Mr Smith

Unfortunately, the link can't follow me into the workshop :-) I guess between forge and anvil, 1 Kg = 2 and a bit pounds, the same way Pi = 3 and a bit. Australia uses decimal points , rather than commas, but I read recently that apparently Indonesia uses them the other way around. eg, instead of 4,100.85, they would write 4.100,85.

I grew up with metric - I never saw an inch measurement until the age of 10 or 11. Having said that, I use both. For stuff that needs to be small and precise, I use millimetres. For larger or longer stuff, feet and inches. How do you guys go with pounds / kg ? I spent ten minutes today trying to work out whether a 2 and 3/4 lb hammer was heavier than my 1.35kg. It doesn't help when most of the smithin' hammers are made either in the US, or back in the day when imperial was the go.

Milk does a lot of things, but I'll wager that it can't save you from zinc poisoning. I don't mean to be flippant, but the flames caused by burning galvo just look "evil" somehow.. that odd blue colour. I don't like it. :-(

Okay - here goes. Apologies for the picture quality - you may be able to make out what I've written, maybe not. My scanner won't play ball, so I had to use the camera. Thanks for the tip, Ten Hammers

G'day all! Rick: Usually, I'll sketch out a rough diagram - I'll try to estimate what size of stock I need, but it's generally a case of whatever's in the rack, so I only really write down a rough estimate. As for scrolls, etc, I have trouble estimating how much to allow for a given scroll, so I usually just say "scroll the last 2 inches." I find that easier to work out with regard to measurement. Hope this helps - I can post a few scans as examples, if you like (and if I can work out how to do it)

I have a sketchpad (approx A5 size) Anything I think of, or make, or see in a book or magazine, gets sketched into the book. I'll go back when I'm done and add little comments, pointers for next time. I regard it as a way of "thinking out loud"

Thanks Archie! I think number 2 is where I need the most improvement - I'm always burning steel, or pounding long after it should have gone back in the fire :-D Always good to get some pointers on the fundamentals!

Hey Tyler! I don't know what else to tell you, you've done a fantastic job as it is. A friend of mine who is a bladesmith, had another friend who wanted a 'hawk made from a railroad spike. He told him its made from MS and will be lousy, but the guy wanted one made from a RR spike and what are you going to do? So I piped up and said there's some tool steel in the rack, why don't you make a RR spike out of that, then make a 'hawk from the dog spike :-) and *we* did The only other thing I can think of that I did was to save the spike end, so's I can incorporate it into the final piece - is that cheating? :-D

Excellent work! I'm doing something very similar at the moment. Will post photos when I can.

G'day Berty! Have checked out your site - very good, most informative! Welcome aboard!

To see a short video (about 1:30) on nail making, go to Do a search for blacksmithing. There's a Belgian (?) guy who has posted a few blacksmithing vids. One shows him making a nail. Hope this helps!!!

It's interesting to hear of someone else doing kilt pins. I'm churning out a bunch at the moment for a medieval fair. I'm hoping to pick up AU$5 apiece in donations for the club. Nice to know they sell so nicely :-)

I know there's an online store called Etsy.com. It's only criteria is that goods for sale *must* be handmade. It seems to be primarily knitted, crocheted, etc stuff, but there's other things for sale on there. That, or something of that ilk might be the go.

I've given it a go, once. I made up a few bowl-type candle holders. Friends and family thought they were pretty cool. I had a few watchers, but no bids. At the moment, I'm scanning auctions for blacksmith-made items. Tongs sell nicely, but usually it's the older ones folks are after. Information and correct advertising/marketing seem to be the key. Again, it seems to be the "vintage" stuff thats sells see these for example: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/blacksmith-made-J-hooks_W0QQitemZ7394980346QQcategoryZ358QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Coat-Hook-Blacksmith-made-in-USA-Iron-Forged-by-PCBS_W0QQitemZ4445834590QQcategoryZ36024QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Blacksmith-hand-made-S-hooks-x2_W0QQitemZ4444858823QQcategoryZ38226QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info! I'm too young (and pretty) to die just yet. I reckon I'll turn off the air, then chuck it in the fire whilst i go to lunch. That'll take care of any coating, then all I have to do is learn to forge weld! :-)

... plus the guy wants to be *both* a blacksmith *and* an Australian.... Who am I to stand in the way of such self-improvement? ;-)

Hey all! I've been trolling and posting for about a week now and, as all seems well, unfortunately for you blokes, I'm staying. I'm a hobbyist from Western Australia, which as the name suggests, is the western part of Australia. I'm also a member of the blacksmiths' association out this way, so if you're looking to get started, and live in the same part of the world, give us a shout!

Thanks all. I would have gone and done it myself, except for the fact that I'm on the left-hand side of the country, rather than the right (which in this case means both right hand *and* correct) Glad to be of help!

Words of wisdom. I've only done a few demos, usually with other smiths around. Trinkets that do well are spoons made from horseshoe nails, tiny horseshoes, and leaves. If you have a piece of paper with the trinket, explaining it (if possible) they tend to walk out the door a bit faster.

Sir, you have raised the bar for the rest of us. With regard to chrome plating and galvo giving off fumes, I agree that the fumes given off would be dangerous, even fatal, but would it still be the case for a spanner as rusted as the one in the picture? Surely the coating would be corroded away? Any ideas? I ask so as not to (accidentally) kill myself. What if it was left in the fire (with the air off) whilst I went for lunch? Does any one have any idea what kind of steel is in a spanner? Thanks in advance!

Hey all! I've done some research. I would say that a good starting point would be http://hsc.csu.edu.au/metals_engineering/careers/2341/Blacksmith.htm This is a TAFE (Technical and Further Education) site. TAFE is a government-run technical school that operates nationwide. If you're looking for a six-month or greater course, look no further. If you need any other help, give me a shout :-)

Strine has said it all better than I could. Personally, I'm not sure of actual blacksmithing *jobs*, barring one or two exceptions, but there's no shortage of work for a backpacker on a work visa. Well, if you're ever down the left hand side of the country, give us a shout! P.S. if you ever get the chance, take the train from Sydney to Perth, and count the RR spikes, etc lying trackside along the way )there's a few)