Ian

LOL, I was given the challenge to make an upset rose by Lina Sundin, a wonderful lady Smith, originally from Norway (who works in Orebro in Sweden). I asked her to show me how to make a rose and I think she was having a little fun with me. Took me a while but I did it and surprised her in the process. The Farm project is still moving, myself and Sean are having a bad time with the weather at the minute so the actual building works are crawling along but we're making tooling and stuff so its not wasted time. We've had the first version of the contract to look at, and asked for a fair few changes to be made so it's a case of waiting for them to re write it and let us go over the next version. I'm pretty sure we'll manage to come to an arrangement that we're all happy with in time. Basically there's a plan to hold a forge in to coincide with the official opening of the forge when we've got the building finished. It's a bit of a piece of string question at the minute but I'm hoping it wont be more than another month or two. I'll be letting everyone know when we're ready so that as many folks as possible can make it over for the day. I'm really looking forward to it. :D

Some really lovely roses John Was anyone brave enough to try doing a rose from one piece of steel? I've done the russian style roses before at demo's, and found a way to make them a little less clunky by adding the lower leaves under the petals on the last wrap around, but only ever done one by upsetting and chiselling, just too much work and time for what you'd get for it. Fine as a 'done it' project but component roses like those are so much more economical in both senses of the word and they look lovely too. Great effort

LOL Frosty, I have no objection to a rambly style at all. I'm just as guilty of it as you are mate. As a quick update the contract was emailed to me yesterday. Very much written in legalise and something that I need to let a few people I know look at. Some things I know from my read through will definitely need amending before I sign it but on the whole it isn't as terrible as it might have been. In between times progress is being made on the extension to the forge and I've had a chance to make a couple of things, including a nice cube twist candlestick. The reason for that being Sean has possibly found us an 'in' to a very exclusive designer store in London and they might well like to see some examples of what we can do. All things considered this year might turn out to be a pretty interesting one B)

to go at something "hammer and tongs" would mean really "putting the hammer down" wouldn't it?

Hello all, Still trying to figure out the new site but I figured everyone would want to know how things went so I'm tacking this here. My sincerest apologies for not individually emailing everyone who sent (or is sending, or intends to send) letters of support. They were VERY useful in getting the Board of Directors to see the potential scope of what the Rural Crafts Centre and specifically the Blacksmiths Forge could offer. So I guess you all want to know what they decided then...........drum roll... YES!!!!!! The fine details still need to be formalised and contracts drawn up but as far as it goes we have a green light! Thunderbirds are go! Now of course the real work will begin but you know what? I don't mind in the least, not a jot. I spent over a year trying to save the Farm by getting involved in how it was run. There is an entirely new Board of Directors and they have the reigns of the Farm. Now I can help by getting the public interested in it again and by generating some of the revenue it sorely needs. It feels great to know that by doing what I do I can still help the place. I'd much rather work myself to death in the Forge than at a computer screen or a council meeting. As I get chance I'll start posting again under the world tour section until something better can be sorted out. Once again thank you to every single member of Iforge and to the Blokes and Gals who've helped me along the way. You know who you are Ian

For a very first try (?) Those aren't too bad at all. If they work then they don't have to be pretty, make the next pair prettier, and the pair after that and so on. I'd suggest you go for a slightly thicker material to make the jaws of the tongs, then draw down the reins. I know it's a lot more hammering but then again it's all practice right? Failing that just make the bit and weld the reins on after with an arc welder or forge weld. Look at the BP section as well, a few good examples of how to make tongs. If you can't find them on here then try over the road at Anvilfire. Keep at it :D

Thanks mate, I really need as many people as possible who are willing to take the ten minutes needed to write me an email. I hope to print them all out and come January present the Board with a nice big bunch of them to show just how much support the project I'm wanting to do has. Your letter (and everyone else's) will genuinely go a long way to helping me do this. Everyone who posts here and who's read my blog has an idea of how much effort and time I've put into this dream I've had and it's finally coming down to the wire. I can't tell you how badly I want to do this and make it work, so come on boys and girls, get writing! PLEASE!!! :D

Hi all, well it seems to be coming down to it at looooooong last. I have been formally asked by the Board of Stepping Stones Farm (Soon to be renamed Stepney City Farm) to write and submit a final proposal for the Blacksmiths Forge I started on the Farm over a year ago as a volunteer. This is meant to include a full business plan, projected revenue stream, the whole nine yards in fact. As part of that I'm wanting to put together a presentation in which I would very much like to include some letters of support. I'm not asking people to recommend me specifically for the job (unless they've seen my work and want to) but rather to write letters supporting the 'idea' of a working forge and it's value to the general public and so on. I'm hoping a few of the blokes I met that remember me might chip in but the simple fact is the more letters I can get saying that a Forge is a worthwhile idea the better the chances that they'll give it a go. I'm hoping that it'll be myself and Sean who get the agreement to run it, but it will have to go to tender first so the more I can impress them the better. If you look on my profile you'll find my gmail address, could you send your letters there so I can print them out? It'd be great to throw a massive stack of them on the table at the end of the presentation with the words "Oh yes, by the way, these are letters from Blacksmiths around the world who also think this is a good idea". The Farm has come a long way in the year or so I've been involved but it still desperately needs some sort of income that isn't tied up as a grant, so far my offer of 25% of what the forge makes is the only possible 'free' revenue maker the place has apart from chicken eggs and manure! After some serious digging around I believe we (myself and Sean) should be able to put thousands of pounds into the Farms coffers, if we can convince them that this is a project that has real legs, your support might just do that. Thanks to everyone at IFI for tagging along with my trials and tribulations so far, things are starting to come together! OK, so a little background on the Farm to help anyone wanting to write a letter..... The Farm covers 4.3 acres of land in the heart of London, (next to Stepney Green) in the Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is bordered by The City of London, the River Thames, and the East End (all within ten minutes walk of the Farm). It has been in existence for nearly thirty years and was originally derelict land after the Luftwaffe bombed the area during WWII. The local community took over the land and began planting vegetables and keeping small stock and from this it grew into what is now commonly known as a 'City Farm'. These are usually charitable organisations with a mandate to educate inner City children (and adults) about farming and rural life. Something that otherwise they would never experience. Stepping Stones has quite a lot of historical value given that there are several ruins on the land of archaeological importance including one of the oldest Non Conformist Meeting Houses (read: Church) in London, dating from the 16th Century. There are garden plots which the local community use to grow their own food and a wide selection of Farm animals from ducks to pigs and cows. Essentially the Farm is a place for people to experience a bit of the countryside in the heart of the City. The idea for the Rural Crafts Centre is to set up a series of 'demonstration' workshops where those 'rare' trades that supported Farming and rural life can be shown. These would be full time workshops (running as profit making businesses) with the workshops set out so that the general public can safely watch the tradesmen at work. The Forge is an intrinsic part of this broader idea and to the best of my knowledge none of the 17 City Farms dotted around London have a Rural Crafts Centre of any kind. Only one other has a Forge but that is run as an entirely private business and the general public are not encouraged to watch the Smith at work.. My idea is to set up three 'core' trade workshops (covering wood, stone/clay and Iron) with an additional open plan workspace for guest trades to come and present demonstrations and classes on a rotating basis. So one month it might be a Cooper, the next a Wheel Wright, the next a Thatcher, and so on while the 'core' trades provide constant year round courses and demonstrations. Myself, along with Sean, would be the two full time Blacksmiths and we would run the Forge as a truly working forge, taking on commissions, making items for sale and so on. We would also provide demonstrations of Blacksmithing to school groups, and run courses for both adults and children and take on special needs/interest groups as well. The broad aim for the R.C.C. would be to preserve and promote those traditional crafts and trades that are at risk of being lost in today's society. My full name and contact details are : Ian Stuart Lowe C/O Stepping Stones Farm Stepney High Street London United Kingom E1 3DG email: [email protected]

OK, so a little background on the Farm to help anyone wanting to write a letter..... The Farm covers 4.3 acres of land in the heart of London, (next to Stepney Green) in the Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is bordered by The City of London, the River Thames, and the East End (all within ten minutes walk of the Farm). It has been in existence for nearly thirty years and was originally derelict land after the Luftwaffe bombed the area during WWII. The local community took over the land and began planting vegetables and keeping small stock and from this it grew into what is now commonly known as a 'City Farm'. These are usually charitable organisations with a mandate to educate inner City children (and adults) about farming and rural life. Something that otherwise they would never experience. Stepping Stones has quite a lot of historical value given that there are several ruins on the land of archaeological importance including one of the oldest Non Conformist Meeting Houses (read: Church) in London, dating from the 16th Century. There are garden plots which the local community use to grow their own food and a wide selection of Farm animals from ducks to pigs and cows. Essentially the Farm is a place for people to experience a bit of the countryside in the heart of the City. The idea for the Rural Crafts Centre is to set up a series of 'demonstration' workshops where those 'rare' trades that supported Farming and rural life can be shown. These would be full time workshops (running as profit making businesses) with the workshops set out so that the general public can safely watch the tradesmen at work. The Forge is an intrinsic part of this broader idea and to the best of my knowledge none of the 17 City Farms dotted around London have a Rural Crafts Centre of any kind. Only one other has a Forge but that is run as an entirely private business and the general public are not encouraged to watch the Smith at work.. My idea is to set up three 'core' trade workshops (covering wood, stone/clay and Iron) with an additional open plan workspace for guest trades to come and present demonstrations and classes on a rotating basis. So one month it might be a Cooper, the next a Wheel Wright, the next a Thatcher, and so on while the 'core' trades provide constant year round courses and demonstrations. Myself, along with Sean, would be the two full time Blacksmiths and we would run the Forge as a truly working forge, taking on commissions, making items for sale and so on. We would also provide demonstrations of Blacksmithing to school groups, and run courses for both adults and children and take on special needs/interest groups as well. The broad aim for the R.C.C. would be to preserve and promote those traditional crafts and trades that are at risk of being lost in today's society. My full name and contact details are : Ian Stuart Lowe C/O Stepping Stones Farm Stepney High Street London United Kingom E1 3DG email: [email protected]

Hi John, I'm part way through writing to them as I speak, I was also thinking of trying B.A.B.A. too. I've got a while before the deadline so I'm hoping to get a few letters from folks like Brian Russell, Pete Oberon, Chris Topp and such as well as the internationals like Moony and maybe even Uri Hofi. I'm lucky in that I've met them all, and worked with some so they might help..

Hi all, well it seems to be coming down to it at looooooong last. I have been formally asked by the Board of Stepping Stones Farm (Soon to be renamed Stepney City Farm) to write and submit a final proposal for the Blacksmiths Forge I started on the Farm over a year ago as a volunteer. This is meant to include a full business plan, projected revenue stream, the whole nine yards in fact. As part of that I'm wanting to put together a presentation in which I would very much like to include some letters of support. I'm not asking people to recommend me specifically for the job (unless they've seen my work and want to) but rather to write letters supporting the 'idea' of a working forge and it's value to the general public and so on. I'm hoping a few of the blokes I met that remember me might chip in but the simple fact is the more letters I can get saying that a Forge is a worthwhile idea the better the chances that they'll give it a go. I'm hoping that it'll be myself and Sean who get the agreement to run it, but it will have to go to tender first so the more I can impress them the better. If you look on my profile you'll find my gmail address, could you send your letters there so I can print them out? It'd be great to throw a massive stack of them on the table at the end of the presentation with the words "Oh yes, by the way, these are letters from Blacksmiths around the world who also think this is a good idea". The Farm has come a long way in the year or so I've been involved but it still desperately needs some sort of income that isn't tied up as a grant, so far my offer of 25% of what the forge makes is the only possible 'free' revenue maker the place has apart from chicken eggs and manure! After some serious digging around I believe we (myself and Sean) should be able to put thousands of pounds into the Farms coffers, if we can convince them that this is a project that has real legs, your support might just do that. Thanks to everyone at IFI for tagging along with my trials and tribulations so far, things are starting to come together!

As always Brian, excellent work. I like the way you use the edge of the anvil on the second half face blow (to under sling the front of the jaw), tricky for a beginner to do that without flattening the first half face blow that made the cheek. Great demo of technical skills.

About time you were up and off your a--se Bloke sorry I haven't been around to say so sooner, been out in the wilds. Well the outback anyway. Leg pulling aside, I for one am genuinely glad your still kicking mate. You had me worried for a spell. Give my thanks to Deb and the dogs for everything they've done to make your recovery a speedy one and next time you decide to drop a tree drop the bugger somewhere you're not ;)

keep going matey，sending good vibes from Korea after visiting Oz

Blokes everyone, 'poms' included know the only thing that should go in a pie warmer is a growler. Beer on the other hand should go anywhere as cold as it can without actually freezing. Simple!

Put me on the list bloke I've booked the flights (thanks to the generosity of Mr Glenn Moon), and I'll be staying for a month. REALLY looking forward to working with Moony and earning the tickets and especially looking forward to opening a tin with youse mate. I'll have summat for youse to take home as well Need to get some sun and some perspective mate, I've lost more than just weight since we last had a tinnie.

Good news! I knew Hephaistos was the right bloke to " 'av a word with" about this. He didn't like the sound of having some competition it seems Debs, time to breath out at last. Frosty, don't do that to us again you silly sod, time to shift your a-se out of that bed and back home with your Mr's. Genuinely made up to hear you are still kicking bloke

Stepney Green, Andrew. A place called Stepping Stones City Farm. I have a tiny little shop I share with a mate of mine who's also into metal work. Nothing very impressive at all right now but its better than nothing :)

Deb I'm not a man who's ever prayed to anyone or anything but if it'll get my Mate Frosty off his bed and back home with you then name your chosen deity. He's been one of the few people I can talk to who really understands what I've been going through (Diabetes) and I want you to know how much of a difference it's made to me knowing that I've had a friendly ear. You need anything you let me know flower. Next time you see him tell him from me he better get his ar-e out of that bed before I come over and drag it out.

If you can't get hold of a proper vacuum pump then raid the local dumps for old refridgerators. The pumps on them draw a decent vaccum, especially if you link two together. I use such a set up for vacuum assisted casting of metals. I'd also go with the idea of a seperate tank to draw down. You can build up a large vacuum and then when your ready hit it all at once.

I use Brooks (or Brooks Vaughn) cast steel anvils and of the four I have they all ring like bells. Magnets and chain help, but I'd still say wear ear defenders. I love my Brooks dearly, especially the 1 3/4 cwt. They bounce my 'workhorse' hammer back (4 1/2lber) like a ping pong ball. I agree that the shape of the London pattern anvils is most likely to do with bending and curving, I often tip my anvils over to take advantage of those lovely flowing curves. Scarcety/value of iron had far more impact in very early anvil designs, before the middle ages say. Look at the viking era stuff for instance. What we would consider a stake anvil was pretty much all they had to work with. A block 4 inches wide by 6 inches long by 4 inches deep with a spike under it that was hammered into a solid oak stump is what I saw at the Ribes viking museum in Sweden. I was told that granite anvils were also used at that time too. When you look at the quality of work produced then on such 'anvils' it makes me smile at how much time and effort is put into finding a 'proper' anvil by modern would be Smiths. Most of us spend 90% of the time hitting on a spot no larger than 6 inches square anyway, often less. Mass under the hammer is the most important thing to consider, thats why a peice of RR track about a foot long on it's edge is as good as a 12 inch tall anvil. Only difference is there's a lot more to aim at on an anvil, the RR track is a smaller target

Seems like your in no mans land between my old stomping grounds of Yorkshire (West Yorkshire, Pontefract) and John N in Lancashire who still fails to see he was born on the wrong side of the Penines I'm living and working down in the 'big smoke' but there are some very clever blokes still up North. John is one (even if he is Lancastrian) and there are others too like Pete Oberon and Brian Russell, who are both world class. Contact BABA or look them up and see if there are any members near you. It would be well worth your time. Ian

Hello Andrew, would you be the same Australian chap I met a few years ago before my trip oversea's who worked in the Armoury at Leeds? If so really glad to see you found this place, and thanks for helping inspire me to carry on with my plans to pound Iron. Good to have you aboard. I've got my own little forge down in London now and am slowly getting it sorted into a bigger and better one. Ian

Feathering means to decrease to power of your blows successively, from hard to soft if you will.

That hook portion of the halberd had another function as well, albeit a very grim one. Once you'd knocked your Knight off his horse you still then had the job of getting at him underneath his armour. Ever seen an old style tin opener? Nuff said :D