Leah

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.

Bryan, I am sorry to hear about Steve. I will remember his family in my prayers.

Blacksmithing AS a job... Heck, if I didn't blacksmith, I wouldn't NEED a job :lol:

Ralph, That is the way I feel. I have been trying for a long time to get into his school. I finally got enough vacation time to go and I am not going to let anything stop me.

Thomas, Thanks for the information. I don't know about the SWABA meeting, I will have to check with hubby.

Thanks guys. Looks like this trip is going to cost more than I had planned on.

Ian, The pictures of the Royal Armouries are great. Keep up the good work.

I am going to Frank Turley's blacksmithing school in Santa Fe in two weeks. We will be traveling from Northeast Louisiana through Texas. The school will last three weeks so we are pulling our camper with our 3/4 ton deisel truck and only get about 10 miles to the gallon. I know- we are not going to be very eco friendly but I could not ask my husband to sit in a hotel room for three weeks while I play in the fire. Besides, this way he might have supper cooked when I get home from school :roll: I am worried we may have trouble finding fuel. Could some of you folks in Texas tell me if you are having any trouble getting diesel? I know I am going to pay through the nose, but I have been trying to get to Frank's for a long time and I am willing to pay the price. Anything you can tell me will help. Thanks

Ralph, I am praying for you and Dawn.