Thomas Dean

Date them? Why? they can't talk, dance or even kiss you back. Sounds to me like a pretty dull evening....

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! If you will update your profile and give your general location wil can help you with meeting notices, tools, and the like that come up in your area. Also, you are in the midst of some fantastic blacksmiths! check this site; balconesforge.org it is the ABANA chapter in your area and they meet every month and newbies are encouraged. Great way to meet fellow addics and find toys, and get some hands on help from experienced smith. Mr. Turley is the Granddaddy of the blacksmith schools! you will do good by learning from him. Also, there is the Gunter's school in Moriarty, NM and Brian Brazeal teaches in Miss. Personnaly, I am trying to scheduale some classes with Brian Brazeal as he is only 4 1/2hrs from me. Again, welcome and enjoy your stay!

I don't mark my key fobs...too small for one thing and they are mostly made during a demo. I have given away (usually to someone watching it be made!) more of them then I have sold. I like your mark.

YIIIIPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! I'll quit trying then!!!

I like that Tall Grass! Do you have more? Also, if you would update your profile and give your general location this will help us be able to give you a heads up of BS equipment or meetings that may be in your area. Looking forward to seeing more of your work!

You are correct sir! my bad, mine is the "whisper deluse" also with only the front door. I have a friend that has an older model 'whisper ??' that has the side ports and back door, 2 burners and with the plain steel door. He also has a "whisper ??" that has 5 burners and no doors front or rear. Both forges are ancient!! If your NC has extra ports then you will have an insulated door, if it is the 'horse shoers' style with only the front door it will be just a plain steel door. I guess with the older ones they didn't use ins. doors........

NC forges do not have insulated doors. I have the NC with no ports, just the front opening and it serves me well. I have used others that I like better but got a heck of a good deal on this and just could not pass it up. I am considering cutting ports in both sides for a pass-through...NC sell on with these with the back door....think it's called the Whisper Daddy. Like Jeremy K said, give NC a call, they are good folks and will get you going and it will be done right.

Good job! It didn't look like you had silver soldered or brazed it. Thanks for sharing

Nice! Ok, now how did you connect the two?!! Also, what size was the 'scrap' copper....at the prices of copper NOTHING is scrap!!

Good for you! Looks like you may have a long time business relationship starting to bud. Could you please show a picture of the "hearth" you keep refering to?

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! OK, I see no one has mentioned Brain Brazeal...I figure you met him at the meeting along with Lyle as they kinda go together ;) But I STRONGLY suggest that you save you coin and book a few days with Brian to REALLY learn how to blacksmith. I am checking into booking a few days with him in April or May, have to check my schedule at work first. No, I am not a newbie. been at this metal thing since '73 and have been "heatn n beatn" since around 2000. But I have seen some much of how he works the metal and how others have benifited from his instruction that I want to take advantage of that also. Good to have you here and hope you enjoy your stay. BTW, we kinda like pictures so let's see that new anvil and forge you just got also the one you built. And anytime you make something we like to see that too! Again, welcome

If you could get a pic of the waist of the anvil with the horn to your left we may be able to see the manuf. markings as this is the location of most all anvil makers placing their marks. Nice looking hunk of metal.

I believe it to be a Trenton as the serial # is to the right of the horn whereas on a HB it would be on the left....

I agree, sometimes the weld is a feature, but it needs to look nice. At the ABANA conf in Memphis the blacksmith had spent some time making a nice sculpture that consisted of several parts. They were welded together using MIG but the welds were placed in plain sight and not that pretty. If you can hide them then I say do so, if not make the look like you know how to weld or "camo" the welds as Beth did so nicely....I didn't realize it was a weld til she mentioned it but was wondering why the tiny weld spatter.

For 40 bucks you ain't hurt! especially since you didn't have an anvil to begin with! Looking forward to seeing pics

Blurrrrryyyyy pics for sure! the best I can tell is that it may be a Peter Wright. I base that on looking at the feet. Could be wrong... Also, make sure the face is all there! Appears that about 1/2 of the face has been broken off~~refer to the 1st pic and look at face above the back feet...again, could be wrong~~that would make two this year!!

And most of the other affiliates post their newsletter on line....and that's free....of course ifn ya want a hard copy, well you can either print it or join the group.

Good on ya for "hiding" the weld! As a professional welder my biggest pet peve is to see a nice piece of art work and the see a big (or small) weld! For goodness sakes, you went to some much time and effort to make a nice element and then there is this WELD starin ya in the face! There are so many ways to hide a weld if you will just take that little bit of extra time and do it. Beth, you did just that, you hid the weld...in plain site! Very well done, all of it. I really like the whole thing.

You will get the best price from eBay for sure!! especially if you will offer to ship, of course with the buyer paying shipping and crating. Also, in my post I mentioned that this anvil has been discontinued, if mine I would mention this in the posting. Good luck!

Also use the approp speed for the tuffest steel.

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! OK, First check here; http://www.saltforkcraftsmen.org This is the Oklahoma blacksmith group and yes, there is a bunch near you! Check the site's calendar to see when a meeting will be nearest you. If you are close to the Duncan area I encourage you to go this Sat to the meeting being help by Gerald Franklin. Fantastic site here with tons of info and pictures to inspire. Hope you enjoy your journey. (you might want to edit your profile and include your location. Sure help us let you know if something is happenin in your area or if there are toys...er, I mean TOOLS in your area that are available.)

According to their web site this anvil is out of production as of Jan. 2006. The weight is in KG, putting this anvil at 220lbs. nice looking anvil, I would enjoy having it. In that condition and with the stand you should get a good price for it. I'll let folks closer to your area help with that as I'm in East TEXAS and prices are much different here.

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! Just a note....you may want to say a greeting to the ladies here on IFI. They are all wonderful smiths and sweet ladies. Glad to have you aboard. There are TONS of info here a plenty of pictures to inspire you....another note...we LIKE pictures!! so get that camera ready and when you finish your forge let us see it! Feel free to ask questions, it most likely has been asked and you can find it by searching the site but for that ellusive question that hasn't been asked....well you get the idea... Again, glad you are here and we look forward to seeing your work as you progess.

Well you are in luck for this weekend!! Gerald Franklin is hosting the THIS weekend 2/18/'12 and I can promise you that you can get some forge time! Heck, tell em I said you could have some forge time....but then be ready to RUN when you mention my name! Most of the Saltfork meeting are about 12-20 minutes of 'business' then the rest of the time hammerin on hot metal. Gerald also will teach workshops throughout the year and is an excellent teacher. Check the calendar here; http://www.saltforkcraftsmen.org/Calendar.shtm for Gerald's phone # and give him a call. He can give you some particulars of what will go on there on Sat. and I garantee you that the drive will be worth it! BTW, you can use both coal and gas forges as both will be used. Hope you can make it.

Well, if all you want to do is "test the waters" then attend as many meetings in the next few months and try all the different forges available there. That should give you a better idea of what you may want rather than build something just to find out later you don't like it== time and $$ wasted. The forge originally mentioned is a very nice forge, IMO a little high on the $$, and will get you 'in the fire' in short order.