kevan

Harold,

I feel your pain but trust me, you are not alone.

Probably the worst of the many I have had was the steel work in the gardens of Oprah Winfrey's exclusive school for girls in South Africa. We cut all the main posts for the walkway arbours about 400mm short and only realised it after they were planted in the ground. As luck would have it, the landscapers decided they wanted to raise the pathways and apologetically asked me if I could please lift the height of all the already planted steelwork by 500mm for which they were happy to pay premium rates. We pulled up all the posts, added 900mm, replaced them and everyone was happy.

The old addage, measure twice, cut once comes to mind.

Kevan

What a terrific shop. One of the highlights of this site for me, is the opportunity to see other shops. From experience I know how much work goes into reorganising and getting the work space to look as neat and clean as you have yours. Well done! I too have the Anyang 88 or C41 and what a great hammer it is. I certainly "envy" that 165 you have.
Regards,

Kevan

Wow, thanks everyone...I never expected so much help for a "newby blacksmith". I can't really describe the feeling I am witnessing at the moment....I just know its not one I experience often. All I can say is thanks, and wow.


Graf: Thanks for the suggestions! I shall definitely get them all when possible!

NakedAnvil: The only reason would be if I get lost (I'm not much of a direction guru, you see!) But I am definitely going to go.

Zig: Thanks for the help, I'll have to see if one of my grandparents have any tools they may not be using anymore...perhaps I'll be as lucky as you!

Spike: Thank you! I think I may have heard of that one before, I'll have to try and get my hands on it.

Brian: I will definitely be coming (I assume I only need to bring the form filled out and some cash, yes?) and I would be honored to meet you. I will warn you now, I've never striked before, so I suppose I should ask that you have patience with me, but I would be very grateful if you wouldn't mind teaching me a bit. I look forward to next weekend!


Thanks for everything guys, looks like I've got some reading to do, and I couldn't be happier. If you guys would like (or at least wouldn't mind) I will keep you all updated on my blacksmithing journey.


Edit: Brian, you are truly generous and I thank you, but I think I'll work an off-day this week, and I'll be able to afford it. I couldn't ask you to do such a thing, but I thank you for such an offer! I look forward to meeting you!

What a lovely story.

Kevan

What height does anybody use for their swage block? I am experimenting at different heights before I finally make my stand and would value any input from the experienced members.

Before I filled it with stuff, 2 years ago.

Not much but i kinda like it.

These are the pictures of my forge. Where the chimney comes through the roof I made the opening big enough that the flashing would cover about 2" all the way around it. I also used sheet metal along the rafters with a 1" air space to keep any heat away from them. There is no pictures of this I didn't feel like crawling in the attic. If you don't understand what I'm explaining I'll get my son to crawl up there.

Looks to me it would be well worth the money but that depends on if you need something else worse than a hammer.
It would also depend on where you are located and how frequent hammers come up for sale.
Speaking of where you are located if you

Step 1. Click on your name on the upper right hand corner of this screen for example Bob would click on “Mainely.Bob”.
Step 2. Scroll down and Click on "My Profile"
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Step 5. In the “Location ” box, type your location into this box.
Step 6. Scroll to the bottom of this screen and click on the box that says, “Save Changes
As for the broken spring it looks to be only one or two that add strength not the ones wwith the rolled eyes. A sililar flat spring could be scrounged and reshaped, hardended and tempered or you could contact a custom spring manufacturer.

I agree, theres always someone to better the price. Given who you sold that nice anvil to- It was a smok'in deal

I've paid to much and not enough for many things. In the end, as long as everyone is happy

haha well I guess Glenn beat me to it.


Thanks guys, exactly what I wanted.

Kevan

In the picture attached, is there any "ideal" ratio between the diameter of the flue and the square or rectangular section that collects the smoke directly above the fire. I already have 18 feet of flue at 12 inch diameter. What should the boxie bit be?

Thanks,

Kevan

I have been searching for a big tap to smoosh for some time….. I finally got the owner of Pacific Industrial to let me borrow one that they have had at the counter there for some time. It’s a 4 ?” and started out a foot tall… weighs 37 pounds…

Here are a few pics of what It used to look like, how much I had to cut off to get it in the big press (with a xxxxxxx cutoff wheel because I was worried it was to hard for the bandsaw)… and what it looks like after the flat-i-fier had is way….


I told him I just needed to smoosh it and I would bring it back…… I wanted to “dish” it a little more but it wouldn’t fit in my little forge after the first dishing operation… so either I am going to give it back as is or maybe drag out Ernie’s Dragon to get it hot again tomorrow….

WOW!!!!...................AMAZING

Your concern about height is not an issue since on side draft forges the flames also gets sucked into the smoke box. My ceiling height is 8' and I have a side draft works great with a 10" dia. flue.

this brown sharp #OY followed me home today for 100 bucks i had offered the guy a month ago or so as he kept listing it on craigslist for a few months for 300 and when i picked it up he also threw in all the tooling for it that i didnt see listed so i feel it was a good deal

Ted,

What sound and valuble advise you have imparted. Someone with few skills but a high work integrity always got the nod from me when seeking help in my own business.

Feloniouspunk....take Ted's advise. A cheerful and willing disposition will get you further than producing a good scroll. Live up to the spunky part of your name.

Kevan.

I look forward to following your progress.

Kevan

"whisper momma "

I had to google that!

I try to get a handle on the shop and put things away that didn't get put up the night before. That way I'm not hunting for tools and stuff right of the bat.
I wrote a poem of sorts(it doesn't rhyme) awhile back because one of my favorite things to do is sit in my shop and hangout. Here's the link if you haven't read it.
I Forge Iron - S0042 I like to sit in my shop

John

thanks and i'm sorry about my terrible spelling.

12 to 14 inches otherwise expect smoke in the shop. 8 inch pipe , a fair amount of smoke up your nostrils, 6 inch, alot of smoke up your snout and you will feel it in your chest as well.

I'm with Glenn on all he says.

I started cheating years ago with this. I started by drilling as many guide holes as I could and then use small punches to open them up. Then to a chisel, then to a very tapered drift for the finish. The drifts I use are long so I can use the narrow end as a handle. Hope this helps!

Quite simple. If there are no children, divorce her.

Frosty,
LPS? It took me years to figure out ROTFLOL .

Well then, let me know because I still have not figured it out!

Kevan