Gergely

Hi Kevin, First of all I totally understand your feelings having the same experience time to time. If you go to the pet peeves topic you'll see wise grandchildren of the blacksmiths of yore are everywhere. Although as others stated you can not possibly know what comes forth through this kind of talking. Just one story: I was stopped by a local older man on a day, he knew about my hobby and kept talking about the importance of final tappings - the way you sign to the strikers it's the end of the bashing for this heat. It was at least tiring to hear it all but when it ended he mentioned the local museum had a collection of forging related tools. He even knew where it is hidden, as there not such a thing as local museum anymore. Also knew the names and adresses of the old times' smiths who used to live in this town, and gave the info of their living relatives to ask about old tools. So after the depressing start it turned out a very fruitful conversation. (By the way he is an ex-machinist, too. Around here all the metal trade men have some sort of mysterious respect for old blacksmiths and blacksmithing. This helps a lot.) Happy hammering (Hofi style or not, whatever... :) ) Gergely

Well, Donnie, this really needed the second post as a clear up... I just can't stop asking: why on earth? I mean no bad only wondering. My story happened at the first time forging short stock. Not suitable pair of tongs. So the don't do this again point was: don't stay still when the glowing stock starts to fly. It usually helps if you step away of its way. I learned it really easy, only a 2" scar on my left arm for a couple of months. Be well and careful! Gergely

Nice video, good work! Thank you for sharing. The result is a fine piece! All the bests: Gergely

Hey, nice piece, I like the curves on it. I bet it was happy hammering to shape it. Good work. Greetings Gergely

My pleasure. If I simplified ( :)) correctly backwards to my understanding: you own now one ton of this stuff. That's enough for some guillotine blades, even the French style... But seriously any idea what will you do with it? Bests Gergely

Hi Ianinsa, This being a family friendly forum I can't tell you what I think about this kind of luck. :) Bohler K990 is equivalent of AISI W1. Cold work tool steel with 1,05 points of Carbon in it. Its strong side is good toughness and machinability. Can't attach the PDF document, but you can check and save the complete data sheet in German and English here: http://www.bohler.at/deutsch/files/downloads/K990DE.pdf Those really are big pieces of steel but it's really better having problems with existing stock as with the non-existing. Happy hammering! Gergely Edit: I did attach the pdf somehow. K990DE.pdf

Really good ones you have there. :) I have had only one: every, literally every single time when my blacksmithing comes up people ask first: Oh, so you make fences? And they not mean forged stuff. Nowadays around here "wrought iron fence" means cast or pressed readily made ornamental elements welded together. I hate those things. They are ugly but for some not even cheap enough, and then comes the next level: install-ready whole panels you can buy in big stores. - So I just have to say: "No, I don't make those, you need totally different gear to do that efficiently." Bests to All Gergely

Anti-fog safety goggles from Lux Optical. (Was wearing them already, but still - they were under the tree.) New pair of safety boots that look so nice I use them for going out / scrap yard digging footwear. :) Thermo leggins for wintertime forging. And please don't tell anyone but I got my "cheap second hand" DeWalt grinder repaired. It costed more than a new Makita :( . This was the last time I bought used power tool... On the bright side: I have my DeWalt working! And a Soviet era handbook of hand and industrial forging. Very exciting reading. Still waiting for a small album from Fritz Kühn. Greetings Gergely

I couldn't tell my thoughts at any better way as the two gentlemen did above. But that was the why I came to the computer tonight: wishing my Friends a very happy new year! So thank you all and may the forge be with you! Let the steel glow hot in 2015, too! Cheers Gergely

Very well done, Viktor! Merry Christmas! G

Morning Viktor! Very good job! Nice adaptation. Well done. Merry Christmas! Gergely

Good work! I'm just sorry I'm not that buddy of yours. :) Gretings Gergely

Hi Natkova! I can't give you any real suggestion in this topic but this: try to find one of the local "old school" mechanics/turners/machinists and make friends with them. Those guys really know all the tricks and you can learn very useful things only by talking to them. I say this assuming that there have been the same kind of circumstances in your country as in ours - which caused that every good technician had to be able to build a washmachine from tank parts and vice versa. and Hi Nob, :D :D I really like the difference of perspectives, and you sure painted a picture! Bests to All! Gergely

Hehe, thanks Thomas, I really meant lead. It was at the end of my work day when I did the translating. Somehow only the Latin plumbum came in mind. It is a nice old video from times when Hungarian documentary was an existing kind of thing. If I may point out a couple more parts: at 3:45 they demonstrate how to re-handle a hammer. It's a bit different as I've seen it on the American/English sites. In Hungary these straight shaped hafts are in use only. It's a now forgotten detail they mention on the vid: the best material for blacksmith's hammer haft is dogwood (in the local circumstances). At 4:15 you can see the typical wedging, we always use one wedge slantwise. starting from 7:13 they tell about how to use the hammer: at first thumb on the handle - which results unsure grip, then he shows the gripping near the head - which results low striking force, unsure and erratic striking effect, also the handle can be stuck in the clothes or the bench. Finally he demonstrates the proper grip (7:43). At 7:55 he shows the bad hammering technique: stiff wrist results in unsure, unforceful hit which wears the striker quickly. At 8:12 he demonstrates the correct striking with one-handed hammers. He says that moving the wrist and elbow together is the key. And of course it's my pleasure to help, at least I can help a very little "back" to you, guys. :) Greetings Gergely

Hi again, This is a video about "basic hammering skills" as the title says. At 1:15 in the first video they start to categorize the hammers. They say: "one group of these very ancient tools is the group of the workshop hammers" - a term I've never heard in Hungarian before. "These are generally made of steel but there are hammers made of wooden, copper and plumb for special purposes." Then when the camera takes the top tool rack: "The other main type is the group of the forming/shaping hammers. These are used for special purposes." Then they start telling info about some hammers... No detailed info told about the model in question. Bests Gergely

Glad to hear, more good wishes to both of you! Bests Gergely

I gotta run right now but when I'll be back, tomorrow, I watch and try to translate what they say - cause I kinda speak Hungarian :) Bests Gergely

Ohh, man! I like this one so much... You just made real my visions about "The KNIFE"! And that tactical sheat... There are no words... Congrats on your work! Greetings Gergely

Sorry, I mistranslated. I use grill lighter fluid, which is - according to its label and Wikipedia - correctly translated: kerosene. G

Hehe, OK!

In the first times I, too, lit my fire in the old way. Paper, kindlings or shavings, coal - and matches. Then switched to this much faster method: A few flat pieces of coal around the tuyere, one fistful of very fine wood shavings I get from a joiner, 6-8 pine cones, 20-30 ml / 1 fl ounce of grill lighter fluid (distilled petroleum). Lit by a match, I wait for about 20-30 sec then add slight airflow. Immediately I start putting the last fire's coke around the burning stuff. Then I increase the airflow to the max I usually use while forging. I put the green coal in the forge around and behind the burning center. Meanwhile I have to control the fire not to go hollow as the cones and shavings are totally burnt up till then. This whole process takes 4-5 minutes max and results in a very nice and ready to go fire. Yet I usually let it run for few more minutes on full air and empty to mature the green coal close the center. Just my 2(euro)cents :) Greetings Gergely

Hi Viktor, Nice corksrew you made there! I really like the handle. May I ask its size data? - Its spiral seems a bit oversized but it easily can be the deception of the picturing. Have you tested it? I've been thinking how could you make the spiral thinner but still strong enough to not deform while using it. Some corksrews have diagonal or thin rhomboid cross section in their spiral. I dunno can I achieve that... When the cross section is circle I think (and experienced) 3 mm is the max dia when making non-dectructive spiral. Just thinking... Bests and minden jot! Gergely

Good toughts sent towards the fairy Alaska. I wish quick recovery to Deb and minimum worry to you, Frosty! Bests Gergely

Hi, Cool! Try a slitter and then open the hole with a drift. Do it when hot (stop when it goes dark red). Punching big dia holes is very problematic with thin stock. Moving hot metal is sure fun bigtime! Keep them coming! Bests Gergely

:) Some well matured tool steel you got there! Happy hammering on it! Gergely