Sam Thompson

The face doesn't look like it's had the kind of abuse that would have broken it.

Hi T-Gold, I've always liked the way that smiths decorate even the most mundane tools... They're much pleasanter to use. What type of anvil is that? Or is it something else? ST

Hi Noah, Welcome to the wonderful world of hitting things. Just don't confuse the 'hands of Hephaestos' with those of Hephaeston! ST

There's a video of this at: YouTube - Random Cut Twist

Hi Ethersin, If you're looking for a good manual it's hard to beat this: Amazon.co.uk: The Blacksmith 's craft: An introdution to smithing for apprentices and craftsmen (Rural Industries Bureau publications series.no.54): Rural Industries Bureau: Books . Some of the exercises are a little archaic but all of them teach important principles. ST

I use a pair of nippers with a small groove in the centre of each jaw for holding things like flowers where I need to protect the decorated part while I heat the other end of the stem. The wider parts of the jaws protect the work from the fire.

I too have cut hundreds of these without any problem... I'd be interested to know if anyone actually knows of an explosion, I believe that it is a myth propagated by gas companies to stop people cutting up their bottles. Another safety precaution is to fill the bottle with argon or CO2

It's very difficult to see the colour of the metal (and thus how hot it is) in sunlight, so you'll need some shade. This will also help to protect you from Scottish weather.

From the pics it looks like the top plate is folded over the edges and down the sides, is that so?

It's surprisingly easy to crack the heel across the hardy hole if the shank of the tool is tapered too wide at the top.

By way of changing the subject... Has anyone any idea what these are? The one with the ruler belongs to a friend's mother and has a rounded section on one corner (for drawing down?) and a row of three square holes along the bottom. The black one fetched about

If you are going to make a mess of a job, at least a power hammer will do it quickly.

There are two types of Blacker: Type B has the traversing head and a 'proper' anvil; Type C has a smaller anvil block which is dovetailed into a cast pillar. Some of these have a square hole to take standard bottom tools. The main selling point of these things was that there was (theoretically) no need to buy new tools and poor people could afford to buy them. If you think the belt drive on the right is dangerous you should see what goes on on the other side!

At least the Blacker 'walks' away from you if it's not bolted down. It doesn't chase you round the shed!

I used to have one of these. It was extremely useful, you can use ordinary hand-struck tools and the rate of the blows remains constant (unlike a Goliath etc where the speed drops as the blows get softer). ST

A few years ago I was wandering around a farm sale and noticed a large leg vice. I tried to open it and the screw moved out, leaving the jaws closed. As I picked it up the spring sprang into action and I suddenly realised that one of my fingers was between the screw and the moving jaw. I'll leave you to work out just how I came to notice this! My mate just walked away and came back with a cup of tea. As he said: ' There didn't really seem much I could say.'

Hello, My name is Sam Thompson, I live near Ludlow in Shropshire. I've been involved with 'smithing for as long as I could stand up (I'm 48 now) and I still find out something new every time I ask. I used to hit things full-time but about ten years ago my bank manager changed and the new one didn't have such an understanding nature. I am now a projectionist with a shed full of tools! These days I make, mostly, small, freehand forgings for private customers and do repair/restoration work. My dog's called Sprout. ST

Hi Wrenzac, At your age there are all kinds of training grants etc. available. You will probably be able to find funding for full or part-time courses and may be able to get a modern apprenticeship; try pestering local small firms for a job. Although you can make most of your tools you will need a decent anvil, and somewhere to work. It would be advisable to find someone to let you 'have a go' so that you can get an idea of what suits you and come to understand how a forge works. You will then be able to build your own. If you're really serious try: Hereford College of Art and Design - Artist Blacksmithing BA(Hons) Regards, Sam