Leah

I am with Daryl. I use a pry bar almost every day at work. I would much rather have one bend than break. I could have the end of a heavy motor picked up or a pipe flange pulled over with it. While we know we should never put our fingers under a heavy motor to pull the shims out or get between a pipe flange and another pipe to start the bolts or put in the gasket... I see people do stuff like that all the time.

It would be much cheaper to buy a new pry bar than to get your fingers fixed.

What a weekend. Yesterday, I had a great day in the shop. I did a lot of cleaning up and did some other things I had been putting off. I forged the handles for a fireplace set and called it a day. I got up early this morning and went to the shop to weld the handles onto the tools. Everything went well as I forged the 1/2" round stock into a rooster spur for the poker and forged the end of the broomstick. The broom handle weld went just as it should and I was feeling good - maybe a little too good. I scarfed the end of another piece of stock and got my fire cleaned up. So far so good. When everything was just right, I tried to make the weld and missed it. No problem, just brush it off and flux it again and I will get it this time. Missed it again. Cleaned out the fire to make sure I had not missed a clinker. I will get it this time. WRONG! Sooooo, I go into the house and get another cup of coffee and think about what I could be doing wrong. I decided to try something I had seen in a book and cut a "V" in the round stock, quenched it and drove the hot scarf of the handle onto it and made a scarf that would lock in place. I know I will not miss this weld........

So I got out the welder and tacked it with a 7018 rod and when I brought it out of the forge this time, I gave it a little tap and it broke into two parts.

By this time, I am looking at two pieces of burnt, mangled metal and there is so much borax on the floor that it looks like a dope bust gone bad. Murphy had taken over my shop. I mean really, I could not even forge weld it when I had tacked it with a welding machine!

I figure most people would have given up about this time and gone to the house. I found out today that I am more hard headed than Murphy. I dug around and found a box of 1/16" 6013 rods and figure "it ain't no good this way, I might as well ruin it for good." I ran the amps all the way down on my little buzzbox and it still was too hot. I sure wish Murphy would leave me alone. I decide to go ahead and give it a try - it can't look no worse. I started building it up a little at a time. I was burning the rod up so fast, all I could really do was dab a little, chip, chip, brush, brush, dab a little more. When I got through, it looked like a big, ragged blob.

So back to the forge, clean it out and get my fire going again. I brought the blob up to a red heat, brushed it with everything I had, sprinkled on a little borax and put it back in the fire. I laughed and though, "I am waisting my time for sure." I brought it up to a welding heat, smacked it on the side of the anvil to get rid of the flux and beat the stew out of it. I let it cool a little and brushed it off thinking I would at last give up and let Murphy have the shop to himself. Much to my supprise, it did not look too bad. I fluxed it again and, after a couple of heats, had a nice looking shovel handle. I HAD RUN MURPHY OFF! I swear, you can't tell where the weld is.

I finally called it a night and went to the house - but, I saw Murphy peeking around the corner of the shop - he hasn't gone too far...

Elkdoc,

That is great news! Thanks for letting us know.

I'm praying for you, Ralph.

Elkdoc,

I will keep your friend and his family in my prayers. Please keep us posted on the young man.

Sandy,

This list is great!

Jr. and Cookie,

Carrie is in my prayers.

Beacher,

Your mom is in my prayers.

Quenchcrack and Sandpile,

These look like they would be neat little gifts to make.

Thanks!

Jr.,

That was too funny not to share. Quenchcrack is right-you are quite the wordsmith. I could just see you sliding down the hole. Thank goodness you were not hurt.

Jerry,

You and Carol are in my prayers.

Sandpile,

I am home now and have been busy getting the camper unloaded so I have not had a chance to play in the fire again yet. However, as soon as I get a chance, I need to get my new anvil dressed and a portable forge and blower fixed up. I am taking a class from Bill Epps this weekend at Joe Rolfe's.

My forge welding got a lot better. Frank had us doing faggot welds the first day. He taught us how to scarf for welding round to round, square to square and round to square. We got a chance to do some drop the tongs welds. I had tried them before but all I could do was drop the tongs! We learned to do different types of scrolls. We learned to make straight and bolt tongs. I was sick the day they did the bolt tongs but I think I got it figured out. We did some punching and drifting. We used different kinds of tool steel and made some punches and chisles. I know there was a lot more that I can't remember right now.

I do such a bad job at taking notes and did not take any pictures so I plan to just start trying to make all these things on my own a little at a time and maybe that will help me remember it all.

By the way, we did make it to Bandelier(sp?) and it was a great day. I am so glad we got to see it. Steve fished just about every day in the Pecos. He had as much fun on this trip as I did.

If anyone has been thinking about taking Frank's class, I can't say enough good things about it. I know my work will be much better now.

Jr.,

That bird dog is just too cute.

Sandpile,

Thanks for the invite but we will not be able to make it by your place this trip-maybe next time.

There are five students in the class-three men, myself and one other woman. I don't think she has been in the fire much, but she is keeping up pretty well. The rest of us have done a little smithing before.

Frank has an enclosed shop with a wood stove for heat. We lit it the first morning, but we have not used it again. It does not take long to heat the shop up when you have six forges going. I get there about 30 min. before class each morning and break up enough coal for the day. It is pretty cold so I just wear my Carhart overalls and coat. I have to work outside a lot in the winter so I have enough clothes to stay warm :lol:

That is great news! See, prayer really does work :D

Sandpile,

Frank is keeping us pretty busy. You are right - Frank is a great instructor. I have not taken any pictures of the things I have made. Maybe when I get home and try to make them the 2nd time from my notes, I will get some pics. The things we are making may be old hat for some of you folks, but it is all stuff I have been afraid to try before. Now, I am thinking, maybe I CAN jazz it up a little bit 8)

There may be more out there than steak turners, burger flippers, and forks after all. And, maybe (just maybe) my fireplace sets will have a little more flair.

Marc,

I have done repousse' using Roma Plastilina(sp?) that I bought from Dick Blick art supply. They make 2 or 3 types and I bought the hardest one. You do not have to heat this, just pound it into a shallow container. I used an old skillet with the handle removed. I have worked annealed 18 and 20 ga. mild steel on it.

WOW! Great looking knife and sheath.

Thomas, my brother and his wife are going to be in town this weekend. I have not seen him since last Christmas, so I can't come to the meeting.


Sandpile, Frank is working me like a borrowed mule :D

Thanks for the info on the drive. That sounds like somehting good to do on the weekend. I had already told Steve that the spiral staircase is a "must see" on this trip.

We had our first class today and I am POOPED! We forge welded all day and between the hand crank blower and this thin air, all I want to do is get a shower and hit the hay. I really think I am going to learn a lot in this class.

Sandpile,

Yes, I am here to torture Frank for three weeks. I will check out Maria's. We are staying at a campground on Cerrillos so it should be easy to find.

We made it to Santa Fe last night. We can't check into the campground untill after lunch today so I made Steve get me a room. We left Louisiana around 6pm Thursday and drove untill 3am then stopped at a rest stop somewhere in OK for a nap. We had to park between two cattle trucks. Between the cold and the diesel fumes and the "hamburgers on a halfshell" mooing all night, I did not get much sleep. COWS ARE LOUD!

The sunset was worth the drive. I can't wait to start class Monday.

By the way, we did not have any problem finding diesel. We may have trouble paying off the credit card when we get home :D

Great news, Dawn. I will keep praying for you and Ralph.

Bud is in my prayers

I agree. The artwork is exceptional. Between the photographs, artwork and Ian's writing, I find myself really looking forward to each installment.