Ken73

Welcome Ken. There's a group from the Woldumar Nature Center in Lansing and they meet I believe the 4th Tuesday of the month either at someones shop or at the Blacksmith Shop on the nature center property in the warmer months. If you're interested in meeting up with them shoot me a PM and I'll get you in contact with one of the officers. Most of them are also MABA members.

PM sent for more info.

Greetings again,

 

Forgot to mention ... Lance Olsen has a open forge on Tues.  eve  Lots of good folks....  Parma Mich   not to far from you

 

Welcome again..

 

Jim

Thanks Jim I'll have to check that out!  I take it "open forge" means you just show up, no need to call or know anyone there?

Wow, nicely done!  I like how you used the two mediums.

I'm new to blacksmithing but a long time hobby artist.  What if you bent/curved the central rod towards the egg side, as if the weight of everything on the top were making it bend over that way.  May make it seem more "life-like".  Not really a critizism, just a different take as I really like it the way it is.

In my area they have an art competition called "Art Prize".  Theres a winner picked by popular vote by spectators and one picked by judges (art snobs).  It's a little contraversal with the artist types but has really been a big success with the amount of people coming to the area to see it.  

Thanks for the welcome!

Thanks Jim. Will be mailing my application to the MABA tomorrow. I'm scheduled to work on the event days the next couple months but should be able to take a day off for the hammer in. Sounds like a good time!

Jeff thanks for the info on that group. That's pretty close to me I'm definitely interested.

Well, I started into blacksmithing 5 years ago and had to give it up before I ever really got going.  Life has settled down and allowed me to get hammering and I'm really enjoying it so far!  Just looking to learn and hopefully connect with some smiths in Michigan to learn even more.

That's a pretty neat piece.  I really like the way the shapes and colors come together.

How was it made?  Looks like some heavy plate!

Made another heart and it turned out a little cleaner and flatter.  Didn't get the two sides the same length so I guess I need to find something on the anvil to do a quick measure to get them the same.

I also made a couple leaves.  The one in the middle was my first attempt.  It's a pretty sad looking little leaf, I tried to jazz it up a little with some burnishing but there's no helping that thing LOL.  One on the right was my second attempt and came out a little better.

Thanks Don that helped a lot! Made another one last night and it looks better. I'll upload a pic when I get home.

Thanks for the kind words everyone! My wife loved it.

Thank you Brian for the videos you have put out. It is a big help for a beginner like me to be able to see the work you're doing up close on the anvil.

Question on the tapers. The flats got a little twisted drawing out the tapers. After watching Brian's video again I don't think I was rotating the steel between strikes correctly. Does this sound right?

Made this for the wife for Valentine's Day.  First attempt at a heart, Brian Brazeal style.  5/16 rod finished with Murphy's.

I was just getting started smithing 5 years ago when we got married.  Then we had to move into the city so the smithing tools went into storage.  Now we finally got a nice place out in the country with a pole barn for me to "play" :wub: .  Hoping to finally get into this and learn to forge!

I have one and it does get metal hot enough to forge.  It will work out of the box, but I found the lining to be less than adequate on it and I am in the process of relining and coating with ITC 100 (you will need to get some ITC100 as it does not come with any).

I'm a beginner as well and was kind of stuck in the planning/indecision phase.  This forge at least got me hammering.  Worth the money?  Depends on your expectations... 

Thanks for the welcome Thomas! The anvil I was told is an American Star(big star on the side) weighing in at about 150 lbs on the bathroom scale. Its a cast iron body with tool steel face so it doesn't have a ring when hit. Rebound seems to be ok though. :)

Hi my name is Ken and I'm 26 years old, married and just getting started in blacksmithing. I was born and raised in Ionia, Michigan on a small farm, though I currently live in town (yuck). I also lived in southwest Iowa for a year.

I spent 4 years working at a grain elevator/feed mill. After having my fill of grain dust I spent 3 years as a conductor for a Class One railroad. During my time off (layoff) I spent time working at a large tool and die shop making automotive dies. After a little too much layoff time I left the railroad and have been at an ethanol production plant for the last year and a half.

I'm not sure just when or how the smithing bug bit me. My grandfather had a small smithy on the farm that I have fond memories of. I have spent this winter putting together some of the needed tools and equipment to get started. Just recently bought an anvil which I have a few pics of. Will be sure to share my work once my forge is going.