chyancarrek

Nice job KC - Keep the pics coming! What kind of casting are you going to do?

I second that Ron - Usually I enjoy a good dog fight but this one has run it's course and degenerated into a pseudo-intellectual "IS SO" - "IS NOT" rant.

Great news Jerry - Lauren and I are so glad to hear she's doing better! Thanks for letting us know!

I was wondering what that was - and I'm all the way over on the Left Coast! Unfortunately, the climb to quality has done a 180 and turned into a very slippery slope due to being well lubricated by quick profits and short turn around while chasing market share rather than providing a viable product for the use it's intended for. I've gotten to the point where I pretty much only buy used quality equipment produced during an era where "made to last" meant something. The last major "new" purchase I made was my pneumatic PH - It was designed and built by a fellow in my Blacksmithing association and he proudly stands behind his product 100%. To find tools and equipment that I know will work and last, I'll take a good old fashioned flea market, Craigslist or the local want ads over an "Import Emporium" anytime!

Good looking site Wesley - I've got it bookmarked! That was a life saver shoe for me - I had a gelding who nearly severed a tendon and between a great shoer, a great vet (both said I may never ride him again) and months of physical therapy on my part, I was riding him on the beach 8 months later. Hats off to all you folks who make a living on the under-side of a horse!!

I used to be a professional product illustrator so I'm WAY burned-out on doing any kind of drawings - When I have to, I'll use Adobe Illustrator for making precise paper patterns. If I'm doing repeat work, I'll make wood or metal patterns with any critical measurements written on them.

Yeah, We made a treadle version at the Ft Vancouver site a number of years ago - it was a fun co-op project between the carpentry and blacksmith shops. It was surprising how effectively it worked!

Hey, is that a Rolex logo on the side o' that thing? Really nicely done Tire - Beats my "Franken-forge" hands down!

Welcome to IFI Russell You'll find heaps of that info here and good advice is just a question away - you got it right, we LOVE pictures so post away! Have fun!

Looks like a RN chiropractic clinic to me . . . .

A year or so ago, the local utility guys responded to a blow-out at a substation - when they got there, the smoking husk of a tweeker was still clutching the cable cutters he used to try and clip a main line with - ya just gotta love natural selection . . ..

All our thoughts out to you and your wife BI! Neil & Lauren

Glenn, Sounds like my kinda guy! The anvil rings for you here Studebaker - go in peace!

All castings are rough after pouring - there are investment materials that let you hold an incredible amount of detail but there's shrinkage rates to calculate to get your thread area anywhere close to accurate. Even if you do, you would still need to run a tap through any cast threads to make them usable. You're better off making a "place holder" (indentation in the master-form as a start point for the drilling) then drilling and tapping. That being said, I'm speaking from a large scale casting perspective so there may be someone here who does jewelry level work that has a technique for you. You shouldn't need a machinist to drill and tap them unless the tolerances are critical - if you're willing to cast your own parts, then make the investment into a set of taps and dies - it'll save you money and time. Good luck - let us know how it turns out!

Thanks for sharing those Brian! You're truly a credit to the craft!

Way to go Mr. Z for helping put those genetic defects behind bars! I've been lucky and have had nothing more than a chainsaw and a few garden tools walk off. About 6 years ago my wife saw someone skulking around my shop at night - I stepped out and lit him up with "The eye of God" (2 million candle power light) - He jumped about 4' in the air and took off running . . . I'm hoping that after he cleaned out his pants, he cleaned up his life and tried out for the Olympics because he cleared the front 100 yards of my property in about 8 seconds flat! Your area sounds like mine, go up the wrong driveway for the wrong reason and you might not come back down - and there's forest, lots and lots of forest . . . Speaking of charred body parts - Last year, the Power Co found the smoking husk of a fella still gripping the cable cutters he tried to use on an open main-line inside of a substation.

Aww, C'mon Mark - I enjoy a good dog fight and this one is better than most. Even though the bone they're scrappin' over was picked clean long ago, they're being civil and reasonable about it and the entertainment value is pretty high

Steve, Great reach-out and nicely said. It's that sort of enthusiasm that keeps this whole thing going!

Larry, Congrats to yourself and Joe! The Jefferson is just flat-out fine work!

Dustin, There's a whole bunch of us here in the PacNW. Check out the NWBA's website (www.blacksmith.org) - register and put out the question - "who's near me - and what's going on locally?" We've got a conference coming up in October in Stevenson Wa - it's be a great place to hook up with folk and see if you can find people/events that might provide you the forge time you're looking for. What about volunteer opportunities? Are there any historical organizations local to you who would like to have a smith as part of their gig? If so, rounding up a portable smithing set up might work for you. Stick with it - there's always a way to hit on some hot iron!!

Welcome Shocks! Sounds like you'll fit in around here just fine! This is a great site with lots of super folk - don't hesitate to chime in on the discussions! Bodwin Moor? Is that up by Liskard (sp?) - If so, I think I was in your neck of the woods many, many years ago - I've got relatives in Newlyn, Penzance and Mousehole. One of my cousin's had friends in Liskard that we'd go visit.

Gee - Now I'm kinda inspired to put hardwood flooring in my shop . . .

Nice pics John, Now that's taking on a situation "Blacksmith Style" - "It isn't going as planned? - He** with that, we'll do it anyway!"

Hey CJ. Don't let not having a "real" anvil slow you down - get yourself any hunk of metal that will serve - old rail really does work well and you'd be surprised at how much you can get done on it. A lot of fellas use a chunk of forklift tine or just a large block scrounged at the scrapper. Keep shopping around - anvils are out there and if you're diligent enough, you'll come across a deal that works for you. This site is a great place to network so don't be afraid to ask. Go to your user control panel and fill in your location - your chances of connecting with someone local will really increase if we know where you are. I started out with an O/A torch, a claw hammer and a bent piece of I-beam for my first six months, after that it was an ASO (anvil shaped object) and a ballpeen with a blown charcoal brazier until I graduated to a forge and 70 lb anvil. It's all about getting metal hot and start to pounding! Good luck on your search and have fun!

My pleasure, that's the great thing about the PacNW - It's got a bit of everything if a person wants to do what you did - poke around everywhere and check it out. Glad to hear you found a spot that fits! Have a great move!