Ozark Nick

Yup! I practice as much as I can, on a bit of a limited budget so fuel is somewhat limited but I get out whenever I can. And I'm glad I can post here to get feedback on my work. Makes a big difference!

Hadn't thought about welding the pipe on, that would definitely work. That's amazing you picked up that I started the hook at the base instead of the tip. I had been starting at the tip, but didn't seem to be getting the results I wanted so I tried starting at the base this time around. Of course now that I look at it again I can see exactly how you saw it! ;) More practicing! I'll try the taper next time.

Thanks for the words guys. Yeah, the drive hook is way too big, and the s-hook is almost too small! Learning learning learning! Thus far I've kinda preferred the ribbon scroll as opposed to the tapered one. I will branch out and start adding to my bag of tricks sometime soon though. :)

Still practicing on hooks. Did these this morning. Very happy with the S-hook, not perfect by any means but (IMHO) better than before! :) The drive hook, eh ... could've been a lot worse. I've been trying to think what I could use to facilitate my curves on my hook. Would a piece of black steel pipe work? Have to find some way to clamp it down though. Thanks very much for everybody's advice so far! Keep it coming! ;)

In addition to my new leg vise, I also found one of these drill presses yesterday. It is in superb condition (as far as I can tell), and seems to work like it should. One question, the "chuck" (for lack of a better word) has a square hole with a set screw into it. Are there special drill bits I need to find? Can I modify existing bits? Or am I missing something? I've read a tiny bit about something called a "Jacob's Chuck?" Thanks!

Found a leg vise yesterday and snatched it up. I was curious I thought blacksmith's vises had to have smooth jaws, but the jaws on this one have scores like a regular bench vise. The pivot hinge for the outward jaw is pretty stiff. Unscrew it a couple turns and the jaw doesn't move have to move it with my hand. I'm guessing the spring is supposed to handle that, so does that mean the spring is bad? I can't find any markings on it except for a large number "1" under the mounting plate. It's definitely seen years of use.

I thought that was a very fine video Dave. I noticed you said you were using 3/8-inch stock, mine is only 1/4 and I had been wondering if there just wasn't enough material to do what I'm trying to do. But I suspect it is more just getting the hammer blows down pat. I think I'm going to back off these more advanced things for the time and focus on my tapering and scrolling for the time being. Thanks for all the advice!

Yup, one of my fav vids. Still haven't quite figured it out yet ... but I will!! :)

On the diagonal!!! That's the key I was missing I think. Thank you! I was flattening out the taper while it was laying flat on my anvil.

I'm kind of on a hook kick. I don't like the idea of practicing on stuff that will intentionally go to waste. So I'm practicing my tapering, then I'll try a little scroll and hook. Thought I'd try a leaf today. Having a little trouble figuring out how to get the leaf started. But my hooks are looking better. :)

I just looked at the MSDS for Johnson's Paste Wax and it's primary ingredient has a flash point of only 88 degrees F! Am I reading something wrong here?

Thanks for the comments and advice! Hopefully have some time to try more this weekend. :)

I suppose I will just stick with veggie oil. Didn't want to use up what we had on hand for cooking, I'll have to buy a bottle of my own! I wish I knew someone local who kept bees and I could get local beeswax.

LOL! Thanks!

That's disappointing about the WD-40 not keeping the rust off, I thought I'd read somewhere that it would. As for keeping it ... my grandmother was over for a visit and I made it specifically for her so it's already gone! I've got plenty of photos though. :D For the finish, I just laid the finished piece in the charcoal fire with the blower off. I let it stay in there till it was too hot to touch then wire brushed it and sprayed the wd40 on then wiped off with a rag (did that like three times). Is that right? Seems like it's hard to find info about how to finish stuff.

So I tried my hand at an s-hook today. I formed the one side of the hook (towards the bottom of the photo). Then I tried to do the twist. Next time I think I'll cut it to length, scroll the tips, then do the twist, then form both hooks. Actually I probably just need to wait till I get a decent vise to do twists. Did this one with two pairs of pliers, are there any other methods for twists without a vise? Also, can't wait to get a real anvil. Though I might have found one. Thanks! PS - Finished this with WD40 since that's about all I had available, seemed to work ok. Didn't turn the can into a flame thrower, though for future use I might start buying it in bulk cans with a hand operated sprayer (non-aerosol).

YouTube was a big factor in helping me see that this was in fact something I could do myself! Whole different ball of wax seeing folks doing it (as opposed to just reading about it). I assume S hooks can be made with just an anvil and hammer? The vids I've seen with S hooks folks were using a bending hardy.

Outstanding!

Thanks for the kind words everybody. Beth, I have been looking at the gallery ... little bit of overload for me right now! Gotta remember I have to pace myself! Bigfoot, that was my thinking with the hooks. Seemed like something pretty simple which didn't require many tools and which would leave me with a functional piece at the end. I need to find more info on finishing. It is my one disappointment in Lorelei's book, she only touches very briefly on that subject. But I suspect when I go digging around here I'll find more than I could ever use! ;)

Hi all, newbie here. Got bit by the blacksmith bug sometime in January and before I knew it I had a forge and a small piece of railroad rail to pound on. Last weekend was the first time I was able to get it all together (and when the weather cooperated) and I was able to really bang on some hot metal for the first time. Started out with some 1/4-inch round stock and made these three hooks. The left one was the first. Middle was second, much happier with how it turned out. The third one I did only because I just had to try a twist. I know I've got a long way to go, but I am very excited! Also just got Lorelie Sims' book in the mail yesterday. Thanks!

Thanks. Transportation is kind of limited currently; however I am going to attempt getting to the annual meet in May. I'd like to take that beginner's blacksmithing workshop.

Sending my application in next week! Thanks! :)

Hi all, my name is Nick. Started learning blacksmithing last month. Glad to be here!