beth

thanks unicorn - obviously it is very appealing to buy somethiing like this from its inventor esspecially when its inventor is such an inspiration. Thanks for outlining the differences - i know this will be a quality item I just dont know much about the hammer or the method. Live long and prosper yourself!:)

just sped through the posts on this thread - all very interesting - and as somebody who fears maths i love your sums brian - you make it sound very natural! Has given me a lot to think of in terms of more control over the cost of a design. Your threads are always so full of info!! thankyou everyone

can anyone explain why the hofi hammers are superior? I dont doubt that they are after reading Mr Hofis posts and looking at his work - he is obviously someone who more than knows his stuff, but what makes them different from other hammers you could buy? thanks guys :)

sugar and soft soap is good too and very mild. Will make yr hands baby soft again...;)

Good good advice Glenn - ive logged that one up for later. Like the mellow bit about the flowers on the table etc:)

HI JOhan - i dont know which kind of design would be right for you but i think if you click on archive at the bottom of the page you can look at all the threads about forge design pros and cons will be thoroughly aired in there! good luck:)

I agree Thomas - what goes around comes around - life is too short to be suspicious of everyone - share it around! Well done Drako sounds fantastic!! i had a similar situation for a while and it was like GOLD DUST!! these people are out there:)

HI Tom - Im in glos so not far from you - i had trouble finding much right near us in terms of courses - tho hereford is meant to be good if you got the time and money for a full time course. I can really recomend Peat Oberon's short courses in stockton on tees ( i think!) its way up north anyway! - he has website - i did one a couple of years ago and i know he still does them and he is very good. I dont know much to teach you really im still learning im an artist who knows a bit a bout metal but not enough for my liking about blacksmithing:) Let me know though if i can be any help youre welcome to drop by if youre ever in cheltenham:)

hi Dubessay ! yeah you can get apprenticeships in england, if youre coming to oxfordshire thats only a bit up the road from me -im in gloucestershire. I will put my brain to work for you and see if I can get you any contacts. Let me know when youre coming anyway - we can hook up and have a cup of english tea and talk art!:)

hi Sue! hope you like this forum - ive learned loads from these guys - hopefully might help them out too at some point! good luck with getting going Sue :)

hi doug! good luck with your work sounds like your getting it together - show us pics of whatever you make!:)

philip in china - you are a class act!

Buster keaton is quality! never seen that one cheers:)

i saw a great piece of fencework recently made entirely of rebar i wish i had taken a photo it was in a jungle kind of enclosure in a zoo and it looked great in amongst the vines and plants. I made a mental note of "a good use for rebar" :)

bryce i think that what you say is true of any walk of life or any dream being followed, its a matter of being realistic and positive and even if you end up working at macdonalds finding a way to indulge your passion for blacksmithing somewhere in your life. we are all in the same boat really to some degree. keep hold of what you love in your life - and if it earns you a living - even better:)

hi there matei:) is this your work on knives2use? cool stuff! visit us more often!

hi Dennis - im no expert but i would get rid of the floor and just go on the ground - wood floors and fire are a bit of a pain in my experience.... dont reckon you need to worry too much about the tree and as someone who used to cut trees for a living theres no harm in a gentle crown lift if it looks like its getting singed! not sure about what type of bulbs are best although in my workshop i like it darker round the forge so i can see the heat better and lighter areas for finishing. and like mike said ventilation is a total must - i leave my doors open unless the rain is hammering in, but it might be colder where you are.? Good luck with it - looks like it will be great - put some more pics when its done:)

hi there rich if you go on the forum page and look at the very bottom it says archive - go in there and there is a whole section on anvils etc all things to do with them and making them and repairing them and anything you would like to know i should think! good luck with getting going - i have done a bit of silver work when i have been limited by space and children - its a natural cross over i reckon:) look forward to seeing what you make!

love the pic devon blacksmith - do you have pictures of the stages of the process?

i agree- what a beautiful looking hammer - a work of art before its even started work!

nice sculpture myloh - birdsong is a big part of everyday where i live its something i always notice and i love the theme of your piece. birds singing is always a hopeful sound but even more so in winter. Really like it:)

great tattoo ideas! i love tattoos and think if your going to have them you may as well go for it is some style - sam your idea is insane i LOVE it! i think we should have a whip round to fund that if your too broke... also valentins picture is amazing - i love it - i got a fair few tattos and not sure if i should have many more but now you got me thinking! i think we need a blacksmith related tattoo gallery section....

hi there uralone - i didnt either ! just had a look. sounds cool:) and complicated! hope you enjoy the forum there are loads of people willing to share their years of experience and their skills so you came to the right place - hope you put some pics up of your work when you get going :)

hi there chow ! you'll get all the advice you need on here - there will be someone somewhere on here from your neck of the woods - sounds like you got what you need to get yourself started anyway. look forward to seeing some of your work:)

hi drako - i have found that putting a smaller waist on my hammers helps with wrist ache - i actually have big hands so its not always just about a small or big hand - its to do with all kinds of variables in the dimensions of your hand and joints - i would experiment with different hammer handle sizes. As well as all the excellent advice above!