Doug C

Well I use the step some times like when I am trying to dish something and I prefer to have it stay nice and clean. Any chisel marks on it can be transferred to the piece your working. Easier to just use a steal plate and save yourself the effort of having to clean up the step later on.

Check out craigslist for maine. Do a search on blower. There is a guy in grey, Maine selling a hand blower for 50 bucks. Just went up today. If you don't buy it I will!!!

Well I know I am addicted. I had two weeks when I could not forge anything and finally went out to the forge last Sunday and about six hours later (seemed like 1 or 2 to me). my wife came out to see if I was taking her out like I had promised. She took one look at the big smile and the relaxed look on my face and told me to keep on going. I know I'll pay later!:o

John, really nicely done. I would have the same issue as divermike if my wife ever saw the stuff like this that is in the Gallery.

here is a prior thread on the topic.

Glenn, you amaze me. How does you find the time to do all this stuff. Work, blacksmith , run the site, fiddle with photography. I feel like a real slacker.

Frosty, You are right. It is Boston. The MBTA(Mass Bay Transit Authority) had / has 6 full time smiths, at least that is what I have been told. There are a group of us here trying to get a tour of their facility. I had someone tell me that a new head of the MBTA let all 5 go and then when things stopped getting fixed had to hire them all back. Just found this link that tells the story:

Nice job Frosty. She's lucky to have such a thoughtful friend.

As far as "looking tired" I had it explained a little differently when I did the same thing. The smith I was working with told me to make everything look deliberate, like I wanted it to look the way it does. I think this comes from experience and the ability to look at your work critically. Look at it like it was someone else's and think about what you would tell them to do to make it better.

Juggalo, Frosty is right. Be patient and learn the basics before you start making knives. If you learn the skills required beforehand your first knife will turn out better than you hoped. Join your local blacksmithing group: KENTUCKY BLACKSMITHS' ASSOC KY.abana-chapter.com

Unbelievably nice work. If I had half your talent I would be happy.

archiphile, One thing to keep in mind though is that if you get a chance to buy good tools for dirt cheap do it. I was able to get 22 pairs of tongs for about 3 bucks a piece. Still will make some of my own but I now have more time to work on other things.

There were many old slave songs that may have been used if taught to the right person. 'Follow the drinking gourd' (a.k.a. big dipper) is one I've heard of that pops into mind. There was a group called the Revels that performed old gospel and slave songs geared towards the underground railroad here in Boston 5 years ago or so. Lots of tune I just can't remember. Still does not sound right to me. I am sure a smith, especially one working with apprentices, could not control the cadence of multiple people to beat out a tune to guide folks. I would guess was more interested in making as much as he could each day not finding ways to hammer out a cadence on the off chance some escaping slave would hear it.

Each time I take a class I realize how little I know but I also realize that I have a lot to learn which means more time doing something I love. I learn much from the instructor but also learn from my fellow students. I have come to appreciate that everyone looks at the same problem or result differently and everyone has something to say that may help me. I think the other important thing to do is when asked your thoughts or opinions give an honest answer. The best that can happen is you may have given someone perspective they did not have the worst, you may learn a lot my the responses you get. The short point is everyone has something to offer.

Good work. What you can do now is modify the jaws to fit the stock you will make the next pair from. As you make more tongs you can customize each pair for a specific size stock or specialized task.

Dirk is a Scots word for a short dagger; sometimes a cut-down sword blade mounted on a dagger hilt, rather than a knife blade.

Someone recently posted pictures of one made into a business card holder. I stole....uh borrowed, the idea and will make a friend of mine very happy this xmas.

Nice work. I still like the tongs I made better than bought tongs even the not so good ones. Something about using your own tools that just feels good.

I was given some aluminum stock and horse shoe blanks by a local farrier who had retired. How do I know if this is ok to forge?

Thomas, Your comment from January about cutting in winter helped tie some things up for me. My grandfather was a farmer and always said that if you want wood to dry so that it would not warp or split cut it in the winter. I have read this same advice many times with no explanation. The fact that your starting with less moisture makes perfect sense. Thanks.

Good work. keep going. I have never made / used a hoofpick nor seen one used so can't comment. For the leaf, the point should be more well formed by putting a good sharp point on the end of the stock before you neck it and shape the leaf. To form a more symetrical leaf I would put the stock on edge and hit on the edge facing up. Work the center first, then if needed spread the metal on the far half then complete on the near half using your hammers peen.. If you haven already I would pick up a good book on smithing either at the local library or from amazon. This site and others have some good reviews. Here is the forum on IFI.

Maybe Glenn can tell us if there a some needs he has to speed things up and we can raise a little money to support him.

Great price, nice looking anvil. I agree with Mills. Dress it up with some 120 grit. The face looks really nice. What are you waiting for, get the fire started and the hammer swinging.

Ted, Great explanation. I am in the process of buying what I need to set up a forge in my shed so this is really timely and useful. I thought the male pipe always pointed away from the stove so you just saved my bacon big time. Thanks.

Richard, Stunning work. Must be nice to see and know that your work is being displayed so prominently.