cheftjcook

Hey Denny, Anything to get started with. As a sage here said you just need something to hit on & something to hit with. Even if it isnt perfect you got a start. Just like starting off with a section of RR track, I-beam or other worthy subsitute you are still working and learning by doing. And when time and opportunity present it self you can upgrade and pass your old anvil onto another starting out. Hope you get it & Get busy...Good Luck TIM

Close your eyes...And go back... ...Before the Internet or PC or the MAC...... ...Before semi-automatics and crack.... ...Before Playstation, SEGA, Super Nintendo, even before Atari... ...Before cell phones, CD's, DVD's, voicemail and e-mail.... ....way back.... ...way.....way.....way back..... I'm talkin' bout hide and seek at dusk Red light, Green light, Red Rover....Red Rover..... Playing kickball, dodgeball or kick the Can, until the first... no...second...no...third...Streetlight came on Ring around the Rosie, London Bridge, Hot potato YOU'RE IT!!! Duck....duck....GOOSE!!! Parents stood on the front porch and yelled (or whistled) for you to come home - no pagers or cell phones Mother May I? Hula Hoops, YO YO's, Clik-Claks Seeing shapes in the clouds, Sparklers Endless summer days and hot summer nights No A/C with the windows wide open The Car had "2/60 Air" 2 windows open at 60 miles per hour The sound of crickets Running through the sprinkler Cereal boxes with that GREAT prize in the bottom Cracker jacks with the same thing Ice pops with 2 sticks you could break and share with a friend ...but wait.....there's more.... Watchin' Saturday Morning cartoons Bugs Bunny, Deputy Dog, Courageous Cat & Minute Mouse Fat Albert, Road Runner, Smurfs, Picture Pages, G-Force & He-Man, Schoolhouse Rock, Mushmouth & Punk'n Puss, Mighty Mouse, Hong kong Fuey, Inch high Private Eye, Speed Racer Watchin' Sunday morning oldies Abbott & Costello, Three Stooges, Our Gang, Bowery Boys Wonder Woman & Super Man Underoos FONZIE.....AYYYYYYYY Mom chasing you out to "GO PLAY" Playing Dukes of Hazard, Climbing trees Catchin' lightning bugs in a jar Christmas morning Your first day of school, Last day of School Bedtime Prayers and Goodnight Kisses Swinging as high as you could to try and reach the sky Getting an Ice Cream off the Good Humor Truck A million mosquito bites, sticky fingers and white tee shirts Jumpin' down the steps, not stepp'n on cracks Jumpin' on the bed, Pillow fights, Sleep-overs A 13" black and white TV in your room meant you were RICH Runnin' till you were out of breath Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt or milk came out your nose! Being tired from PLAYING WORK: meant taking out the garbage or doing the dishes Your first crush Your first kiss I mean the one that you kept your mouth CLOSED and your eyes OPEN Rainy days at school meant playing "Heads up 7UP" or hangman" in The classroom, Remember that? Passing "she likes you" notes .....Oh, I'm not finished yet.... Kool-Aid was the drink of the summer So was a swig from the hose Giving your friends a ride on your handlebars Baseball cards in the Spokes for motor noises Wearing your new shoes on the first day of school Class Field Trips with soggy sandwiches When nearly everyone's mom was at home when the kids got there When a quarter seemed like a fair allowance; and another quarter a MIRACLE Chores were the norm, that dad said would build character When ANY parent could discipline ANY kid, or feed him, or use him to carry groceries...And nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it. When your parents took you to McDonalds and you were COOL When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited you at home. Basically, we were in fear for our lives but it wasn't because of drive by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc. And all because they LOVED US! Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! And some of us are still afraid of them! Didn't that feel good to say, "Yeah, I remember that!" Well, let's keep going back to the time when... Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo" Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "Do over!" "Race issues" meant arguing about who ran the fastest. Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in "monopoly" Catching fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening Getting to Church Sunday Morning was important(on time!) It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends. Being old, referred to anyone over 20 forget 30. (Xxxx! I'm officially old!) The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was cooties. Nobody was prettier than Mom Scrapes and bruises were kissed by mom or grandma and made better A pat on the back from Dad, was the best in the world a wink from Grandpa and you knew he could make all wrongs right no matter how much trouble you were in It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people" rides at the amusement park. Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true. Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dog-dare" Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles. The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team. Water balloons were the ultimate, ultimate weapon. Older siblings were your worst tormentors, But also your fiercest protector ...If you can remember most or all of these, then you have LIVED!!!

Congratulation!!!! Happy for you and the family.

Bob, They look great! In the first post pictures what were the handles made of. They really stand out and look nice. I am new with blades and trying to learn what I can. Again good work!!!! Thanks TIM

Tar Alderion, Any and All food establishments are glad to give you there old fryer oil. We were throwing away, "properly disposing of(grin)", about 40 to 50 gallons a week between a few places. Kitckens, depending on locals laws, usualy have to pay some one to take it away and recycle. So for some one to come and take it for free, I'm happy. We now have a guy with a desiel type converion for his truck that uses strained fryer oil as the fuel. He stops by regularly and we are happy to help him, we save it for him in containers he gives us. I don't fully understand how the conversion works but he runs for free and we don't have disposal issues. As I was taught, the oil viscosity does not change only the dirty particles in the oil and there effect. So if you strain it well, it should work well for you. Flash point on fryer is very high as well and is ment for heavy use. And depending on what was cooked in it you also have a neat smell of fries, fish & Chips.(grin) Hope this helps TIM

Hey Denny, Welcome aboard from another newbie to blacksmithing. I feel the same way about questions and its a great attitude towards learning. Ask away, these guys & gals are great here with such a diverse cross section of talented people. I agree with keykeeper there is tons of info in the blueprints it's a realy good resource. Tim

Welcome Andreas, You anywhere near Deep River Ontario? Spent a lot of time with friends fishing up there, Beautiful Country. I Worked a while, a ways over in Calgary and Banff , Aye.(grin) The site is loaded with good stuff and great people...Welcome aboard!!! TIM

HWooldridge, Hofi, Ellen, Thanks Guys & Gal for the info it really is appreciated and will be put use good use right away. You have helped answer one of my many blacksmithing questions. It seems the more I work and learn the more questions pop up everyday. It is great to know you can get solid help or advice from great people. Again Thanks, If there is more info, I am all ears and ready to learn!!!! TIM

Hey Joe, It was made from a 1964 solid silver quarter. Sorry about the color, I think it is the reflection or the color of the DG's table settings and/or my poor photography. I don't know if it works with the newer coins. But I can tell you this silver quarter ring got a beautiful soft glow shine from working it with FLITZ after working up to 1800 paper(I think it was 1800). TIM

A question about the S1, H13, M4, M2, steels. I have not to my knowledge worked/played with these, but would like to make punches, chisels ect from them. I worked a few files for knives or openers.... one just fractured as I was working it the others worked out well. All were quenched & tempered but one just did'nt make it! I assume to brittle?! I am going to find some tool steel at the scrap or steel yard and would like to have reliable results. The punches & chisels I worked are from mild steel and quenched in water, vegetable oil and even tried the "super quench". I only quench the working end and leave the hitting end air cooled soft. Also tempered some and others just quenched, most work very well & some pretty good. Learning by experimenting!!!! Question is do you air cool or quench or quench & temper, these tool steels? Is there a rough guide or rule of thumb to follow for the different grades? Will a tool steel be to brittle if quenched and be unuseable to the point of cracking or coming apart durring use? Thanks for the help TIM

Welcome Ludo, This is a great site to learn, Have fun. Taking your "20 month old son" on a blacksmithing adventure sounds great. He is realy getting off to a young & fast start in Smithing!!!(grin) Good Luck TIM

Getting Quality Work, Is like buying oats! If you want nice, clean oats, you must pay a fair price; however if you can be satisfied with oats that have been through the horse - THAT COMES A LITTLE CHEAPER !!

God Bless, It's nice to hear good news, share in the happiness and of course send up prayers of thanks. Ain't it neat how God answers prayers when we not looking or have'nt got enough in our pockets to pay attention! Happy for you and your bride Tim

As For the building, I know you mentioned you would like to build it yourself... But have you checked out some of the steel building/garage companies. There are usually adds for them in the back of magazines. I know of one of them I think it was in PA, makes a kick butt version that is built like the old Army or Marine barracks . Comes in different sizes they put it up on your slab or give you a kit cheaper and you assemble. Kind like a giant tinker toy set. Seriously thay are great, helped a friend put one up for his auto mechanic business. No worries over that lost piece of hot steel and these things can withstand anything mother nature can throw at it!!! Here are few sites to give you an Idea Steel buildings, storage sheds, metal buildings by American Steel Span Steel Buildings, metal buildings, prefabricated storage kits Steel Buildings, metal buildings, prefabricated storage kits not sure of cost but I do know if you ask they are always running some kind of "factory direct specials or discounts" and I know budgets get tight with a wife and kids ect... Just My 2cents worth Good luck with it Chaos

Thomas, not preachy at all! And some good advice, wife and I can pop over say Hi and let her know its ok for him to stop by and make sure she is OK with it as well. Thanks

Looks Awsome!!! Oakwood What type of band saw blade do you use? I have a few used wood band saw blades that I make great bread slicer type knives. I dont think it is the same stuff your using. Again great pattern, I hope to try something like that soon!

The look of the handle is so tight and the finish is neat!! The overall look is SHARP!!! (pun intended)

I live in a suburban area, thankfully my house is on a double lot so I'm not right on top of anyone, But I am always concerned. I work out of the garage so I have to wheel the forge out to the drive way between that and the air compressor running, anvil ringing or the grinder going it does attract attention. My point here though is not about my garage/shop but rather the impact WE can have as a neighbor not in the negative. (Even if its accidental) The other day I playing nice all by myself when I turned to discover I had a audience.... of one...small but it was an audience and a fan of my crude work. This kid asked a million questions and kept creeping closer to works and giving detailed accounts of life as a 3rd grader. So I put safety glasses, ear protection and a apron on the little guy(this was a sight as he was dressed in lime green "Skrek" swimming shorts) and he hung out till dusk. Always asking was it ok to stay and was he bothering me. When my wife got Home introductions were made to my new shop assistant, my wife giggling away at this new helpers look, then we broke for dinner. As he was leaving he asked if he could come back as well as alot of other junk then hinted about making something for him. pointing to leaf key rings I make. I thought what is my 3rd grader friend here gonna do with a key ring...BUT dinner could wait a few...We made him one right up and sent him on his way. I see the kid around and he carries the leaf a round like a real treasure. (Thought,Sure he'll lose interest next week but made me feel like a million.) Wife tells me later the kids new and parents are divorced and he has no dad to speak of... I surely never intended to impact this kids life and Don't Want to butt in and the Mom is doing a fantastic job with the little guy. But it does show how something so simple can impact our neighbors or neighborhood for the positive. Some times now I have an audience of two... three if you count the neighbors cat that likes to sit by my forge, But thats a different story about dragons breath and cat hair burning...what a smell!!!! *Back To the point If we are considerate towards them and they can put up with a bit of noise and smoke (from some of us)...Blacksmiths make great neighbors. I know this wandered abit off the subject but it just happened and seemed a good place for my happy sappy story.(grin) Thank you for indulging me

Made this the S'morning for a friend. Snaped a quick pic before I gave it away. Blade is heat treated as a knife, polished as best I can & holds a great edge too. (still learning) Simple and Friends get a kick out of my "gorilla weight" letter openers. Working on petite letter openers for the wives...have a few to show soon.

Thought it looked neat... Made one up for the wife...She freaked!!!! Says I am just so Sweeeeeeet!!! Shaping up to be a great weekend.

Sorry photo wont go thru

Saw this and thought of you & your unwanted house guests.

Growing old can be soooo hard at times. Yesterday a friend of mine got his "Preparation H" mixed up with his Poli-Grip. Now, he walks a bit funny, but he says his gums don't feel great!

A little bleach goes a long way (2 capfuls to 5 gallons) in stopping all kinds of sketters & other flying critters and is a great sanitizer. We put a bit staight down drains also stops anything from laying eggs and the ones present are destroyed. With Time and extended heat bleach becomes ineffective so a booster shot once a week is probaly in order. About slack tub water; I thought I read somewhere on this site about slack tub water being good for rashes such as poison ivy, oak, shumack(sp?) can anyone confirm that???

You have to do, what you have to do, to deal with global warming. This is kind of a grass roots approach to personel cooling.