Thanks for the welcome, everyone-- I don't have much time to address everything mentioned because the sun is out & winds are coming in a few hours, so I'm setting up to forge. Pics will come tonight, K. Bryan, and yes, Grundsau, I joined the Tidewater Blacksmith Guild a few months back. I haven't been able to make every meeting, but they're good people & I've seen that Travis maintains the TBG forum here.
Ok, now I'm off to find those scrolling tong design ideas that made me join this site to begin with! I can't make my mom's Christmas gift without them.