Old South Creations

Great job...I really like the design

Here's one of my latest projects. Body is an old wrench...approx 30 inches long.

A few months back I posted pics of my first attempt at tongs. They turned out pretty well, were functional, and I used them a little but they were built for a specific purpose..."art supplies" for a project I was working on...my "junk smith". The small pair is the smith's tongs in his left "hand" and the large pair I used for his left leg. In addition to the tongs , he's made up of wrenches, RR spikes, shovel head, horseshoes, misc farm junk, etc. The anvil is made from RR track and is "as found" (in other words, I didn't do anything to it)

I'm not a professional smith but here are a couple of signs I made for my shop at home.... The first is my first attempt at scrolls and the second is a silhouette cut from old barn boards.

Nice first attempt. If someone has already said this I apologize. You said you're having trouble with 'scale management'. If you don't already have one, get you a wire brush (hand brush NOT one for an angle grinder, etc)...you can find them with the welding supplies. When you notice scale, brush it off. It will make a BIG difference in the texture of your finished pieces (it will be a little harder to tell the difference with rebar unless you're forging all of the "texture" away). If you leave the scale on it will continue to "texture" your piece...sometimes that's desirable but sometimes not. There's not a whole lot you can do to keep scale from forming in the first place...all part of the game ) No one one told me about brushing when I first started...that's why I wanted to share. And if you already knew this, then maybe someon else reading will learn. Keep at it!

Nice first try. It takes time. Keep at it!

I don't know if there's anyone on this list in your area but there is a list of coal suppliers being compiled on this site..... http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f7/building-coal-supplier-list-6475/ I used briquettes when I first started with a thrift store hair dryer for a blower and I could get 1/4" stock hot enough but nothing bigger. I don't know about your area but in SC you can find REAL charcoal at Ace Hardware, Wal-Mart, & some grocery stores. "Royal Oak" is the brand I see the most down here. I haven't had much luck with it but that's just me...I know others who like it. You can also make your own. Do a search and you can probably find the directions. I've never tried it so I don't know. I walk the railroad tracks (beware, because technically this is trespassing) and pick up coal that has spilled from the train cars. It usually takes a lot of excercise to pick up enough for a day of forging but every now and then I get lucky. Of course there will also be spikes, etc...again, BEWARE, because not only is this trespassing but picking up spikes, etc is stealing railroad property. I don't know how often someone actually gets in trouble but you should be aware that it is a possibilty. I NEVER go near where there's a train sitting on the track. They REALLY frown upon you "snooping" around the cars...it's just asking for trouble. Everybody has there own school of thought on how to start and what to start with, etc. I started with small stock...1/4-3/8". I got antzy and wanted to make a RR spike knife and found it considerbly harder than working with the smaller stock. Especially while using inadequate fuel. I went back to the smaller stock and felt like I learned soooooo much more about how metal moves, etc Just my 2 cents worth Best of luck to ya!

I don't sell much but when I do it's always an even bill with the "tax included" in the price...keeps me from having to deal with coins.

Thomas, I really like what you said about using your abused angle.... "just to show folks that they don't have to be so prissy about anvils" The anvil I use more than any other is a 1918 Fisher with the heel broken clean off. Sure, it doesn't have a hardy or pritchel any more but it's in great shape otherwise and QUIET compared to my others. I got it dirt cheap because it was "ruined" and "useless"...ha! :)

Ouch! That's pretty bad, but if it was mine and I didn't have anything else it can be used...but I certainly would keep looking! At least the horn is in decent shape and you have a couple inches of the face that isn't totally destroyed. At least it didn't cost you anything! :)

Looks good. My first rose was out of copper and then I immediately tried one out of steel. I actually thought it was easier using steel.

nice job...definately NOT a waste of coal!

Looks good...Nice job!

I wish my anvil only had a "few cuts and blemishes" :)

nice looking hangers andgott...I agree with Frosty, they photograph MUCH better hanging Divermike, I assume you made the flag holder in your pic...I like that...simple

find a piece of pipe, etc the right outside diameter and form it around that...that's what I do when I need something like that. Put the pipe in a vise, get your stock hot, use a pair of pliers to "clamp" the stock to the pipe, and simply wrap the stock around the pipe

Nice work!

Nice work! Keep it up!

whoa...that's a big spider! VERY cool!