larrynjr

WD40, axle grease, keep using it so it doesn't have time to get rusty!

that's a great looking gate, pretty good for 15 years between smithing projects!

OK, I won't get to try it till tomorrow but I'm sure it will make a huge difference. Thanks everyone!

I am using flux core, by an inch of stickout do you mean having the wire an inch outside of the nozzle?

Does anyone use this? I got some with my MIG from Northern Tools and have been using it to clean the spatter off my nozzle and tip but have been experiencing a great deal of wire feed trouble. I discovered tonight if I don't use it, I can weld alot more without the any feeding trouble.

Why would they sell this stuff if it actually makes things worse?

mine is about 1/3 of a 30x40' 2 car garage / shop. currently I've been keeping my car outside and using the extra space for project but even with it inside I general have "enough" space in the roughly 15x15' area that contains the forge, anvil work table.

looks good James, are you going to put some springs between the dies to keep them open until you need to hammer?

Well, it's not pretty but it looks functional and that's what's important. Once you've earned your first $million or so, then you can worry about looks. Mine isn't any prettier but again it's functional and that's what I like. At the rate I'm going I figure I'll make my first million in about 15 years. Of course that's cumlative and not all at once so I won't be buying everyone here steak and beers! :D

looks like a door pull to me.

As I am still in hobby mode, I haven't been too concerned with a name yet but have kicked around a few idea's. One is "The Forgery" as I make
some thing(s) out of nothing. (similar to a forged check)
Other options are either Tieton or Highland Forge, Tieton is the town I live in, Highland is the name of the school district I work for, which Tieton is part of that district. I could combined the first option with either of the second ones. Highland Forgery, Tieton Forgery. We'll see how it goes. :)

He actually had a motorcycle accident on his way to Sturgis and Laconia last year. A little old lady pulled out in front of him and he went over the bars. Had some ongoing nerve issues still last fall and couldn't hammer for as long as he used to.

He told me some of his Viet Nam stories. Awesome and frightening at the same time!

His house is just amazing, hand built and filled with forged items.

I received the notice via email and I believe it's an open invitation to one and all. Should be a heck of a great time! I think I'll actually be able to make it too!

Jerry Culberson, Master at the Old Cedar Forge in Allyn, Wa. is having his birthday next month and is inviting all friends, students and blacksmith types to join in the celebration. Old Cedar Forge has a link to google maps for directions. Date is Sat. July 12th from noon until done!

Larrynjr: DANG! for that kind of money that anvil better jump up off the stand and hit the hammer!

Well the base price not including tax and shipping puts it at $5.05 a pound. It seems well worth it to me so far! :)

The very first piece was back in high school metal shop was a cold cut chisel. We had to cut a bolt in half with it to prove we had hardened and tempered it properly.

At the blacksmithing course that really got me going, it was a round punch, to punch the hole in the tongs we made next, then a hot cut chisel using the tongs I had just made. That was day one.

What adhesive did they use on the space shuttle tiles?

My mom's second husband used to weld the tiles onto the shuttles. I remember him saying he and the other welders would leave their initials welded onto the tiles too.

Hopefully that wasn't why the Columbia blew up!

I think I would try using it as is and see how much an issue the wrinkled face and damaged corner really are before commiting to any repairs.

Welcome Big Medicine, for ONLY your ninth knife, I would say you are well on your way. That's a nice looking Bowie.

Now that I'm on the West coast, while you are more than welcome to ask me anything, it's probably too far to do any smithing together. I'm glad to make your acquaintance though!

Thanks Chet!

We need more Chet's around to pass the torch.

My story is pretty plain, back in high school I was very into the Lord of the Rings and swords and knives like many other youngsters and had a vague interest in learning to blacksmith to make swords and knives. Other than a metal shop class where I did get to forge a chisel, I never did much about it. About 5 years ago during my divorce I found myself revisiting idea's of things I've always wanted to do but never had and discovered the blacksmithing dream was still there. I took a 3 day basic course from a well known Wa. blacksmith and discovered that I did and do still have the desire to blacksmith. I discovered though that making swords and knives are now very far down on my list and I'm more interested in ornamental ironwork and tool making. I love the idea of having the ability to make a needed tool instead of going down to the local big box hardware store and buy a mass produced questionable quality piece. I had a 2 year hiatus after that while moving and getting remarried but took a refresher course last fall and have been hitting the steel since. I hope to take an intermediate tool making class from that teacher in the fall.

Abenakis, I am still very thrilled with my Nimba, it proves it's worth everytime I hammer on it. I was punching a slot through the Hardie hole the other night and managed to get the punch onto the edge of the hole. The punch was slightly damaged but the anvil was not even marked! Guess it was a good thing I made the punch from mild rebar and not tool steel.
Being from Maine originally I've spent a small amount of time near the city of Quebec but not Montreal, this though was long before I got into smithing. There seem to be plenty of blacksmiths in the New England states that I'm sure would welcome a brother smith down from the country of Quebec! oops I mean Province.
I'm curious though about your name on the site, are you of the Abenaki tribe(s)?

Awesome score John!

Have a great time Matt, I'd love to return to Europe as a civilian, my time in the US Army didn't allow for as much exploration as I'd have liked. I know I have relatives in the Berlin area as well as Sweden.

An engine hoist is another alternative.

I used an engine hoist to place my new Nimba. Very useful item for that.