LITTLEJOHN

Awesome work the style is very nice as well !

Nice job on the tongs ! As the line goes the tools don't make the Blacksmith the Blacksmith makes the tools, Keep up the good work and always keep those around as you keep working ,you will be surprised years down the road at the progress you make just from practice and the desire to get better !

Arftist I just was rereading the posts on this thread and you said you trained a guy for 18 months and he left and joined the Marines and you didn't come close to recouping your cost.I hope you can look at that a different way and I am sure you didn't mean that in a bad way ,but in a way he paid you great compliment and all of us who live in this country.He went and is willing to put his life on the line so we can enjoy freedom and keep doing the things we enjoy.The financial loss is great but the loss of freedom is greater.Having not served myself I am thankful to those who do.Thanks to all who fight and have fought so I can enjoy freedom.Who knows how many others he has influenced because of your willingness to teach him.Keep up the good work Arftist your willingness to take someone on is keeping the trade alive and your legacy as well.

I for one am very thankful to those retiring smiths who want things passed down to someone who will use them.I have been fortunate to be on the receiving end of one of those situations.I have gentleman who has helped me get started and has taught me things that only someone of 48 years experience can.He has sold me equipment for half of what he could have gotten for it because he told me he wants to see it used.On my end that makes it even more special to me because I think of him when I use it and will be forever grateful to know that he took an interest in me and was willing to share that knowledge.So to all you smiths willing to pass things down to us beginners I say thank you and I am glad you share your skills to help us keep the trade going!

Merry Christmas to all as well!!! May you all be so good as to get not a lump of coal but a bag! May God bless you all and may you have a Happy and prosperous New Year !

I don't know if it would work but if you could get it to dry and want to stick with the whiskey barrel you might go to the local auto parts store and try some of the brush on bed liner for pick up beds. Once dry it should seal and provide a tough waterproof coating and should be fairly heat resistant.Just a thought.

I am not sure what model the blower is but I know it isn't a 400.The one I have is on a small fairers forge and is mounted on the lip of the pan.The only markings are champion so there might be something I am missing or not looking at that tells me what the model is.

Well guys here is my problem I have champion forge blower that is getting loose in the bushings/bearings and starting to leak more oil.The oil leeak doesn't bother me that much since adding oil is easy,but it's starting to make more noise and I would like to get it rebuilt before something happens and does major damage.Do any of you know anyone who rebuilds them? I live in central Illinois but don't mind shipping it if I can get it done reasonable.Thanks for any help!

Welcome aboard ! As you know by now how addictive this trade is and this site is a great help to all of us who have that addiction ! Be sure and post some of your work and again welcome !

I have had good luck taking old blankets of fiberglass insulation and laying over the part to keep an even and slow cool down process making sure the whole part is covered and holding in the heat.

Thanks Glenn and Andrew for all you do to keep this site going ! It was a long time spent here on some snowy days in Illinois ! I know that when its to cold to forge here I can come to this site and not spend those days in boredom.This site is truly my winter fix when I cant be at the forge! Thanks again!

Yes I am a forgeaholic as well ! I love the equipment and am always looking for that new piece of equipment hammer anvil tongs whatever goes with the trade.I love the smell of the coal smoke and am constantly looking for scrape to make something out of as well as looking as things deciding how I can make them as well. In addition I look for spare time to forge whenever I can. It is a painless disease with only the occasional burn but one which calms the soul and brings relaxation to those who have it. Yes truly am addicted to this thing that only a select few enjoy those of us who are special ! At least I think they are complimenting me by saying I am special . Ha Ha .

Ken welcome I am new as well only been on board for what seems a short time!You are among a great group who are willing to help with anything they can and share what easily becomes an addiction! They share there knowledge to keep the art alive! Ask and learn all you can and no question is to crazy to ask.Here is a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips.Welcome!!!

When I started getting interested in smithing I was given a book by an old smith who helped me get started. Little did I ever think there would be a correct height for your anvil to be set at.The book explained that the correct height should be equal to the distance from the floor to a closed fist with you standing strait up with your hands to your side. If your anvil is is at the correct height you should be able to take a pine board and place it on your anvil and strike it with you hammer and leave a full imprint of your hammer.If mounted to high you will leave the imprint of the half of your hammer nearest to you to low the half away for you. If you miss the board the height isn't the problem.Little did I know then that this is such a skilled science and sometimes trial and error.

I have a 156 lb Hay Budden and I love it . As for getting started once you do you won't want to stop.This is my first year and was fortunate enough to find a smith in my area to help me.I am waiting now to spend some time with him at a museum were he works the first two weekends in Oct. You will find that this site has all kinds of great people willing to help you and answer questions you have getting started and help preserve a piece of history.Welcome aboard and enjoy being bit by the bug of blacksmithing.