cheftjcook

Hey Rusty, I'm in Northern New Jersey and there is a great blacksmith organization that covers NJ/NY. You can see there site at www.njba.abana-chapter.com A great bunch of fun people and always willing to help or teach you something. The meetings a bit scattered over the area they cover but it is worth making it if you can. There is also Peters Valley in Northern New Jersey where you can take a variety of blacksmithing classes. They also have a Blacksmithing Pig roast comming up on September 1st. There is always a few guys selling assorted stuff plus an auction of tools and wares at the end of the day. You can check them out at Blacksmithing2007_WorkshopSchedule index Have a good one Tim

Dale, Someone there has a great sense of humor!!!:p

Congratulations Levi!!!

JWB, Your poem really is something special, thank you. I went back and read it three different times before I wrote this note and for me each time it seemed to sink in deeper and have a greater effect. To me exemplifies and ties together a very happy and fulfilling past, present and Future beautifully. If more folks could spend time sitting (reflecting/enjoying) in a shop, the world would surely be a nicer place. Just by sharing you made all of our worlds a little nicer. Thank You Again, Tim

SORRY...This Has nothing to do with Blacksmithing & Some may have seen this but I wanted to share and vent, as it effects us all At first I thought this was funny...then I realized the awful truth of it. Be sure to read all the way to the end! The Tax Poem Tax his land, Tax his bed, Tax the table At which he's fed. Tax his tractor, Tax his mule, Teach him taxes Are the rule. Tax his cow, Tax his goat, Tax his pants, Tax his coat. Tax his ties, Tax his shirt, Tax his work, Tax his dirt. Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink, Tax him if he Tries to think. Tax his cigars, Tax his beers, If he cries, then Tax his tears. Tax his car, Tax his gas, Find other ways To tax his ass Tax all he has Then let him know That you won't be done Till he has no dough. When he screams and hollers, Then tax him some more, Tax him till He's good and sore. Then tax his coffin, Tax his grave, Tax the sod in Which he's laid. Put these words upon his tomb, 'Taxes drove me to my doom...' When he's gone, Do not relax, Its time to apply The inheritance tax. THE TAXES WE PAY Accounts Receivable Tax Building Permit Tax CDL license Tax Cigarette Tax Corporate Income Tax Dog License Tax Federal Income Tax Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) Fishing License Tax Food License Tax, Fuel permit tax Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon) Hunting License Tax Inheritance Tax Interest expense Inventory tax IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax) Liquor Tax Luxury Taxes Marriage License Tax Medicare Tax Property Tax Real Estate Tax Service charge taxes Social Security Tax Road usage taxes Sales Tax Recreational Vehicle Tax School Tax State Income Tax State Unemployment Tax (SUTA) Telephone federal excise tax Telephone federal universal service fee tax Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax Telephone state and local tax Telephone usage charge tax Utility Taxes Vehicle License Registration Tax Vehicle Sales Tax Watercraft registration Tax Well Permit Tax Workers Compensation Tax *************************** Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids. What happened?

Tony, IMO... In order to make a good decision for your future (or any decision)you need to have a source of information or bases to make that decision. That said, May be you need to figure out what you enjoy and what you are good at. Right now, when your young is a great time to explore. The answers to these questions may only come through exposure to different fields/ trades. If your thinking some skilled trade. I know the local Vo-Tech High School by us offers valuable exploratory classes in a wide array of fields, You might have the same in your area. Students are go thru 4, 6 even 8,10 different pods, each being about 4-6 weeks. Just enough time and hands on training to get a feel for the Trade you were being taught. And at the very least you have a small nugget of knowledge tucked under your belt as well. The instructors are pros in there respective fields, both active & retired, and are a wealth of info to the inquiring mind like yourself. After going the the full course of perspective trades you now have a better feel for what you like and don't maybe even find a hidden talent or two. Once you have a handle on that, they can also assist or direct you to a path of higher or more complete education in that field and specialties with in that field. And I also think prayer works!!! TIM

Tony, Specific choices or advice like Ed Thomas said should not be sought or taken But rather thought thru on a very personal level by you and you alone. That said, advice for the bigger picture from folks who have been there done that is usually the same and very very sound! The basics: Figure out what will make you Happy doing day in day out. It doesnt seem as much like work when you enjoy doing it. BUT...Get your complete educational foundation for that chosen field, you will learn and grow with in that field, but get your education first. My own experience, I found it a tough struggle to go back to college after working and being on my own for 6 years, glad I did, but it's a challenge. So as for Education: "Get R' done"! As for the weight issue, I have also, as many have struggled with weight until coming to grips with it. (as chef and love to eat!!!) What ever path you chose, Work it out now you will be much happier in the long run! Best of luck with it Tony Tim

Hello Colleen, Wish you the best with the new little blacksmith. Your work is really neat...I like the flow and feel of the Cosmic Trishul and the fish bone conveys an almost eerie like feel....your art is beautiful with alot of feeling. Looking forward to learning abit from you and as you share in your posts. TIM

I saw this and thought I'd share the link to all things railroad spikes and made from spikes...Kudos to the folks who put it together its A lot of neat stuff and Ideas. Richard posted a new challenge for rr spikes this link is a great idea jump starter...check it out. Untitled Document Untitled Document Tim

Skunkriv, Thanks for filling in the info on this place. I love all the details, it kind of sends you back in time, A peek into the past. TIM

Hoary, I hope it works for you and I am sure you will do well. I think many of us like to learn and practice in private. Tends be easier on our egos when we screw up or just plain old can't get it right. Personally when my fire pokers comes out looking more like a mini harpoon, I just tell folks I was trying to develop a new design for frog spear/gig thingy...most don't know...and the ones who do will laugh with you or show you how to jump weld another tine to make a real gig. And then help you heat treat and sharpen the points. But what Finnr mentioned about a blacksmith group is very true. If you can find a local group it can be great. Blacksmiths really do seem to be some of the finest folks, they are always willing to share the wealth of knowledge and make you feel welcome. Good Luck Hoary TIM

It was opening day for trout this past Saturday. A cold windy snowy nasty day for trout fishing, not that it stopped me from being out there with the rest of the nuts, right there with one of my younger brothers. But while in the state park hoping to catch a fish and not freeze doing it! I noticed a sign about some kind of furnace hidden back in the woods. Well it was better than just standing in the wind washing lures, so I went looking for it. Of course telling my brother I was going to follow the stream out from the lake and look for real native trout, like a real fishermen.(hehe) I don't know why but I don't think he believed me by the way he was laughing...Anyway. What I found was the remains of a whole community built around a metal smelting furnace and the blacksmiths etc, around and supporting community. It was so neat to see this in the middle no where back in the woods with even a few old notary plaques explaining what had been. I took photos to share, hope folks get as big a charge out of it as I did. It is about 40 foot tall, some 30 foot wide with water ways built in to the right side. There were also some large rock foundations of where the smithy and other buildings had been. But the furnace was still standing very well. By the way he came looking for me 20 minutes later, figured I had found a secret fishing hole and was keeping it to myself. He seemed to get a kick out of the big pile of rocks too or maybe he was just happy to be off the lake and out of the wind were it was alittle bit warmer;) TIM

Ron, That is a fantastic idea this guy had. thanks for sharing! I am going to give it a try at moms, maybe even for my house, my wife loves tomatoes. Tim

Hoary, Looking for one sure seems hard at first. But as alot of these folks will tell you they (the real proffesional finders) never stop asking folks and spreading the word. I found a new idea that works for me scrounging up stuff maybe it will help you. I printed up color flyers on the computer, explaining I was just starting in Blacksmithing and was looking to buy tools related to the field. I posted them in super markets in the area. The response was neat, not overwhelming, but very neat! I got to meet a few old timers who use to due this or that or new someone who did BSing.... Long and Short, I got a few great tools, made some friends, they were happy to get a couple bucks, plus they got a kick that it was being used again and not just thrown away by there kids who did not appreciate the stuff. Also lots of advice which was great too! Best, I was GIVEN a beautiful simple old anvil from a very elderly gentleman. as I left he actully hugged me told me he was so happy it would be ringing again and to please think of him when forging. Just a really neat old Blacksmith sharing... Anyway maybe the flyer thing will help you locate some good stuff TIM

Irn, our prayers and sympathy for you your family. It's horrible sad thing to hear, but even worse to think of the to little ones with out a dad. My wife and I will be praying for your Daughter and the family. Tim

A few years ago my Mom & Step father moved into a town house. No room for a garden and they love fresh tomatoes. We helped them with a few 5 gallon white pails some rock on the bottom potting soil on top mixed with manure and they grew fantastic tomatoes on the mini deck of the townhouse. "The envy of the association" they have since progressed to all kinds of other stuff and Mom decorates the outside of the pails for looks!!! Just another idea for getting it done. Tim

Congratulations Ron...You have got to be walking on air!!!!! Best of luck in the new position!!!!! Tim

Welcome Keltic88, IFI is hip deep with info and the folks here that can help you solve just about any metal dilemma! So its a great place to learn from and ask questions. Don't forget the Tuesday night blueprints. Tim

I am fighting for elbow room around the tractor and snowblower in the garage right were my wife says her car should be. Oh well, a man has to have priorities, Right? But it works fine for now, I hope to build a large shed for a shop this year right behind the house. Kind of Out of sight, out of mind from the neighbors. Tim

Habu, That is absolutely Incredible. Congrats...You just stumbled in a Gold Mine!!!!! Tim

I like AP's direction, recreate your world, just a bit shorter and widen the work paths for easy of movement and work from the wheelchair. But if a Smith was looking to be independent and free from the wheelchair, which is more than understandable, maybe we should think more linear as opposed the tradition triangle work path arrangement. You could set up a narrow longer shop with working stations, forge, anvil. power hammer, swage, drill press, cone mandrel etc on one long side and all hand tools, hammers, tong and lengths of iron on the opposite wall with in short reach. With an I-Beam rail running in front of stations hung from the rafters. Or better explained... between the long wall of stations and the opposite long wall of hand tools mounted to the rafters. The I-Beam rail could also be a large oval (closed loop) configured track running in the shop, again mounted to the rafters running past main work stations and curving around to the opposite tool wall and curving again back to work stations. leaving a bit of open space in the center of the shop but very user friendly to the limited mobility Smith. Set it up like you would a winch system running on the I-beam rail you could rig it up with winch electric servos to position the smith up/down or left and right. The smith would be in a swinging seat or jumper setup on the rail with hand controls for servos affording him greater independence and freedom of movement within his/her Smithy. Just a thought TIM

I like the well placed bar stools that Dodge mentioned. For time when you just have to stand in one spot on a cement floor they sell those heavy/dense foam mats. Time spent on a concrete/cement floor really takes a toll on ones back, feet & legs. Yes some of the fleas and dropped iron may melt it a bit it, but I think it is worth it. (Thinking out loud....Would they work as well on a hard packed dirt floor or packed stone floor? Maybe!) Tim

A friend sent me this photo and this explanation... They were laying new power cables which were strung on the ground for miles. The moose are rutting right now and very agitated. He was thrashing around and got his antlers stuck in the cables. When the men (miles away) began pulling the lines up with their big equipment, the moose went up with them. They noticed excess tension in the lines and went searching for the problem. He was still alive when they lowered him. to the ground. He was a huge 60 inch bull and slightly peeved ! Tim

Very Nice, Hope to See More!!! Tim