chyancarrek

For a variety of the reasons posted above, I stopped doing custom work of any description. I make more money now . . . . go figure. ;)

What exactly is he wanting to have cast and how many?

Apparently "This Side Up" on the crate didn't carry any weight with this fella . . . . ;)

Great post Dan. I didn't read through the whole thing (I've been around a furnace or two) but your info looks pretty good. Your building looks cool - You mention living and working there. What's the set up and are you pouring for a living?

Choosing the "best" of anything is at "best" an arbitrary thing . . . it will always come down to individual criteria based on preferences. There always going to be some amongst the compared who are superior to one or the other in some minor way which then reopens the debate to which is "best". It then becomes a circular discussion at "best". You've created several threads asking who is "best" at this or that . . . are you trying to get us to answer that for you? If so, we can't and you'd probably be "best" off making your own choices for your own reasons.

Michael, Really outstanding work as usual. Very unique job and it looks like you worked it out to a T. Despite the badmouthing of your client's design and style from some of the other posters (lets hope they treat their own clients with a little more respect), I think that you've made it a perfect fit for the location. Please make sure to post pics of that staircase installation!

I saw them too . . . one even had the hook (in great shape) on it. I'm real skeptical of the "finds" that most of these shows "Pickers", "Pawn Stars", "Storage Wars" etc. seem to consistently run across . . . I'm more of the mind that any bike of Big Daddy Ed's was "found" well before the filming by a producer's well funded research team and then the "find" was well scripted to add that o' so profitable element of excitement/drama.

Nicely done work as usual Beth! Your pieces will do fine for sale - just remember that it may take more than one event for them to go to new homes but fun ideas, well done, always attract an eye!

Chuckle . . . I know the "in between school runs" thing . . . my two kids set the schedule around here. Do give some thought to setting up your equipment though. Even if you're just doing quick sand mold pours, there's a lot of satisfaction in owning the whole process. I've been working with a sculptor for 13 years. We do large scale bronze abstracts. We typically pour 400 lb crucibles. An average pouring session will total close to a ton in a day. Google James Lee Hansen Sculptor - he does some great pieces. BTW, I agree with you . . . . mold making is a bore!

Beth, have you given any thought to setting up your own small foundry? It's really quite simple to make what you need and owning the molten metal portion of your process just can't be beat!

Another nicely executed piece myloh . . . great energy! It anticipates work. I agree Michael, after a certain point, large work has to be expressed outside the head to make sure that the realities of scale get addressed.

That's VERY nicely done myloh. Kudos!

1) Name? Neil Pope 2) Location? SW Washington in the United States 3) What type blacksmithing do you do, what do you make? I specialize in hammered serving vessels but I also do the whole range of "bread and butter" work. Most of my pieces are combined with some level of woodwork. 4) How and when did you get started in blacksmithing? I wanted to make my own hardware for an Arts and Crafts redo on a house. After completing a metal arts course, I found non-ferrous wasn't going to do everything I needed to get done. I joined the apprenticeship program at the Ft Vancouver National Historic site and spent five years as an interpretive smith. My business built from there and I've been at it full time for about 12 years. 5) What object or thing did you use as your first anvil? A piece of bent I-beam 6) Tell us about your first forge, hole in the ground, camp fire, brake drum, stacked bricks. An O/A torch. 7) Who assisted you or encouraged you in the craft? The experienced smiths at the FVHS. 8) What event changed your attitude about blacksmithing? My attitude has stayed pretty consistent throughout the years. It's a means to an end, I don't love "doing" it but I l do love "having" done it. 9) What tool has changed or made your life easier in the shop? Pneumatic power hammer - I'm too old to give my body a full time dose of hand hammering. 10) What advice would you give those starting out in blacksmithing? Spend less time "being" a blacksmith and more time "doing" blacksmithing. 11) What advice would you give those already involved in blacksmithing? None of us should be too old, too pro or too proud to learn. 12) What are some of the interesting things that have happened to you in your life as a blacksmith? Not much past some of the funny stuff that happens to us all . . . it's been a good run!

'50 - 3/4 Ton Chevy. Had her for about 18 years. Down with a belly-up electronic ignition module at the moment. Just a good old slow and steady hauler.

GodSpeed Grant . . . the anvil rings here for you today.

The anvil rings here - Godspeed Deloy . . .

Memo to shank-man . . . STOP pouring . . .

I had someone give me a couple of the HF versions mentioned above - A few months ago I set them up like Bruce's to do veining and vessel forming. The control on them is kinda sketchy because the pedal valve is real low-end but they do an Ok job after you make up some beefy dies. They're flimsy and noisy as xxxx no matter what speed but for free, they're a treat. I do light, smaller scale work so we'll see how long they last. I don't think I'd spend the money on the HF model if I wanted to get serious work done tho. I've seen some fellows using PullMax's for doing the same thing and man o' man was that some smooth operating!

Everybody has a different "let it go" point . . . figure out where yours is and get comfortable with it. Its the sort of thing you have to define for yourself.

Naww, it's a GREAT example of what IFI is . . . ideas and opinions bandied about, sometimes in accord sometimes contention. Either way, discussion and dialog take place and new ideas get planted and grow ( or old ones pruned and brought back to life ). Everybody has a viewpoint - we takes 'em or leaves 'em as we like!

Unforgivun, Don't toss in the towel, you've gotten some good feed back and encouragement from some good smith's in this thread along with TP's comments. For reasons of his own he's in curmudgeon mode right now (he does that from time to time) and no amount of debating the point is gonna shake him off the bone - don't take it personal, he's a good guy and a wealth of information when he's in the mood to give it. Have fun with your idea, if it works - great, if it doesn't - great, it's your time and energy to spend as you see fit and you'll have learned something either way. Just keep asking questions and share the results with us. I for one look forward to seeing how you do!

Stay safe Mark - a good pic isn't worth a goose egg on the ol' noggin' or getting blown halfway into next Tuesday!

She's on the list here Steve! Neil & Lauren

Have a great trip Larry! Let that hot metal and a gathering of friends wipe away some of the grief!!

Glenn, Please accept our condolences on your loss - it's been a trying period for your family, we wish you all the best! Neil & Lauren