cheftjcook

Today was the 6th annual Pig roast at Peter's valley blacksmith School It was also the site of a 3 day Iron smelting, Dick Sargent and a group of Smelters(sorry i don't know their names) were making real wrought Iron. I think the techical name was a bloom. It was an all day event, But it was realy neat to watch and take part. The weather was good the food wad great and the people were all fantastic. A great band played all day as people shared in the great experience and shared knowledge of blacksmiths and Smelters as well as many finer points of forging (PS the ice cold beer was excellent to..Grin) Smiths like Thomas Ryan gave Awesome demos. Showing use of power hammer and anvil. Working a heavy section of 2x2 down to beautiful diamond pattern then then back to square and forging a taper sprial pattern that was realy sharp. Also a large spear point and explaining how to reach desired looks. Then he and the Smelters also demo the forging of the wrought bloom to a billet ready for use. Towards the end of the day Bruce ran a great auction to benefit Peter's Valley Blacksmith program. Then raffled off an Anvil, a post leg vice and a cone mandrel. This is a really great event for adults and kids to be a part of. If your out this way next year be sure to check it out. Here a few photos of of the blacksmithing & smelting activities. TIM

Welcome Stephan, Hope you can stop by on Tuesday nights for the blueprints, it is always great fun and you learn alot of great stuff. See you in one of the forums. TIM

AWESOME, GREAT FIND CLARK!!!!! Did you get the Lathe? Tim

I have seen it also, I believe it is an advanced viewing type area, only for those who have contributed a blueprint. It is all the blueprints and info before they roll down to the general population. Kind of a perk for being a contributer. TIM

What do you think of the remains/ evidence of my trial & error of making a knife from a file. I thought it was going so well, It was quenched not yet tempered, I was cleaning up the blade, NOT thinking and tried to tweak it...SNAP!!! I remind myself, A Lesson learned is not wasted time! Make me feel better, who else has evidence of those "Lesson Learned pieces" to Share TIM

Alex this may or may not relate to the subject of electroplating at hand ...but... For protection on certain metal parts, two of my brothers who are mechanics, use powdercoating, Which is highly effective but not very pretty. And they also have pieces anodized in cool colors, very nice looking. I am sure this does not relate to blades, but maybe for other work that needs extra protection they are very neat and positive ways to go. TIM

When everything's coming your way, maybe you're in the wrong lane! *************************************************** Always remember, There are three sides to any argument or problem: Your side, My side and what Realy happened.

Hey Roosko, Realy appreciate it! I have played alittle with knives...well... RR spike type knives and small items...find it fun and am trying to progress. And to see the look you developed was off the hook! Thanks for taking the time to teach an old dog a new trick. I may drop you a line for quick advice as I experiment ....Thanks Again Have a Great One TIM

Hey Roosko, That looks so cool. If you would'nt mind could you explain what or how you did it, the mustard/ gun blue/ acid thing. I am a new to some of this stuff and the look is so neat I realy would like to learn how or at least try to understand it. Again I love the funky etch look it seems to add depth!!!! Thanks TIM

I agree with Gerald but differ abit on the personel side. I say bit because I feel a small and I do mean small insight or peek into ones private activites that contribute to who your are can help an employer. I have spent more than a few hours reading over long boring contrived resumes... It does not work and people will see thru it. Be as honest and straight forward as possible embelishing but NOT fabricating. If you are writing this your self there is a fantastic program called "Win-Way Resume" WinWay Resume Deluxe - the Leader in Resume Software. Thousands of Resume Examples plus Cover Letters, Job Interview Simulation, Salary Negotiation and much more I think that is an invaluable tool and helps smooth out rough spots...ie you can't think of a proper way to explain a job or situation the software has examples, prompts and hints. It has formats set up for all different style resumes as well a 100 variations. It also does all spelling and grammar checks. Helps you set up cover letters and mailings. For $40-$45 you can't beat it. To get someone to help you on this level would cost a fortune. Good Luck TIM

Xxxx Yes!!!

Irnsrgn, That is fantastic, Even if it is just for a while(the the polls close). Here in "Jersey the lowest so far is $2.45, some are still at $2.85 on the busy Highways(abit of gouging). It always strange/funny how we are manipulated with yo yo pricing for no other reason than a big business agenda. Again happy for you folks, Hope our pricing will follow soon. Tim

Hotforge & family you will be in our family prayers as God keeps you and your family through the worry & stress also Praying that he blesses you with health, strength and a fast recovery. God Bless TIM

God Bless Ladysmith, You are on our prayer list, for a speedy and full recovery. Special prayer for all the down time too, when your mind wants to do so much and your body just needs to heal, It can make you stir crazy! Take Care TIM

No I don't think I'll ever forget. I used to work all over Manhattan years before it happened so it made it seem more personal. The day it happened I was safe and sound across the river, almost ashamed to be so safe watching it unfold like a reality show on live TV, as peoples lives hung in the balance. To see the mess days after and then again taking my wife to show her a few months later was hard. Not because of a landmark building or a broken skyline but for all the broken families that just can't make sense of it. We read the notes left on the fences by grieving and hurting people for lost loved ones....I lost no one that day, but I tell you unashamed I cried thinking of the loss of children, parents, sisters, brothers....Could have have been any one of us or our families there working on a normal day or comming in to sight see on holiday haveing fun in a crazy city.....then.... We should never forget what these no good scummy @#$%^& cowards did and they should answer for those acts of disgusting cowardice. And we should back those who fight to protect us here and abroad. 100% Support for them on all levels physical, spiritual, emotional and not just while it is or was fashion to due so. But later as time tends to wear our memories a little thin we need to remind ourselves, Forget all the ^#*&! Politics, these are still real people struggling with real problems in the harsh world so we can live a Very Very good life. No, I Pray we never Forget....That day in some strange way crushed the safe cushion I always felt, It made the Struggle for freedom our Fore Fathers lived seem more real and it took away an innocence and forced me to face fears I had not ever thought I could feel on my soil. Sorry for the length Thanks TIM

HillbillySmith, It measures about a 1/4 inch wide. I like seeing the year of the quarter inside as well as some of the other detail as it transfers on to the flat band section. Next time I think I would go thinner and size the inside a bit larger. Or better yet start out with a silver dollar or half for my fingers. Rick, I don't have a clue how to gauge it, as you can see by the picture it does not come close to fitting my bear paws and is tight on my wifes finger. I could grind out more to open it up some for her. TIM

Jim, Our Family will be praying for your friend. God Bless Tim

Victor, I also like the the curve and lines of the piece it really has a sleek look to it Nice Work, Great Job!!!! TIM

What's up Chilla, I like the mad scientist thing. It might be a good angle worked into your forge or smithy name. Have a Good one TIM

G'day Brian & Welcome from North 'Jersey.(US) Check out the Tuesday Blueprints, some neat stuff. TIM

Uri, Congratulations on the Award and Honors. TIM

Rick That is very encouraging news. God Bless, The family will be praying for her recovery and that all goes well. TIM

Holy Xxxx ! I could see it being a great weapon...you never have to open it, Just throw it at someone. WOW!!! TIM

Hey Tmone, I remember the original "Leisure Suite Larry" game way back. I sounds like you could create a stratagey game on the same premise. Find, collect & complete a tasks type of thing, all placed in progressively different settings, one stage building on another. First the perspective smith would travel the country side in searchof knowledge ofter finding this strange new element Iron ore,. Interacting with different people collecting his/her skills in smithing and facing challenges. Also collecting the "alchemy or potions" to create various alloys of iron, pewter, bronze, etc. Each person has a small piece of knowledge. as he gathers those pieces of knowledge it fits together puzzle like to create a sum of knowledge greater than the parts. All the different ways to work (forge/heat treat) metals for swords or daggers vs hammers & chisels vs. household items is Always tied into or based on real scientific data so the game player is learning as well. Then as the perspective smith is aquiring the magical knowledge of the mystical ores he accumulates tools to work his "magic" with these ores & alloys. The tools would start out as basic a lump of meteor iron ore to start as his anvil. again tying in an air of mystery/magic to the metal that fell from the heavens.... He can melt down smaller chunks in a cooking fire to fashion a hammer head with either a wood or a claw bone of a dragon to make a handle. Can also discover different elements for hotter fires and how to use them. All these elements he must find as he travels the country side, seeking to be the great SMITH. When he has attained the level at which he has completed the tasks of anvil and hammer, he then starts on learning to work metals till he can "forge weld" metals at will.(far beyond me, grin) The sky is the limit for an adventure theme after that, He can forge common place Items as the plow to revolutionize farming or forge weapons of war or defense to influence world power struggles. In his travels he could learn to forge special hunting weapons to pierce dragon scales or travel the sea and create tools and weapons for the mariners and to defeat sea monsters. Or he could forge chisels for cutting stone for Art work like the "Venus" or "David" maybe stone cutting tools for building pyramids...etc. An other way would be to show how all others trades branched out from or rely on the smith for there tools. Again each stage he would collect more or different iron ore as well as secret alchemy or potions and techniques to work the ore. These formulas and techniques (based all on fact/ science of forging & metal working) could be gotten or learned for a whole bunch of crazy characters he meets in his travels. There could be alot of fun in character development! All of this could culminate in an Ultimate Goal of some sort for the "The King of all Trades" I hope you have a great time creating the Game and you learn alot about the smith truely being the King of all Trades There are so many knowledgable people here getting intimate details of A smiths work and forging should be easy. I'm still looking for meteor iron ore for my new magic anvil ,Grin!!!! Good Luck TIM

Welcome Jerry, don't forget about the tuesday night blueprints. Tim