Thomas Dean

Tastes like chicken.....

Glad you learned the lessons presented today. May I suggest that you keep your object lessons in plain view to remind you of today....maybe you won't have to sit through that class again. How did you fair through the floods down there? My oldest brother n sister-n-law had her car and 5th wheel camper totaled. They full time RV now and were set up on the San Marcos river. They had only been back in Texas for maybe a week or 2.

Ya just gotta get rid of that exercise thingy...has absolutely no use in a blacksmith shop! ;) The bikes could stay if that's the only place to keep 'em.

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! Justin, hook up with the North Texas Blacksmith Assoc. http://ntxba.org/ IIRC they meet on the 2nd Sat of each month. Great bunch of folks to play with and they are always happy to have a newbie join them. If you ever get this far east give me a call, my shop is always open.

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! Check these folks out, I'm a member, and they are all about helping the newbie...or oldie for that matter...learn about blacksmithing. www.saltforkcraftsmen.org There is a meeting tomorrow somewhere in OK as they meet nearly every Sat.! You will love this bunch and there are several members near you. My wife has family in Moore and that area.

Cool! I see the 3 crosses, with the middle one being larger and more defined. Love it

Yep, some women are like that.... Looks like both of you came out on the good side. Fantastic looking ax, both of them, and a beautiful anvil!

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! I second that, join SWABA!! Great bunch of folks and excited to share their knowledge. I try to hook up with them usually in Sept during the NM State Fair and play in the fire with them. Have missed a couple of the last years tho. Not only is Frank close but so is Robb Gunter and Sons in Moriarty (did I spell that right?;) ) Again, welcome and have fun!

That my friend is what IFI is all about! Helping others in this endeavor. BTW Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI. Please don't forget to post pictures of your work, we love pictures. ;)

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! Read all you can here, just be careful....it's a BIG place! Find the local ABANA group and JOIN, hands on learning far out weighs 'reading learning'. I also would suggest to contact Brian Brazeal, a member here, and set up a few days of classes with him. He lives in Brandon, Miss so is not too terribly far for you. Again, welcome and don't forget to share pictures, we LOVE pictures. ;)

Maybe just me but if I said $100.00 the that's what it would be THIS time. Have enough items to sell in order to make it more worth the time. $80 worth of material for a 1 day demo is a lot of metal....IMO...Most of the items you want to make for one of these are quick items that the crowd can see go from a raw piece of metal to a finished product "right before their eyes" ;) No problem having a larger project going if you want but there are times during those that really is like watching paint dry, hence the reason to have the 'fast' items ready to make. Main thing is to have fun and entertain the crowd! sure helps with the sells!

Oh heck yeah what Jerry said!! If having to be a 'professional' to be able to attend a meeting I would never be able to go! I have never been to a blacksmith related event where I felt inadequate. This community is so gracious to over help. You are encouraged to even 'get in the fire' for hands on instruction. Sorry work got in you way for this last meeting but do try to make the next one and all the rest you can make. If you are like most folks, it is MUCH easier to learn by watching then doing than it is to read and then do. Jerry, I am always happy to plug you guys at Balcones! great bunch of folks.

Also, you HAVE to hook up with the ABANA group there== www.balconesforge.org is their site. Meetings are open and they love new folks coming in. Our youngest son and family live in Buda and we plan to be there in a couple weeks for the grandson's #2 B-day. But I have never tried purchasing material in the area. There are a lot of goods smiths down there so you should be able to find materials and smiths fairly easy. Btw, welcome to IFI. If you will update your profile and put in you general location it sure would be nice. Helps up possibly put you onto a "good" deal sometime.

nice anvil! the #'s are 198LBS. 198# Soderfors Good for you!

I have pieces that are at least 8yrs old with the colors remaining, finished with a spray polyurethane (Krylon), or wax. But a word of caution with copper. ANY finish will remove the beautiful colors that you get when you heat the copper==blues, purples, reds, gold, green, etc. ==They are gone the instant the finish hits the metal.

aligned ;)

Don, I don't see that YOU were humiliated! Seems the powers that be will delete, XXXXX, or whatever for most any reason. I posted my web site (yes it is strictly blacksmithing related AND there is a link that will bring you back to IFI or you can lint to ABANA's site....got deleted and was told I could but it in my signature which will show at the end of each of my posts. All I was asking was for folks to take a look and let me know what they thought.....oh well.....

Oooooo, the Big Boys have X'ed out the link.... Funny how some things will get to stay up and some don't. nothing funny about it, IFI does not allow free advertising.

What part of East TEXAS ya from? I'm just east of Longview

I use 1/4" but will MIG a washer and 1/4" bolt to the end. Weld enough on the backside of the washer to form the 'rose hip'. stack and stager your rose petals and use a lock washer and nut to secure. I cover this with a piece of felt to hide the nut, bolt, and washer. The felt holds the rose oil better. Then I pose the petals and color with the torch. I have a few pictures of this in my gallery. Forgot to mention I make copper roses and this is how I attach to stem. Steel roses can be done this way also if you wish

You have a farrier's anvil, the guy that shoes horses. They are good anvils from all the report that I have heard. Made in Bossier City, LA but are heat treated here in Longview, TX. They make several sizes and both in the farrier style, like this one, and in a blacksmith 'London' pattern. Looks new and should go for a nice price. I think their web site is emerson.com but I know I have done a google search and found them. I would check their site and price it a little under a new one. Or contact the LAMA group and let them know it is available. I know of a few farriers in that group. BTW, where are you located?

Praying for your dear family. Place them in GOD's hands, HE loves them more then anyone can.

My wife has family there and all are safe! PRAISE GOD!! There are some Saltfork friends in that area I haven't heard from tho. Praying for all involved

I have a 127# SISCO and love it. I also have a 185# Hay Budden and use both about equal. The SISICO is also my demo anvil. The rebound on mine is as good if not better than the Hay Budden! As for the hardie not being "square" with the side is not problem...very few are 'square' with the sides. Also, I wouldn't worry about the side, unless you plan to do any forging on them. If someone is going to cast a fake they will most likely use a better known anvil as a pattern== Hay Budden or Peter Wright. If the price is right I would buy it!