Dave Herold

1) Name Dave Herold 2) Location Onalaska Wisconsin 3) What type blacksmithing do you do, what do you make. I will make anything that I can. However, right now with my novice skill level I make a lot of hooks. Wall Hooks both drive and punched for screws. S Hooks , all for learning the basic processes. I have also made 3 pairs of successful tongs (not super pretty, but they are functional) and 1 disaster of a faliure pair of tongs that I did indeed learn a lot from. For the long haul I would like to make more tooling and eventually get more into metal sculpture like wall art and gates and grills. 4) How and when did you get started in blacksmithing I tried out blacksmithing in the early 90's with a small cast rivet forge that was given to me. I had nobody to learn from at the time, and didn't fair too well. Moved on worked as a tattoo artist from 93 to 2010 and then went into IT. Just about 6 months ago I was at an SCA event in WI Rapids and got to spend the day in smiths row with Jim (Trinity Forge) and a lovely lady smith named Mary and they actually started me on making tapers and bends. By the end of that day I had made a successful S hook with a twist and a simple turning fork. I was completely hooked and haven't been able to stop since. Built a gas forge and aquired an anvil that is at the end of its life but serves me very well for now. 5) What object or thing did you use as your first anvil, I have a 106 LB unidentified London Pattern anvil that is in very sorry shape. However, it fares well enough for my skill level. Edges are shot on it, and I am afraid that the tail is going to break off at any moment, but it is what I have for right now. Don't think I would want to learn my hammer work on a beautiful anvil anyway to be honest. I would feel really bad about some half moon nicks in a smooth face 6) Tell us about your first forge, hole in the ground, camp fire, brake drum, stacked bricks, On my first attempt it was an old Sears and Roebuck Rivet forge. Sold that when I gave up. On this run first forge is a Propane unit out of an old (very old) O2 tank with 2 Zoeller style Z burners on it. I have found that I can't fit some of the pieces in this configuration to get accurate heats so I purchased a Buffalo 332H with a hand crank blower that I am in the process of cleaning up and putting back together. I will then move into coal or Charcoal. 7) Who assisted you or encouraged you in the craft There have been many smiths that I have met already that have helped me out. Jim Kotsonis being the primary one, and Mary the other smith I worked with that weekend. And then of course everyone on Youtube, and on forums that I am just starting to get ot know 8) What event changed your attitude about blacksmithing After my first go at it I admit I was pretty discouraged and thought that I didn't have what it took to learn. Then worked with the smiths at that event and found out that it wasn't magic. I never had a bad view of smithing and have always been interested, Just thought it might be something out of reach for me until I met those guys. I have been hooked ever since 9) What tool has changed or made your life easier in the shop Every tool that I aquire makes life easier. However I think that right now the porta-band I picked up recently has made life much much simpler when it comes to cutting stock to size. 10) What advice would you give those starting out in blacksmithing Don't give up. There are people out there willing to help you! Stick to it, learn the basics well and the rest will fall into place as you go. This is advice that I still follow everytime I light the forge. 11) What advice would you give those already involved in blacksmithing First off thank you to each and every one of you that offer your knowledge and experience for free here an in person to people trying to learn this art. You are more valuable than you could ever know. I personally think that all craftsmen are a national treasure that should be cherished because without them we wouldn't be able to have the technology that we have today. When it comes to N00bs like me, please keep an open mind, be direct but kind. Thank you again for being a resource for learning for this craft I am coming to love so dearly. 12) What are some of the interesting things that have happened to you in your life as a blacksmith. I don't have any great stories like a lot of the more experienced guys. But the most interesting thing to me so far in my short journey is how open, accepting, and willing to share knowledge folks in this community are. When I was a professional tattoo artist, some of the guys would throw their own grandmothers in front of you to keep you from learning their "special" shading technique or special color blend. And you were kind of put to the side and shunned like the last kid picked in dodgeball until you had proved that you were "good enough" to play the reindeer games. I haven't had any of that in the smithing community so far, and honestly quite the opposite. Please add any thing we may have missed or should have asked.

That video is absolutely amazing!! Thanks for finding and sharing it!

Hi Vaughn, Thanks for the info. I was thinking around the 30s also, but just can't seem to find anything on this particular model. Although I'm not done looking. I admit it is in beautiful shape. The firepot in it is almost pristine. I haven't decided if I am going to redo the lip around the top yet or not. a good portion of it is missing and the rest is fairly loose. I got a fantastic deal on it $100 for it and 5 sets of tongs that need some love. Plan on knocking the rust off with a wire brush, new bolts for the legs and firepot and I will need to fabricate an arm for the blower as that is the only thing missing. Then I will be up and running in it. For now I am still using the 2 burner gas job that I built. Plan on putting a couple pictures of that up in the show me your forge thread.

I was wondering if anyone could help me find any history on this particular forge? It is a Buffalo no 332H. I got it for a song from another smith who picked it up at auction. Needs some love and cleanup but the original blower still turns and the firepot is is very good shape. I am trying to find an idea of the age of this one, or any other information that might be out there. I have a copy of an old Buffalo Forge Catalog from the late 20s but no mention of this series of forge at all. Although it looks similar to a couple of the semi portables listed in the catalog. Any information would be great, or a direction to find good research. Thanks in advance, Dave