keeplokd

Nice keychains. Here are a couple examples of some of my early attempts. I like these as demo items as you can demonstrate many of the elements of blacksmithing (cutting, fullering, drawing, bending, twisting, etc." in one simple project. They really start to see the leaf develop fairly early on and can keep up with the smith. I currently use a modified chisel for the veining, but I'm open to trying Frosty's suggestion of the plate. I've seen these before and just haven't gotten around to making one. You'll note that my leaves were "sculpted". I was taught this way and not only does it make the leaf more realistic, but it is a real "OH-AH!" point at the demos. Sometimes you hit it with a brass brush at black heat to get the golden highlights and explain that its an Autumn leaf. Good for a quick $5, too! Bill

I'm zoned agricultural / residential. I only have about 10 neighbors within 3/4 of a mile in any direction. The closest is about 75-100 yds away. I've developed a good relationship with them before installing my forge. I told them what I planned to do and they seem fairly receptive. They burn their trash so I guess its no problem if I burn coal. They run a wood burning stove in winter, so I made them a leaf handled poker/rake. A day or so later I found a basket of tomatoes in my front door. The rest of the neighbors aren't close enough to bother with. Sounds like I'm ok there. I'd LOVE to be close enough to bother the level 3 sex offender who lives 1/2 mile down the road... but then that would put him in sight of my kids... At least he's not out for another year yet. Bill

I didn't mean no foul. As Frosty said - you just get used to it. And any new smith might take Quenchcrack's advise to heart. Its one I was taught. Leave a wire brush next to your forge and give your work a quick brush if you see mucho scale aboard. You don't want that stuff to burn you or pattern your work... or maybe you do.. Bill

I'm sitting here trying to figure out a few things: ONE - are these guys for REAL and VERY NEW and haven't experienced it yet? TWO - are these guys pranksters and seeing how many of us they can goad into this discussion? THREE - Why are all you people blacksmithing in the NOODE because of all the strange spots on your bodies you've been burned. To borrow part of my uncle's schtick while he's demonstrating: "People, usually kids, ask me: 'Do you get burned?' I tell them, 'Do bears sleep in the woods?'" I'm well used to the scale burns by now. Its the STOOPID burns that keep getting to me. Like... when you have a hot piece of iron in your left hand and want to reach for the hardie cutoff tool (butcher) with your right hand... don't cross your hands. And when you're demonstrating at someone else's forge and forget that 1:Copper is a good conductor of heat and 2:a COPPER HOOD on the forge that is slightly lower than the one at home might BURN YOUR ARM if touched. SEE?! I'm learning something new every day! Bill

I've got one attached to the leg of my demo anvil stand by a small chain (2ft or so). When I need an extra hand to vein a leaf or such, I pull the chain across the anvil and let the weight drop down. When I pull the stock out of the forge to vein, I tuck the cold end under the weighted chain and go to town with the leaf. Works great as a third hand. Bill

Frosty, The donuts thing never occurred to me. At least not in this instance. I'll give it a shot. One of those shears would make a fine addition to my shop. Bill

I guess since my Grandfather did it, and my Uncle does it, I'm the third (indirect) generation in my family (that I can place so far) that has done blacksmithing. Although my ancestry goes back to Scotland, Ireland, Germany, etc. etc. There's bound to be another one in the woodpile. Story about my grandfather goes - one day he was visiting another smith. This other guy was a little ornery to begin with, but was somehow distracted enough to hit his thumb with a hammer. Not once, but twice. (No, I have no idea what he was doing. Not important. Don't ask.) The smith proceeded to throw his hammer straight out an open window. With no pause, my grandfather (6'3", 350lb) picked up the anvil and heaved _IT_ out of the window. The other smith looked at my grandfather in astonishment and asked, "What in xxxx did you do THAT for?" My grandfather looked at him with stone sobriety and said, "I thought you wanted to work OUTSIDE today." At least that's how it was told to me... Bill

I think it looks pretty cool. There a guy here who intentionally makes his blades rough like that - they look flint knapped and he sells them to the pioneer set. Draws down a tang and epoxies them into deer antler handles. Very cool work, my friend. Bill

I saw someone in my local club (New York State Designer Blacksmiths Assn) use Grader Blade and made a shear much like the "tailgate shear" that Centaur sells in its catalog. Check out the pic in the catalog for details. 3 slots cut in each half of the shear. 1/4, 1/2, 5/8 or whatever. a twist or possibly a nudge with your GP hammer and it shears off like butter. I'm gonna fabricate one as soon as I can nail down a free piece of grader blade. Bill

I'm liking alot of you guys solely based on your musical choices. Some metal - Metallica, Motorhead... some "Classic Rock"/Southern Rock... the Irish "Punk" stuff ROCKS! Even the "Hair Metal" - music of my youth. I've got my stereo from college (sans 5-disc CD changer) mounted high in the corner of the shop. I grew up with ADHD and need something going in the background to drown out my INNER voices. Well, the music and my 2 shop dogs that wander in and out from time to time. Bill

As for the Vinegar - mom always used cider vinegar for bad sunburn. We'd walk around the house smelling like it. The wife hates it, but its still the best remedy. In 37 yrs, I've NEVER had poison ivy/oak/etc. No chicken pox. nothin! I've crawled through more woods in the Eastern US than I care to think about. This is the first time - and by crackey... twice in a month! I'll look into the slack tub water. I'm assuming you use it TOPICALLY and not INTERNALLY. I ain't drinkin' that! Bill

I work in a State Correctional Facility. One of my illustrious co-workers is INfamous for driving around his town (not far from work) and picks through everyone else's garbage cans, dumpsters, etc. for soda and beer cans. New York is one of those states that, by law, has a 5-cent deposit on any soda/beer containers. Here he is, state worker making close to 60k/yr with overtime plus benefits, picking through trash cans at the local truck stop - often in uniform. What's he do with the cash from the cans? Story is he buys a BRAND NEW VEHICLE about every 5 years - for cash/trade. And that's what dumpster diving can do for you. Bill

Having family around both Anchorage and Fairbanks, a "traffic jam" generally involves a snowmobile and a moose... eh, Frosty? Bill

University of Rochester is to POSH for a "blacksmithing" course. It's gotta be RIT, my alma mater. I didn't know they put the ki-bosh on the program. They used to have a gunsmithing program out of the same building. 4.5yrs of college and all I got was a B.S. and a hangover. Bill

I can come up with some spikes too, if needed. Please let me know. I was stationed in Oahu for a year (Schofield) and I miss it. I'm going to bring my family out one of these days... When I figure the 5yr old can handle such a long flight out and back without driving a flight crew to suicide. Aloha, Bill

Here's one we use - Take a couple feet of small link chain (dog chain is fine, make your own if you like - good practice) and attach it to the anvil stand / leg on the opposite side, heel end. Cut it so it drapes up and over your anvil face and back down the near side and allows the weight to hang out of your way. What is the weight? We're using an old window SASH WEIGHT. Cast iron. Nice and heavy. If you need to hold something to punch or cut or whatever... pull over the chain to the near side and put your piece under the chain. When you no longer need it, remove the chain and set the weight down on the other side of the anvil. Bill

I was told by my FIRST teacher to never strike the anvil face with the hammer, although I saw him plenty of times get in a "rest stroke" on his own anvil. I think the idea was he didn't want a bunch of punk kids beating the xxxx out of the schools anvils. I've SINCE been taught that a "rest stroke" gives you a pause to think or figure where you need to hit or turn or whatever while maintaining your rhythm and giving your arm a brief rest. I don't see anything wrong with a "double tap" off the work once in a while. And I've been around many smiths for many years... this is the first time I've heard about the "superstitions" surrounding the shop. Hofi states he kisses his hammer, then walks around his anvil, then repeats 7 times. Someone here stated they kiss their hammer too. Now the 3 taps in the morning and 3 more when you're done. Anyone care to start a new thread just about the blacksmith-related superstitions? I'm -afraid- to start any new traditions/superstitions in my shop... I don't think my OCD can take any more "patterns". Bill

I was always partial to "Dog Latin" - "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati. --- When all else fails, play dead." "Carpo Glacialis Terminus. --- Seize the COLD end!" "Illegitimi Non Carborundum. --- Don't let the xxxxxxxxx grind you down." Bill

Irnsrgn, I saw one of these "cat's head hammers" while helping my uncle with the forge demo at the New York State Fair last summer. Didn't know what in the world it was, now I do. For those who don't know and have the capability to go - The New York State Fair in Syracuse, NY, is in August every year. There is an antique forge restored brick by brick in the "Carriage Museum" that runs every day of the show, courtesy the New York State Designer Blacksmith Association (of which I am a member). I'm due to help with the demo 2 (possibly 3) days this year. Definitely Aug 25 & 26 - possibly 24th too depending on the "day job". We run several hour-long demos during the day between 10am and 4pm. If you're there on one of those days, please introduce yourself! Bill

This is where I get my Pocahontas #3 coal - Reboy Supply - 1280 Maple Road, Elma, NY 14059 - (716) 652-4321 blacksmith coal The Link is straight to their Blacksmith Coal page with prices based on your shipping destination. Bill:)

You know, Tom, I've been wracking my brain for months trying to come up with a catchy forge name... it just might stick. Now to make a touchmark in the shape of a wasp... I had the day off today and went to the doctors. It seems as I'm cleaning out my "gee-rage" and turning more of it into "the shop", I've come across some poison ivy or something like it lately. Two weeks ago, it was on my face and in my eyes. Medicated for a week and it went away. This time, it's all over my torso and hammer arm and driving me UP THE WALL!!! If I didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all, right. So on the way to the Doc's, I spot the shovel half. I figure to go back for it on my way home. When I get there, I drive on and see the "leaf" just past it, and BACK UP ON THE EXPRESSWAY to get it. Salvage will surely be the end of me. I'm going to re-handle the shovel for my coal bin. Not sure what the 1" pin is for. The leaf originally looked like one from a semi or something big. Now that I have it in my hands (pic) its almost an inch thick... I think it's a fork from a forklift. Comments? What should I do with it (don't go looking for it in Iron-in-the-Hat, either!) Bill As for the ASO, I've already got a 125LB London pattern (not sure of brand), so I'll likely make a small "anvil" with horn for use close to my forge for very small work.

Hey gang! Great site. It took me several days of reading to catch up with all 107 pages of this thread alone. The other day I spotted an aging section of railroad rail nearly 3-feet long sitting neglected among the weeds near a local line. I stopped, threw on my work gloves, picked it up and carried it back to the truck. On the way back I thought I might have gotten sliced with a sharp blade of grass or something in the calf. Driving my prize home, I noticed a sharp pain that was quickly building into nearly electric shock proportions on my calf. I stopped, looked, rubbed, scratched. Couldn't find anything, but started suspecting maybe something "zapped me" - ground bee or something. To make a long story short, when I got home and went to unload my prize, it had rolled a little in the truck so I could see the golfball sized wasp nest attached to what was the underside of the rail. I guess there was a price to be paid for my free ASO, eh? Bill :cool:

Thanks for having such a great website. There's lots of information to be had here. I started learning to smith over 20 years ago. Being a youngster, my interest strayed (but not far). I've always entertained the bug, but everything else seemed to get in the way. Now I'm getting back into it with renewed vigor. I'm the third generation in my family to take it up. My interests are general blacksmithing, historical/reproduction work, ok.... I can say BLADES because blades are cool. Did I mention I love the BLUEPRINTS section of your site. Thanks, Bill