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Everything posted by SteveW
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Long story short, I have a new forge to play with. It's a bottom blast and I'm wondering if anything is missing from the fire pit? I have only used side blast forges so far, and cant help thinking some kind of diffuser or grill should be over the air hole. with luck there should be some pictures here to show what we have at the moment. many thanks Steve.
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Hello John, I've only just seen this as I have been up to my eyes in real life for the last two month's (Teenage daughters can be challenging at times, and so can middle aged wives for that matter, but anyhow) I have been lucky enough to attend all the Iforge weekends that the guild have arranged and they have all been well worth the time and effort to get to. I have come away with new techniques to try, a better understanding of some of the techniques I thought I already knew and more importantly, renewed enthusiasm for the craft after each session. I have made contacts and friends, bought equipment and coke and had the chance to pick the brains of far better smith than I will ever be. It's hard to put a price on that, but I'll venture it's better than £7.50s worth even to a Yorkshireman like me Book me a spot for the weekend John please, though I will have to pay, I can't sing or play an instrument if my life depended on it :D
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I should be able to make it along John, it's been well worth the effort so far and I'm sure this one will be just as informative and fun as the last one I'll have a bit of a think about possible subjects, but off the top of my head, joining methods, riveting and wraps, flowers, and things to sell at stalls, would all find an attentive audience with me. Oh, and If you can do a class on turning lead into gold, book me a seat Steve.
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You did a good job explaining it Dave, it makes sense when you think how Celery goes together . I have just never heard the term before. I bet all the Uk smiths will be telling me we call it a Celery weld too now :rolleyes:
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Very nice again Dave, can I just ask what you mean by "cellery welded" though?
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$40:00, what that about £25.00 or so? I'd be interested to know what the UK smiths would charge for something like that, as I may well be falling into the same trap. Very nice work Dave
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St Clems pics 2010
SteveW replied to John B's topic in Blacksmiths and Metalworkers Association of the South West UK
It looks like it was another good (and dry this time) day John, I'm sorry I managed to miss it again but Helen was at her company conference enjoying herself, while I was up to my eyes in kids and animals at home. Quick question, did the contestants start with the circles for the roasters pre-cut, or did they cut them on the day? I'm having a mental block on how to cut out large blanks without a plasma cutter or a cnc machine. This was interesting though... We were also joined by a couple of our regulars there that are currently featuring on TV shows, The High Street, and the Edwardian Farm, both of them somewhat disappointed to say the least in the way the Blacksmiths Craft was presented in the finished broadcast, and the accuracy presented by the so called researchers which varied greatly from the experience of methods and techniques that working 'smiths used. Its time they altered the perception that 'smithing is a thing of the past, and brought it up to date with the current situation that the craft is alive and still developing. Can you elaborate at all on the problems they had with the shows? I have quite enjoyed the previous outings from the Edwardian Farm team, within the limitations of the program. I kind of look on them as "comfort food" TV, bank the fire up, then loose yourself for a hour in an altogether different age. How, and indeed if, the public have much of a perception of the Blacksmith's craft, and how and if, it should be altered is a topic I think we can all benefit from discussing, though perhaps on a dedicated thread. -
Guild Courses 2011
SteveW replied to John B's topic in Blacksmiths and Metalworkers Association of the South West UK
That's a nice cross section of courses and skills to look forward to John. and if the Gods of muck and brass shine on me next year, I'll try to get up for one or two of them. PS. I noticed the guild got a quick plug on the second series of Handmade Homes, this week, so fingers crossed all the courses get well attended. -
Forge in Weekend coming up
SteveW replied to John B's topic in Blacksmiths and Metalworkers Association of the South West UK
The Guild do two forge-ins each year Kev, but there must be others out there. Whereabouts in the country are you BTW? Oh just seen it Peterborough you could come down for the next one and camp on site for the two days. -
UK Workshop and public liability insurance UK
SteveW replied to SteveW's topic in The Business Side of Blacksmithing
Hello First let me just apologise for what is rather obviously a bit of a cut and paste job, I have had a number of people asking similar questions and so have decided to save myself some typing by answering them all together. I have only recently set up my own workshop and so I’m in the process of finding some suitable Public liability insurance and ideally some workshop insurance too. I have had a number of quotes from various sources that have ranged wildly in price and scope. I need PL insurance to cover the public at the Forge, in the event that they may visit to collect or discuss something. To cover the installation of work on site and to cover the public if I attend shows either as a demonstrator or a trader. I need workshop insurance to cover damage or theft of materials machines and stock. Ok the first few quotes I had were in excess of £450.00 for £2.000.000 PL and workshop insurance of about £6.000 in stock and machines. Once I had a quick look at the paperwork it was soon clear that my workshop would never pass the rules and regs for cover as is, and would need serious security upgrading to even come close. It is a former Cattle shed and Pigsty so has none of the required locking windows and security doors that were needed. Rather than heat, (Oxy / Propane etc, the factor that came up repeatedly was the maximum working height. No one asked about storage of bottles only the percentage of heat work on site, welding etc 10% seems normal. After a chat we decided that PL only would be the way to go for now and that comes in so far at just under £300.00 a year with Eastlake and Beachell , for £2.000.000 cover, the minimum recommended. I have only just started thinking about putting on demonstrations at shows so have no experience knowing if this level of cover will satisfy the event organisers, some people have suggested that £5.000.000 is a more realistic figure. I am still looking at the moment so if anyone has any Ideas I would be very happy to hear them. My advice would be ask for and read the policy before agreeing to anything and make sure the cover suites you and your needs rather that just your budget. -
UK Workshop and public liability insurance UK
SteveW replied to SteveW's topic in The Business Side of Blacksmithing
Sorry Al I've only just seen this, I'll Pm you with the fine print on Friday. -
Forge in Weekend coming up
SteveW replied to John B's topic in Blacksmiths and Metalworkers Association of the South West UK
I just wanted to say a very quick thank you to JohnB for all the hard work he put into organising another Forge in weekend. I had my usual great time and managed to pick up some very useful tips on a wide range of subjects, met some very nice and interesting people and had my sausage nicked by a big hairy Saxon. You can defiantly count me in for next year John. A few random photographs to be going on with, sorry I am hopeless at remembering names. -
Very welcome then, I use the same name on BB, but sadly have nothing of interest to say wherever I am :D
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Is that you Mr Bush? if so welcome, well welcome anyway whoever you are :huh:
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Forge in Weekend coming up
SteveW replied to John B's topic in Blacksmiths and Metalworkers Association of the South West UK
I’ll bring some eggs with me John, I’ve been looking after some Chickens for a chap up the road who is off up country for a fortnight and I’ve got eggs coming out my ears. -
Forge in Weekend coming up
SteveW replied to John B's topic in Blacksmiths and Metalworkers Association of the South West UK
I'm up for it John :D -
UK Workshop and public liability insurance UK
SteveW replied to SteveW's topic in The Business Side of Blacksmithing
Quick update, I have had 4 quotes back so far, and Eastlake and Beachell were the best by over £100.00. Full £2.000.000 PL for under £300.00 per year. The first quote was amended after we went into some more depth. -
You could also try Glendales...just be sure to be sitting down when you see the prices http://www.glendaleforge.co.uk/