primtechsmith

Last nite I spoke with Rich Hale, and a few others on the idea of casting knife handles directly to the blade. I want to try something different than the standard. Anyone ever tried this, or have any thoughts on the matter? I am thinking of using aluminum.....What do you ya'll think? Peyton

Jr....well put my friend! Sometimes the worst taste is that of our own words.... Peyton

Censorship is a harsh ideal for a public forum. If Glenn wanted to become the "censor", as the definition calls for, then he would have completely deleted the post from the forum. But, in doing the right thing he has gained the wrong reaction from the author. Glenn gave Dan, like he has given many others, the benefit of the doubt on expressing his/her opinion by deflecting his vernacular to more suitable words. Thank you for that. I can only hope Glenn's astute attention to detail, and passion for this site will potentially fix a possible problem in any of my posts here, now, or in days/years to come. Was this a case of censorship? No. Only a case of someone doing the right thing.... Thank you Glenn for this site, your diligence for a higher standard, and all of your hard work! Proud patron of iforgeiron.com Peyton Anderson

Peyton Anderson Farmville Virginia 25 years old Middle School Civics teacher Very happily married!!!!!!!!!!! I grew up in Lynchburg Virginia where both parents are in manufacturing. I remember going to WIlliamsburg as a small kid and being amazed with the blacksmith there. I did not get to spend much time there and always found the trade an amazing, and magical craft. I went to community college, then transferred to Longwood College(now University). I went to school to be a teacher. I met my wife Sarah in college. While in school Sarah got me involved with archaeology and primitive technologies(where the "primtech" comes from). I was a member of a group that would spend a couple weekends a year flint knapping, and making tools that were believed to be used in the lithic era. All stone and wooden tools... When I met Sarah's parents I found out her father, MIKE-T, is a blacksmith. My interest began to come back in the trade. He offered me a chance to learn some of the basics for myself. I now loosely consider myself an apprentice. There is no real standard to set for master, apprentice, etc anymore. So, like many others, I am purely self proclaimed. I work with Mike a few days a week at Yesteryear Forge. My brother-in-law also comes in there with us from time to time as well. I am also a member of The Old Dominion Blacksmith Association. To be honest I'm just happy to be here. I am lucky to have such good people around me at home, at the forge, and on here.... Peyton

Thankfully in Central Virginia it never gets really cold. And it is also fortunate and lucky for me that Usually by the time I get to the forge Mike has a fire in the wood stove. That helps a whole bunch, not only heating the forge up, but lighting the forge with a shovel of wood coals. I also lay my cutting block on the fire. I lay it on there right after I have it lit and have thrown some fresh coal on. I let it all soak a few minutes throw the thing on the anvil. And by the time I empty the ash dump, grab my hammer. I push the plate off and get to work.... Peyton

I usually hit my chisels, punches, and fullers with either the 2lb. ball pien(cold hammer) that hangs by the vice, or with the 2lb. brass hammer. I seem to feel my smithing hammers are for hot steel only. Also using a brass hammer on punches, chisels, and fullers (when doing more than a tap for a center punch, or veining on leaves) is more life for the tool. Hardened steel from the hammer will mushroom these tools out and cause potential projectiles down the road, or extra work to grind it off. Besides, I don't want to go to he** for hitting cold iron!!! :shock: :wink: Peyton

~Shut up and listen more! Peyton

Two things I have learned from working with yesteryearforge is: 1. when cutting stock with a hardie use a brass hammer. and 2. NEVER hit cold metal with a forging hammer. Have a "cold" hammer hanging near your vice or close to your work area. That way you will spend more time forging and less time re-dressing your hardies and hammers! Peyton

I just wanted to take a moment and wish everyone here a safe and joyus Christmas/Happy Holidays! Seems Glenn has given all of us a gift that just keeps on giving......this forum. Thanks again for all your diligent, and dedicated work here! Merry Christmas! Peyton

When pouring the pewter do you have a roughed out mold to keep the pewter from running all over the place? The knife looks great Don! Peyton

What do you think is the most helpful piece of knowledge. hint, or trick that you do or could pass along to a fellow smith or a beginner. This could be anything from fire management, shop layout, technique, hammers, drawing out, square to round. Anything you feel is an important halmark you want to, or do pass on to others.... Peyton

I am heavy into hooks. Been turning out S hooks of different sizes, material, and style the past while.....will keep on keeping on with them too! they are a great seller and even more important good practice! Peyton

RR spike knives also sell really good for us as well. When we demo the other guy makes those and gets the crowd really involved watching him make those and roses. What is the magic money price that seems to go well for you? It seems for us a lot of things come out to be around 20 bucks.... peyton

In my very limited demonstration/craft show tour it seems that S hooks are the best sellers! I am in the process of making some different style S hooks from different sizes, materials, and decorative ends. Hoping to increse sales of the best selling item! Any suggestions would be cool! From you guys' experience what seem to sell the best for you? happy holidays all! peyton

This reminds me of a thing yesteryearforge told me when I started learning under him. He smiled and said the ball pein hammer is a blacksmith's hammer and the actual ball pein is to smack the idiots in the forehead who think other wise.....I always laugh about that when dumb people show their face! haven't hit anyone yet, but I'm still young! Peyton

I made a small hand mallet for knapping off large chunks of chert out of a piece of dogwood i found. It has held up so far in 3 or 4 uses with no splits. Seems to also be some very hard wood! Peyton

could you just drill 2 holes(off set from one another) slam through the buisness end, put the band on, and rivet the thing tight. I realize if you go too tight it will split, but if you snug them up then later on down the road if it loosens up then you can tighten it.....works for tongs. and i see knives, and some hand tools with 2 piece handles like this. Maybe it would work here too...?....?.....?....? This would be a great demo from on of "yous smart fellers..." Peyton Anderson

A job well done is due to the individual who has done the drawings dealing with Tinker's "World Tour". It is a great addition to the website! peyton

how about something that happens on this site! Forging new friendships peyton

Hello all! This is my first year teaching, and I have an idea that maybe ya'll can help me with...I am trying to make some rainy day lesson plans to kill some time while the other class in the grade may need to catch up. I have been showing videos, but that's a little too ordinary for me. I am thinking of using the figures in my curriculum in new ways. And what way is better than blacksmithing...Founding Fathers "Forging" America. I am looking to see if some of our founding fathers were ever blacksmiths, or did anything for the craft. I pretty much have Thomas Jefferson and his nail manufacturing plan laid out. But I am looking for others. If anyone has ideas or info that would be awesome. Also websites or books to look to would be great. I would hate to teach a story that isn't historical for a social studies class. Thanks for the potential help! peyton

Also check if you have any custom leather shops around. Here in town there used to be an old couple that did shoe repair that had lots of scrap laying around of sometimes some very thick leather. A friend of mine made lap pads for flint knapping out of some free pieces he got. It is worth a shot. And as for those how talk bad about your forge probably don't forge enough to have their opinion count. peyton

A local guy was trying to rid his barn of some clutter. And I heard exactly what he thought was "clutter": A 3ft. section of rail road track with a horn on on one end, and a crude pritchel hole on the other, 6 pairs of old loose rusted tongs, and a 1.27lb straight pein hammer head. And a bowie knife he started and never finished.... My brother In Law and good friend (also fellow blacksmith) puts it perfect "If it's free, it's for me!" peyton

Well Jr. I agree totally. I do tap the anvil. I mostly work 1/4 and 3/8 material doing mostly hooks and johnny lamps, and other small items. You see I am about a year into this and stick heavy to the basics to make it second nature and consistant. When I am drawing out 1/4 round to S hooks I can usually get into a groove and when i turn it or am getting ready to increase my hammer rate to go from square to round I do tap the anvil. It is a personal thing to help me keep in time with my hammer and my heat. I don't see anything wrong in it. If you do, then you do. And if you don't then you don't. The way I see it there is not right or wrong here. It does't matter to me how the piece got into shape, just matters how good it looks in the end! Taps or no Taps! peyton

I have never witnessed the coke and coal come out of the firepot but I have seen the possibility of it occuring. At the forge there are three of us working and usually one person will build the fire and the others will grab some coal to start up to save time and resources. I have noticed that these pyrotechnic bursts of combustables does occur more when using live coal than starting from scratch. Seems that these gases are building up as the coals are being lit but the fire is not reaching the top of the coal making its own atmosphere around the firepot. Mike routinely while getting is fire up will crouch down close to the fire pot and blow on top of the fire making it light. Its a neat trick if you know what you are doing, and seems to work beautifully to rid yourself of these gases. I know if I tried it I'd have left behind eyebrows my go-tee and some hair! This trick also helps the smoke problem too. the fire helps add convection to help raise the smoke up the chimmney. well at least thats what I think. I may be wrong... peyton :D

well at this very moment I own 7 hammers. And my favorite is a heller that Mike (yesteryear forge) gave me. So I do not have an anvil or even forge. I am lucky enough to go into a shop 3 times a week and do this. The thing I guess I would buy first before anything else would be the biggest and most god awfuly huge anvil I could find and give it to him as a thank you. The joke around the family(I am an In Law) is if it is big, heavy, and darn near impossible to move Mike will want it. :mrgreen: peyton