Davor

I have a few tattoos and been recently getting a few more. So I got an anvil on the inside of my bicep. It is hard to get a picture because it is curved a bit.

Thanks Frosty.

A bit of fun today.

Practicing forging horse heads.

Maybe I'm confusing it with vigorously forging because I'm forging something bigger and running the forge hotter than usual. Definitely finishing the chimney and buying a simple fan for blowing the smoke away from me.

I will point out that I do have migraines often and had them for 20 years, long before I started forging and even when I'm not forging for weeks. So having a headache isn't a red flag for me, it's just normal. Goes to show you should consult the experts just in case.

I always have something to drink, non alcoholic. 

I am going to finish that chimney as soon as possible, it is long overdue. Just in case.

Charcoal, the forge is next to the door and I always have the top half of the doors opend. Chimney needs to be finished. You think it could be the fumes?

Does anyone get headaches after forging? I have a few specific health issues and I know that it causes this for me, sometimes. I have migraines and the top vertebrae (the Atlas) is always a bit dislocated so sometimes when I'm vigorously forging and my head is bobbing I will get a migraine. 

Does anyone else have similar problems?

18 hours ago, DHarris said:

I’ve often thought that style of anvil with the sloped side would be handy, butdo you get by without a pritchel hole?

I made a thick bar with different hole sizes that I put over the hardy hole. 

For hard to reach valves.

That is a beautifull anvil and lovely picture. You have a good eye for pictures.

Island Rab again, just a small gate. There is a window grill in the background that I didn't see until later on the picture.

Me taking pictures.

Wife: Why are u taking a picture of a gate?

Me: Mmm, you wouldn't understand.

Wife: ???

I just left it as is, if it will be a problem I'll weld it.

Little spade I made a few years ago broke at the rivets. So I made one that won't brake.

Thank you for the kind words, everyone. Thomas not anymore, it is as is. Will do that on the next one.

Small patio coffee table. Most complicated work I have done so far. The top is from an old wooden barrel.

Love it, very clean.

I think I have some. I have put one on a knife, but the problem is that it is centered and it doesn't look good, because you have to make a hole in the center.

Two more. I forgot to mention that I put coins on my knives. 

Just epoxy two component glue. It is enough, it won’t budge. I just file in some notches in the tang so it has a better hold. And the tang is full width of my palm.

Well I haven't made a knife in years. This one was finished this week and it is a present for a coworker who is retiring next week. Forged from coil spring, leather and oak handle. Sheet also made by me.

Welcome, looking forward to seeing you work.

Picture of flexibility.

Well I had some blades I needed to harden and temper. So, I bring it up to quench temperature (magnet helps), quench it in motor oil and then I heated a chunk of steel in the forge and place the blade on it and watch the colours. Blue or close to it is fine, on the back of the blade not on the edge or the tip. And cool it in water. Now my test if it went good is: File on the back, must be soft. File on the edge, must skate or be hard. Then I clamp it in the vise and it must be flexible, last step I drop it from waist heigh tip first on the concrete. If it survives it is fine. One didn't survive, but that is nothing to worry about. Just reforge the tip.

I have done that. Positive is that you can do it at the forge right after the quench and it is done quickly. Negative, only the edge is hard if you grind it beyond a certain point it is all soft.