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I Forge Iron

bridgtonblacksmith

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  • Location
    Bridgton, ME.
  • Interests
    blacksmithing, beekeeping, woodworking
  • Occupation
    CAD Operator

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  1. Bill, I'm a hobbyist right now but I do work with 2 other smiths to demonstrate blacksmithing each year at the local Fryeburg Fair. We get to share the craft with onlookers and learn from each other.

  2. Hello from Lynchburg, VA. I grew up in Scarborough and haven't lived in Maine since '81. I am just beginning to learn blacksmithing. Are you a hobbyist, or are you trying to become a professional blacksmith? I miss Maine.

    1. bridgtonblacksmith

      bridgtonblacksmith

      Bill, I am currently a hobbist, but, with luck I would like to develop the hobby to enough sales to pay for itself as well as pay me at least a small amount.

  3. I have a "Random Act of Kindness" project for this month. A local lady called and asked several questions regarding blacksmithing because her son has an interest in learning blacksmithing. I tried to answer all her questions, then I sent her some info. (list of books, old Centaur forge catalog, etc.) for reference. Next, she called and asked if I would be willing be part of her Christmas gift to him by setting up a time for her son to come to my shop and talk with me. I plan to give him a beginner's lesson while making a couple of quick tools to start him off. Pretty random eh?
  4. First of all, you will need to have a clean fire. Make sure that there is no clinker in your fire pot and that the tuyere is clear to allow air to flow up through the fire. The first suggestion that I would have is to try forge welding a single piece, NOT a "drop the tongs" type of weld. It is much easier to focus on the technique of welding without having the awkward problems of aligning the pieces before they cool too much. Simply take a scrap piece of bar stock, cut HALFWAY through and fold the end back over itself (kind of like a tight "V"), and try with that. You also want to make sure that you heat both sides thoroughly, wire brush all slag away, apply plently of flux, and get the piece up to a good white heat (just about where it starts to sparkle and burn). Once there, remove from the fire and quickly get it to the anvil and tap the 2 halves together. It doesn't take a lot of force. Forge welding DOES NOT have to be pounded together, you just have to make the surfaces come in contact. As a matter of reference, I saw a demo where a smith showed us that you can forge weld a bar using a wooden mallet. Not a lot of force. If it doesn't stick the first time, put it back in the fire, heat, wire brush, and try again. Also, ALWAYS think safety. Wear the correct protective gear, and be aware that forge welding typically involves flying sparks/slag. Hope this helps,
  5. Peyton, I demo at 2 sites and they are at the far extremes from each other. The best location is at a Fairgrounds where we get to demo inside a shop. We usually get the "blacksmith's used to shoe horses" comments from the crowd, but, we quickly tell them the difference between farriery and blacksmithing. We also have a sign which is a silhoutte of a horse with a horseshoe on top of that with a circle and slash through that, but, som people still don't notice it. For keeping the crowd back, the shop has a 3' high 2X handrail along 2 walls of the shop. Under the rail is plexiglass so the kids can scooch down during a forge weld and stay safe AND still see what we are doing. It works very well. We ALSO get the comment of "my father/uncle/grandfather was a REAL blacksmith" which kind of urks us a bit, but, you have to shrug off the stupid comments. The second place that I demo at is an old historical farmstead. Unfortunately, I get the SAME comments there, BUT, I don't have the luxury of having a handrail to keep everyone back. Also, when the restorers built the forge, they went AGAINST the recommendations of a couple of local smiths and built the forge left-handed. Now the flue is built so that the crowd can't see the fire. Naturally, they crowd around the backside of the anvil to see. When I take a piece from the fire I have to be very careful because I frequently have someone standing at my elbow. I have been making sure NOT to forge weld at this location because of the short range. Paul
  6. Hey folks, I am considering starting a small home-based business in Blacksmithing. I have forged a few small items that have been noticed by a person running a consignment shop locally. I still need to get all of the "business" formality in order, like business name, seller's certificate, etc., and I have been told by the person at the consignment shop that I need to get Product Liability Insurance for my forgings. Anyone have any suggestions for a good and affordable company to contact? Thanks in advance
  7. Buck, Of the ones that I have, I'd recommend: "The Art of Blacksmithing" by Alex Bealer "A Blacksmithing Primer" by Randy McDaniel "Professional Smithing" by Donald Streeter Alex Bealer's book is a great read for the beginners although I find some of his descriptions of processes hard to visualize without a sketch or picture. Still, a good book. Randy's book is really great as he has many good pictures along with the text AND he teaches several processes by using a nice project to develop your skills on. Also, he has cleverly published the book with a spiral binder so you can take it right out into the shop to refer to as you try his techniques. Donald Streeter's book is good in the fact that he shows the "old style" of running a shop and gives several examples of projects to build. I have several other 'smithing books also, but I need more time to read them before I can give a good review. Hope this helps to begin your search,
  8. I need some help with a piece of 4340 that I have. I am interested in making some blacksmithing tools out of a 2-5/8" dia. bar of 4340. I am a little confused about the proper way to harden and temper this material. I would like to make a nice sledge hammer head and possibly some hardy tools. Have any of you ever worked with this type of steel and have some wisdom to share? Thanks, Paul
  9. yesteryearforge, You might be able to find all the information that you need at: anvilfire.com If you scroll partway down the home page, there is a link to a source of information on tuning and using power hammers. Hope this helps, Paul
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