larrynjr

As this is part of a school project, I'm surprised you have to provide your own steel or that they didn't give more details as to what type of steel you would need to succeed in making a punch. If you used that same Lowes steel for your chisel it will probably notch and blunt as soon as you try to use it.

you must have felt like doing some hammering!

It was a lot of work, I've been away from the forge for a week or more. It took me almost 4 hours to do that. I like the way it came out though. The trick will be if I can do it again to make a matching hook with the leaf on the opposite side.

I finally got out and did some hammering today and made this hook with a philodendren leaf out of a rr spike.

Actually it's; www.gstongs.com and he is located in Castle Rock, Wa. so pretty close to you.

Another option is to join the NW Blacksmith Association. They have a grant for training that members can apply for. There are many very good smiths / instructors in Wa.
www.blacksmith.org

It looks like it was carved from styrofoam then painted to look like anvil color. POS in my book. buyer beware!!

Thanks Thomas, I knew there was a good reason for it but not having had proper welding training / background I didn't know what it was. I've suspected that the flux core wire was less than good but I haven't invested in a bottle for shielding gas yet. One more thing to the list of what I want / need!

I'm not trying to do this just wondering what happens, good, bad, whatever; if you try to weld with non-flux core wire without the argon/co2 shielding gas?

Massive spatter? burn out your MIG?

Thanks

good looking stuff, courses are great and I wish I could do one every month but time and money don't allow. Courses are a great way to ramp up your skills quickly. Get your gasser built and start hammering!

Great article and pictures Hollis. I really like the poker handle!

Happy Birthday, for 2009! Many more and happy hammering!

Our prices have dropped here, I paid $53 to refill my tank last weekend. About $2.65 a gal.

That is a great story with a proper ending. Everyone gets either what they deserve or get what belongs to them.

I like it!

I have never tried it or seen any posts regarding that here but as it IS steel, I would think it is possible. BUT, if you are not proficient at forge welding other types of steel, you will probably have yourself a time, trying to forge SS as your first project. From what I understand about SS, it has a very narrow forging temperature window, I would guess that forge welding it would be an even more narrow time slot.

Where are you located? If you go to the user CP at the top and list where you are located there might be someone nearby that can help directly.

Congratulations! It is not easy and fire temp. makes a big difference. I had never gotten any before taking a course for gas forge welding. Since then sometimes I can sometimes not.

It's exciting when it does happen though. Keep it up!

That looks great Rog, do you have any before shots of it? Always cool to see the before and after.

Chains on my old Harbor Freight anvil helped deaden the sound. I went with a sand filled box for my Nimba and it is very quiet.

That looks awesome! Excellent job.

The upload issue is probably the same as the one posted about here;

http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f20/problems-posting-gallery-8674/

It has to do with the Adobe Flash plugin.

Pictures! we need Pictures!!!!

I am certainly not an expert witness on the subject but will impart my take on the subject.

In the USA, there are many local blacksmith groups that may have a certificate program that may bestow a master certification to members that can demonstrate skill to a certain level. I'm not sure if demonstrating the ability to teach those skills is part of the program or not.

ABANA, is the US National level blacksmith association and if they have a certification program I have not seen anything on their website about it.

In Europe, I believe there are still certifications given by the government, that certify smiths as apprentice, journeyman and master levels. I won't swear to that in court but that is the impression I have from posts written here by some of our European brothers / sisters.

Please those of you who actually know, fill in the gaps and make corrections to my inaccuracies and outright fabrications!

looking at the picture of the base, I would guess cast iron but with possibly a tool steel plate on the face. It should still work mighty fine for you!

Great work Valentin!

Santa was very good to me this year.

I got a Smithin Magician III
a 9 piece number punch set
a dremel tool kit with adjustable project table.
a year membership in ABANA

A 9 piece number punch set!



Which I actually did receive!

I don't see any identifying marks on it, it looks like a generic chinese made cross peen hammer. very similar to my first hammer. I would suggest radiusing the edges before using it much. You'll get fewer sharp dings in your projects that way.