larrynjr

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.

A butcher is more like a chisel with a very wide blade, with a 45 degree angle to it. Here is a picture of one with a side set tool also. It is not particularly knife like. You use the butcher to isolate a mass to be forged out into tenon's and filials. The side set is used to move the mass away from the shoulder after you've butchered down to your desired thickness.

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

not to be too dense but what IS an annular cutter?

Here is a picture of a heel tenon that I did for my first (still unfinished gate) From the looks of your work Tim, you have the skill to do heel tenons. In My Opinion. I "think" what Mark means by whippy, is flex, does it flex when you open it or is it completely rigid?

Thanks Mark, that fits the description that mcraigl had done on the forging tenon thread and what I was picturing in my head from that description. So it IS a type of guillotine tool, just with a much large working face. I may try to make one soon. Though the little blacksmith angel in my head says a guillotine tool may show up under the tree this year..... Larry

http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f7/forging-tenon-7708/index2.html here is the thread from the forging tenon thread. MCraigl was the one posting and explaining.

This was mentioned in the tenon thread recently and it is mentioned in the CBA Level III pdf as a tool to have. Does anyone have a picture of this? I'm not quite getting it from the description. Thanks!

Have no doubt Peyton, these and all I've seen from you are equal to anything I have seen on this site. These are very cool and you did a great job.

Here are some views from my house, the "mountain" is to the North and the sunset is West. (where else would it set?)