archiphile

Nice work. I like the coat rack. I am interested to hear how well your tongs work.

Great work man. I really like the bracelet.

I just scored myself some nice tool steel in the rough. Looks to be 1-1/2". I have yet to measure it as it is all greasy. I also scored some MC Channel to make myself a stock rack(pic to follow when it's daylight and dry out).

I double up, Muffs and Foam Plugs. I have worn some form of hearing protection my entire metal working career. ( Going on 15 years now.) I have a hearing test each year at my annual physical. I have not lost an hearing yet, but then again I take it to heart about SAFTEY FIRST!!! My granddad work hearing aids. He had the darndest time with them.

Steve,

I hope that you and your family get things sorted out. You are all in my thoughts. Don't worry about us here, just tend to you and yours, they are totally more important.

There seems a huge cultural difference in the way that the customer feels about the product. I know that people will buy pattern welded swords or knives but I don't think that there would be a huge market for hand made saws in the west. No matter how beautifully made, there can only be a very limited number of people who appreciate the skill involved and are prepared to pay the price. The Japanese seem to imbue these kinds of things with an extrinsic, mystical quality.
Does anyone know what they are used for? Is there an ancient sect of warrior tree surgeons that roam the country in search of the eternal truths?

Disagree (1), I got the link to the videos from a blog run by a man who makes western saws by hand. He sells them for a pretty penny. He had to stop taking orders because he was so back logged. That I know of there are about no less than five people around the country who make hand made saws. All of these people are making a decent living and have not stopped working because of the recession.

Here are links to two sawmakers that I like. The fist one is where I got these videos from and the second one is another well respected maker.

Link 1> http://www.eccentricwoodcraft.com/page3_toolworks.html

Link 2> http://www.wenzloffandsons.com/

Hey guys, just thought that you would all enjoy these videos.

To view the videos click on the names at the top of the page.

Noko - Video of a smith making a hand saw.

NokoGiri - Video on another type of saw being made.

Kanna - Video of Japanese first smithing a plane blade, and then of the "Die" maker making the plane body or "Die" .

Genno - Blacksmith making a hammer.

All videos are in Japanese, but I think you'll be able to see what is going on and understand it by watching it.

Link> http://web.mac.com/nami_aru/Daiku/%E3%81%84%E3%82%89%E3%81%A3%E3%81%97%E3%82%83%E3%81%84.html

Enjoy!

I personally wear my Chippewa's in the shop, best darn work boot ever made. In the house and about town, I wear my Dansco's. I love these things, wear right through them. They are pricey, but worth it. I can even wear them to all but the most formal events. The work boot style colgs interest me though as I would like to try them and see how they work, and hey if the shod type wears out, pop them off and make a new pair.

search farrier tongs on you tube

Phil

It is not forging billets but that is a really great video. I wish I could afford to purchase it.

Thanks ptree that was really interesting. I have seen robot welding in action and I agree. Sure robots can speed up the precess, but you still need to maintain them and the like. I don't really see the cost savings.

Considering the number of recreational horse owners there are, especially here in the USA, there is money to be made but not a whole bunch according to my neighbors farrier. He says he does alright but he ain't never going to be rich, paid for two years of schooling, bought the truck, tools, insurance and on it goes. He is one busy fellow from early in the morning till late at night, six days a week and Sunday emergency shoe service, but not rich.

My Farrier is a very busy man. But like you said, is never gonna be rich. He gets about $375 for both horses to do winter shoes (all four feet) and $175 in the summer b/c only one of the horses in shad in the summer. So just a trim on the other. But it is back breaking work, could not pay me to do it.

Just thought that you all might need some new shoes. This video shows how keg shoes are made:

I have no personal issue with the empty in the pic. We are all adults here.

TO the OP I think that you and the bastard file need to become really fast friends. Also you could take a red heat and use light blows to even out the surface before you file it.

Hey everyone, I spent most of my free time the past few months working on building a power hammer. It's not the most elegant one but it sure saves me alot of pounding. I modeled it after the japanese style of hammer where the anvil is a block and the ram is a simple round hammer. Maybe someday i'll make some dies for it and a different ram but for now this does it for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDI4ond4c_4

Theres a few other videos of it there in my youtube profile...

Nice hammer you got there. The coke can really show how well made it really is in that how smooth and straight the action on that hammer is. Great work keep it up!

Just thought that I would help out here. I think that I found an image of the painting in question here.





Thought that this might assist with the discussion.

That was some nice work you did Joe. I liked both the forging and the videogrophy.

nice work. I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future here.

Some of the Shoers I have had come out the house and work on my horses have the modern equivalent. They are light weight and are spring loaded. This allows them to work with both hands.

My current farrier has one with four legs and an acme threaded screw. I really like it. I holds thing much more securely. I bet that the heavier ones would work better that what they use today.

Good catch Thomas Powers

Having it rest on a piece of to break the ground/wood interface will help quite a bit

I do not agree with that statement. Concrete is a porous material. Concrete also holds moisture, so setting wood on concrete is a bad idea. For example, building codes state that any wood that comes in contact with concrete must be rot resistant and there also must be a barrier between the wood and concrete. This is why builders are required to put sill seal between the sill plate and the stem wall in your house.

My recommendation would be to put a piece of Tyvek or building paper between your stump and what it is sitting on. Also I would try and find some black locust, it is extremely rot resistant and you could double you protection. Do not use pressure treated lumber as the chemicals in the wood when handled or cut are extremely toxic and are also bad for the environment. These are just my thoughts on the matter.

Hacal,

I think that it sounds like you have yourself a really nice anvil to me. I would encourage you to dispel the idea that to have an anvil you must acquire a London Pattern anvil. You can make your own way to bend things around a round object, you just need to be a little more innovative. Work with what you have around I think that in time you will have all of the things you need.

BTW only one bad spot on the edge closest and the date was 1935. I think the edges are almost too sharp.

Don't touch those edges, the are perfect. Just use it, then you will know for sure if you really need to touch the edges.

good work man all looks really nice.

He's on the list and Semper Fi to all our brothers in the Armed Services.

Well I think that this whole walking thing is becoming a habit. I have not spent a day in bed since my last post on the 20th. Five whole days and counting. I will keep you all updated. Thank you all for the words of encouragement. BTW it is time to thank all of the veterans out there today.