SteveW

Just thought, cast iron is still used for pans and dutch ovens, so maybe the regs are not too strict

This is both interesting and timely,I've just been asked to make a cooking cauldron for a reenactor, still waiting for the specifics.

Hi, thanks for the information:) I need to get that hole covered with a bit of plate, start a small fire to make sure the chimney is drawing ok then its time to get some coke in her and see if all works as it should
Thanks again for the help

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.

There is a very good chance that I can actually make this, as SWMBO ends her course next year at the beginning of August I think. :)

 

Ps, I'm going to send you an email in a day or two John, some things are afoot that you may be interested in.  ;)

Can you send me the details as well please John, can't hurt to have a look I suppose.  :unsure:

Do you have a link to the dragonfly tutorial John, or any other Dragonfly tutorial for that matter.

Thanks.

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

Thanks John for all your hard work, I had a great time and I learned plenty

It was nice to meet some new faces and to see some of the old ones again, I'm looking forward to the next one

If I get time later, I'll see if any of the photos I took actually came out....

Thanks again guys

Steve.

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.

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:

Very nice again Dave, can I just ask what you mean by "cellery welded" though?

$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

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.

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.

Shame I missed this. Look forward to the next forge in. Are there many of them about the 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.

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.

Sorry Al I've only just seen this, I'll Pm you with the fine print on Friday.

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.

I'll try on the calendar , and edit my tag etc .


and yes tis me ......
I fancied a pseudonym for a change only to be greeted with "hello Owen" on my first post !!!!!

Very welcome then, I use the same name on BB, but sadly have nothing of interest to say wherever I am :D

Is that you Mr Bush? if so welcome, well welcome anyway whoever you are :huh:

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.

I'm up for it John :D

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/