched this one of some smiths in Nepal making Khukuri knives for the Gurkha's: There are a few wide angle shots showing the shop ... Seems quite extensive (quite a few work stations). What I found interesting, is that they all appear to be using sledge hammer heads as their anvils - and their strikers are swinging hammers as large as those 'anvils'. Hope their aim is good, especially with everyone wearing their safety sandals ;-) It could just be omitted in the filming, but I didn't see any sign of heat treating. And they seemed to do quite a bit of cold hammering too. Nevertheless, they're producing some beautiful knives. As these are being used by police & military as part of their issued kit, I'd assume their quality is well proven. Neat videos. Very eye-opening.

Perhaps not in North America or Western Europe. But in many other places in this world, the local village blacksmith is still the go-to guy for the farmers and such to get their working tools. The Star Trek view of the world, tell the computer what you want and a quality part pops effortlessly out of a machine, is still a long, long way off. I don't see current 3D printers being any kind of a threat to smithing whatsoever.

Well that's the big question, isn't it? And as I've mentioned before, is it really their intellectual property to begin with? So as with your example of bottle openers on Etsy... Is that smith selling openers on Etsy really the originator of the particular design they're making? Is their design significantly unique,, and different from existing designs? Now what about something more generic - like tools. Is a John Neeman framing chisel that much different from a Barr or a Sorby? If I start making and selling framing chisels, will someone accuse me of ripping off the 'style' of a Neeman tool?

as a father of four (three of whom are daughters), I *really* like this idea. Will have to file that one away for future use...

I'm guessing that you've never gotten up close and personal with a bear rthibeau ;-) I don't think anyone would be daft enough, or suicidal enough, to manually trap a bear with some spiky contraption.