Gergely

Wow, Mark you're fast! That's looking pretty good for a start I've just got back from the archeo-smelting camp - just checkin in and going to sleep a bit. The camp was amazing. Interesting and hard work, nice people, great memories. Trying to load some pictures tomorrow! (To a different thread) Bests: Gergely

Oh, yes, Ethan you did buy that Alldays n Onions PH, didn't you? I was very glad to hear about that. What size it was? I do remember the picture, it will very well help hammering the bigger billets Congrats on both: the cool work and the new hammer! Bests: Gergely

Yes, if you use that as a backing plate it works as an obstacle for the molten steel while welding. This way there will be no steel bulbs/blobs inside the socket. Use as thick copper sheet as you can get. Bests: Gergely

I'd weld it with arc - MIG or SMAW wichever is closest. Preheat it in the forge to black heat or so. Weld it, then put it back and normalize the welded part + 1". While welding you could benefit from something backing the seam from the inside, like brass or copper sheet shaped to touch the inner surface of the socket. That way you can avoid the unwanted bulbs going into the socket. Bests. Gergely

Yes, it was a clean hit creating this topic! The motor of my forge ventillator burned down at the Saturday's fair - happy thoughts, happy thoughts... So in spite of I should have to forge a lot today I had to find some motorisation solution for the demo forge. I'm off to the woods on Friday but when I get back I'm demoing the next day. Exciting. Having a spare motor seems pretty obvious now, it did not earlier... Finally I got a nice motor, hopefully I can get some help to install it while I'm away.

Iron tends to travel nicely, doesn't it? Thank you, Mark! I answer your PM properly in the morning, have to run right now... Bests: Gergely

Let's see: the handles are Robinia or black locust wood. It's the most common material for handles around here (Hungary only). I have found some US made hammers - so you never know I'm not sure I'd sell those if I'd found some though... You know, I tend to like axe shaped things Thanks! I take my heavily damaged camera with me hoping it won't fall apart or die on me any ways. Unfortunately there is a chance... khmm, uhmm, tendency... I totally forget about taking pictures when I'm doing something. I try my best. Now off I run, very much to do yet in no time. Bests: Gergely

All right, Mark! I still have some scrap axes left so... Ehh, the shipping fees don't worth the trouble You're better to make some on your own - those will be even prettier, knowing your work. No, no American made axes around here. These are all Hungarian and I think I had one old Soviet made - because it was made of some very tough oil hardening alloyed tool steel that was used only by Soviet tool factories (as far as I know. It was sold in an eyeblink, of course, being a rarity nowadays.) Now heavy days ahead of me. I have 3 days to fill up my inventory as I leave Friday morning to an "archeo-smelter" camp: we make charcoal, build ancient style furnaces, collect bog iron ore, do the smelting and make some old style wrought iron stuff. I'm pretty excited! Bests: Gergely

Nice!

Well not actually today but: Restored some old scrap axes: Finished the bearded shepherd's axe: Finished the crow style shepherd's axes: Bests: Gergely

Saturday I did some heavy propaganda for spreading the word about IFI: Thank you Glenn for the first IFI T-shirt in Hungary! Blacksmiths without Borders indeed Bests: Gergely

Way to go, Mark! I envy your patience though, forging with clueless adults can be very challenging. Bests: Gergely

That's awesome! And a bit creepy But way more awesome!

Hi Marc, My point was totally from the view of a possible beginner. I can never stop wondering when hear something like: I'm totally new to this trade and bought a 1000$ anvil, what to do next? As a professional you certainly are right about buying new tools that have the paperwork allright and work instant and cost-effectively. Your post made me think that maybe I misunderstood the title of the topic - I thought the op asks about what brand is better than another (hence my personal reference on Milwaukee grinders), now I think the question might have been something different. Bests: Gergely

Hi Allomancer, One of the things I like in being a blacksmith is the non-consumer type of its nature. - Found a hammer? Use it, it is a hammer no matter who manufactured it. Use it more and make your own hammer - then you'll know who made that hammer. - Found some tong shaped objects? Use them, then make your own... and so on. Anvils seem to be one of the main target of blacksmithing consumerism, but who says you need an actual anvil? - Go find a big piece of steel, that's your anvil. Machinery is tricky but what machines do you actually need in the beginning? Maybe an angle grinder, whatever type... You can really make your own stuff literally from trash. It's a start. Then later you'll know where you need to develop and how. End of rant. And I try to be a bit helpful : Milwaukee is my favorite brand in angle grinders. But my first was a cheap Chinese BlackNDecker and it did all works done that time. Bests: Gergely

Sometimes it is, that's why the flexibility And back for the op: I'd do those for 10$/piece, but that's because around here 80$ for a half days work is not bad for a shop like mine. Actually it's worth even if I use oxy/acet for bending. (Totally useless comment, I know, but what else I got right now? ) Bests: Gergely

I do use sometimes box store prices as a standard starting point - the minimum of my pricing is the store box price multiplied by 10. Flexible rule though...

I sell them handled. There is a 85 y old joiner who makes the handles and even put the heads on the handles for me. I like him a lot and it's important (for me) that he can do this. It costs me a bit, but worth it both timevise and morally. About the name: I know crowbill is a bit different but these called 'crow' or 'crow sheperd's axe' in Hungary so I thought to go with that name . At least the crow is there

Hi John! Sorry to hear that - I hope your tolerance gets payed though as life can produce mysterious things. Kozzy - those are very valid points, I try to remember them when next time someone says my little flowers are too pricy for ~12-13$. (incl. techniques are: hot forging, cold leafwork, gas welding, hard brazing, polishing and surface coating) Also - trying to be positive - I'm glad to hear that even in civilised countries cheapness is shown towards crafted products. Although my joy is bittersweet... Bests: Gergely

Hi, nice work on the hammers! Also those wood samples are beautiful - the redheart is exceptional, it's a pity we don't have those around here. I tried to confirm Mark's theory a bit, so made two crowbill type weapons. Also messed up the heat treat of the bearded axe second time (!) and reshaped a scrapyard axe head. Craft fair in the weekend so better take hurry

That beast is a beauty! Happy birthday and happy hammering! Bests: Gergely

Thanks! Well, it seems I can't deny it... I have a learning route planned in my mind (not too carefully, though) that leads towards the complex shaped African throwing knives's designs. And while developing skills I need to get some incomes, too Bests: Gergely

Glad to hear about you, Mark. That's a sturdy piece of workbench - good score! Bests: Gergely

Found the topic. The steel is 1.2516. It's not very good alloy for springs, it's a 1,2 % carbon with some V and W in it - It is very unlikely to have this alloy in coil springs But the pictures are beautiful: But I still hold my point on the shorter sparks - higher carbon content.

Well, I can only tell my beliefs on this - no actual facts whatsoever. When I see these shorter sparks with the "tiny explosions" I usually consider the alloy being high carbon content. Try to search the topic templehound started about one of his knives (sorry for the minimal info) he shows an awesome picture of the sparks of the steel he used. That goes well with your style of sparks. And he mentions there the number of the alloy. Bests: Gergely