J W Bennett

Ian, Now that you have us all crosseyed and out of focus I hope your happy :wink: JWB

Bruce, Great pictures! Thanks for the link to your site. I always like to see pictures of other shops to get ideas for mine. Looks like you could go fishing at/for lunch. JWB

Andy, Nice job. 8) JWB

Nice work! :mrgreen: JWB

This is the taper hardie I made from Jr's BP. The amount of knowledge to be gained from the Tuesday night Live Blueprints is amazing. I attend when I can and recommend them to everyone. :!: JWB

Shop scrap, I beleive it is 18 gauge. Scribed a circle around a new 4" sidearm grinding disc, cut it out. I have a hardie that is a piece of 2 " angle V up with a taper(JR did a BP one 3 weeks ago). I divided the circle in to 8 sections and then layed the edge 1 inch up on the taper and used the hammer pien to set it down with on each mark. Flipped it over set it on a piece of 2" pipe in the hardie and flattened the bottom back out. Mig'd it to the stem.(cheating I guess) JWB

My daughters birthday is today, We went out for supper and I suprised her with this candle holder. She really liked it I think my father in law was even impressed JWB

AIW, If I count correctly....1....2....3....I have 9 smithing hammers.The three I use most are a 2# cross pein a 1 1/2# Ball pein and a 2# rounding hammer I made from a Ball pein. Add 5 chisel and bull work hammers(one at each vise and 2 at the tool table) of various wieghts. I also have 3 different sledge hammers, totalling 17 used in the shop I've only been smithing for a little over a year and I am sure they like all things multiply with time. I have a feeling hammers and tongs are two things you can never have to many of. JWB

Andy, Woody is right, when they come apart they can do alot of damage. I have a mustache to help hide the scar. :roll: I have saved a few chopsaw wheels and other circular objects on nails on the shop wall for quick circle layouts. thats about all I know they're good for. :idea: JWB

Blacksmithtech, If you go to the IFirgeIron site map then to the tools section and click on swage blocks and stands there are some nice ones there. http://www.iforgeiron.com/Tools/swedge%20block.htm JWB

I have been rearranging the shop for about a week now. The forge, anvil, powerhammer and tool table were in good relation to each other but the rest of the equipment was kinda hodgepodge hit and miss. Alot of extra steps and time to drill. sandblast, sand, grind...... :? Yesterday I finally got everything in some kind of organized working arrangement. Spent about 8 hours working with the new arrangement today and it's amazing the amount of time and energy and aggravation it saves. Now if I could just teach Duchess and Freckles(two fine examples of mans best friend) to be strikers I'd have it made :P

I have the sheet foam on the inside of my outer walls, Haven't had any problems. It's easy to install and takes water and flying objects well. JWB

AIW, Thats a heck of a piece, Didn't see it till today. My offering isn't to that scale but I made my first rose today and thought I'd share it with everyone. Have the petals cut for 2 more to do tomorrow. JWB

These two are prime examples of mans best friend, they never miss a meal, hug or treat. They keep the Wilderbeasts, Coyotes and salesman from the door....what more could you ask for. The small brown one is Duchess, The thick(don't tell him he's fat) furry one is Freckles. Both are pound hounds. And yes they both have 2 pillows each :roll: JWB

Ourselfs into trouble(he's married to the wifes cousin,twice removed) they spend to much time on the phone together. By george he did have a light and we 've got the fire going. Now what was it I had to do......

Welcome, All you need is iron,something to turn it red with(forge), something to smack it with(hammer) and a desire to learn. These folks are more than happy to help you out. The forge can be charcoal, coal or gas their all on the forum or the Iforgeiron site. The hammer can be a cheapy from walmart. From there it's all where you want to go. Just be safe, If it doesn't feel right ask someone! Happy hammering, JWB

I sandblasted everything and shined up the vase, used a brass brush on the flowers and Veg oil on the leaves and stems. I guess they look more like Iris's than they do Tulips :? but I think she'll be happy. Heres the finished project. And this is what they look like on the kitchen table... Glenn, Guess I should of put this in the blacksmithing section. JWB

Welcome to the site. I have asked my share of questions here and have always gotten sincere answers. I have never been put down or made to feel stupid. I hope you enjoy your smithing. JWB

Thanks Leah & Julian, I don't know about the brownie points but it should dull the noise in my left ear for a little bit! Julian, I don't have any cooper or brass but I did save a rose petal pattern the same time I got the tulip pattern. I have sheet metal so I think I'll make some tooling and try a rose or two. JWB

My wife likes Tulips, so I took Jr's Lilly demo from anvilfire and a tulip pattern from a BS supplier on the net and this is what I came up with... I will try to get some better pics tomorrow, They still need brushed and cleaned. Trying to get this up before the BP's tonight Thanks everyone and especialy Jr for the Ideas, JWB

We are way to warm for this time of year, It's nice on the bills but the flowers are already coming up and the trees are budding. When BB sectional time(other hoosiers will understand)comes and the cold snap hits the fruit trees and flowers won't fair well I'm afraid. Jr, I like the flowers Idea, those sure are nice. 8) I'll keep track of how many I lay to waste before I get it right so we can have a laugh latter. I've never made flowers so nows a good time to try. Time to hit the BP index....... JWB

This weather, the Bears, any body seen a good movie or even a bad one..............Lets talk about something good. My wifes birthday is the end of the month-What should I forge that makes a good birthday present? :wink: JWB

Fix what needs fixin when it needs fixin. Speakin of which here comes Scrounge down the lane, Maybe he'll have a match to light the fire before he...

To All, I think of this sight like the kitchen table at home, I started out like a child sitting at the kitchen table listening to the elders. As time goes on I have tried too add to the conversation and ask for opinions and guidance. As I grow I offer some of my own. I have a lot to learn and a little to offer But I enjoy sitting at this kitchen table and I feel comfortable here. I am not a religous man nor an educated one.... But when I am company at another mans table I try too watch my manners as I share in the conversation. That doen't mean I can't state my opionion it just means I do it in the manner acceptable to the house that I am in. I feel like I belong here, If that should ever change I am free to look for knowledge and fellowship elsewhere. Thank you for a spot at the table and I hope my plate never gets broken. JWB

It's amazing how much the world has changed in our short time spent here.