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I Forge Iron

primtechsmith

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Posts posted by primtechsmith

  1. I use a JHM Competitor. After getting some better hammer control I was allowed to choose my anvil to use. I picked this one out of the pile in the shop.

    In my honest opinion it is a great anvil. Plenty hard. Good horn size....and I really like the deep step from the face too. The hardy is a little over 1 1/8" I believe...

    The casting on mine is beautiful, pretty much the perfect anvil for me.

    Peyton

  2. I have changed the working height of my anvil a few times based on prolonged use...I started out with it at the suggested height at the knuckels. Then I lowered it down some because for whatever reason it seemed like I needed to.

    I then found myself stooping over to work. So I have since raised it up a little past my knuckles. The great thing is the floor in Mike's forge is rock dust and I can easily adjust the height by sinking in the stand or pulling it up to whatever I need it to be.

    Glenn is right. Lost of body types mean lots of variation. I have seen adjustable stands on here...Jr. has one he did for his grandson that will "grow" with him over the years. Other I have seen you add in wood plates to raise and lower it.

    Good luck!
    Peyton

  3. Jeff,
    There are a few colleges/universities around that still offer blacksmithing/metalworking endorsed degrees. It is an art degree from what I understand.

    Here is some info on what I have found to be the more popular of them:
    Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
    PO Box 4301
    Carbondale, IL 62901-4301
    (618) 453-4315
    Website: Southern Illinois University Carbondale
    For more information about the program contact
    Valerie Brooks
    Academic Advisor
    School of Art and Design
    Email: vlbrooks@siu.edu
    (618)-453-4313

    Hope this helps...
    Peyton
    ...and here is a link to our school: Yesteryear School of Blacksmithing :)

  4. Jeff,
    I think it completely depends on what you mean by "school". You can go somewhere like Carbondale and actually work on a degree or you can hit up one of the more popular single class offering type schools that are all over. From what I can gather The US has roughly 80-90 schools that I have found on the net. That does not mean there aren't more out there. You have some great schools close-ish to you like New England School of Metalworking, Touchstone, etc.

    Taking classes, to me, gets you out into a different mindset no matter what the class is on. I truly believe that one day with an instructor can potentially equal months of trial and error on your own.

    I am also super lucky to have the opportunity to work for a guy who owns and operates his own school. I do the bookings, scheduling, website stuff, etc...I have seen just this year students coming through some of the classes and leaving with a much better understanding than they came in with no matter their skill level. If you want to make a road trip to Virginia to take a class or two we would love to have you. Some of the iforgeiron members also teach down here including Brian, Alwin, and Mark Aspery. We do weekend, week long, and long weekend type classes.

    No matter what school you decide to go to or class to take the most important thing is to go in with the mindset of learning as much as possible and not being afraid to ask questions and try new things. "Experience is a wonderful thing." As my boss so often tells me...

    Peyton

  5. Yeah.....the sun was soo easy to peek in and look to the occupant of the outhouse it was quickly phased out!

    not really sure about that, but it sounds good! Mike's outhouse at the forge has both on it so everyone knows it is friendly to both.

    :-)
    Peyton

  6. I have always wanted to types of lathes:

    I want to one day build a treadle wood lathe. I have seen a few around and just think they are cool.

    I also always thought it would be cool to have a small bench lathe where I could forge up some damascus billets and turn out rings.

    I still have no lathes, and never made damascus....but it is on the list.

    Peyton

  7. My wife is the boss. Period. She runs the finances and I believe everything she tells me about them.

    Even when it means we do not have money for a couple pairs of tongs for me...but enough for her to get a new Vera Bradley bag. All that means is she will be happy....which in turn makes me happy. Because if the wife aint happy then aint nobody happy!

    I bought a cheap(er) knock off of a small swedish hammer that was soft and losse in the handle. I re-hardened it and put it back on the same hammer(after it went flying off the handle in a demo! That was funny...). There are all types of ways to modify and refurbish less expensive stuff to serve your needs. That is the cool thing about us. Taking what we have and making it work for what we need.

    Peyton

  8. Wow. Great thread. I want to take a shot at this...

    My mentor/master/boss/father in law/everything else you could think of is my biggest influence. His style and vision of blacksmithing comes from an extensive background of being a machinist and what he has experienced over his years doing this. He took the magic and mystery that I thought surrounded blacksmithing and laid it out into simple techniques and practices that can be attained through persistance and practice. He inspires me on many levels outside of the forge as well. He pretty much is my role model. He has allowed a child hood dream of learning this trade after seeing a demonstration while in grade school to come to life. Hard to pay that back...but I am going to keep trying every day that I am able.

    I am lucky to be involved in a family where my mother in law, father in law, brother in law, and wife all have done or still do some blacksmithing.

    A family that forges together stays together...

    Peyton

  9. Dan Boone will be demonstrating for us on MARCH 14th. Dan has demonstrated at ABANA Conferences, Fire on the Mountain, and countless other events. He is the host of the "Pasture Party" that has been a staple in this areas fun activities for over 10 years.

    Dan is a direct relative to THE Daniel Boone and has published a book on his family. He is also one of the best smiths I have ever met in his personality, attitude and willingness to help. He is widely known for his dragon heads and will be putting on a great demo!

    Dan will be demonstrating how to make his world famous dragon heads

    WHEN: March 14th 9:30am-4:30pm
    WHERE: Yesteryear School of Blacksmithing Crewe VA
    WHO: Dan Boone
    LUNCH: Hot Dogs will be available for purchase.
    IRON IN THE HAT: Make sure you bring an item or two for our primary guild fundraiser!

    Also:
    Blacksmith Supply will be there selling along with other tailgaters.
    Kent will also be there selling coal.

    Let me know if you are thinking of attending. ALL are welcome. Members and Non members! We are all members of the same community no matter what guild if any you are a member of! Blacksmithing is what it is all about and we welcome ALL Blacksmiths ALL the time!

    Thanks.
    Peyton

  10. Dan Boone will be demonstrating for us on MARCH 14th. Dan has demonstrated at ABANA Conferences, Fire on the Mountain, and countless other events. He is the host of the "Pasture Party" that has been a staple in this areas fun activities for over 10 years.

    Dan is a direct relative to THE Daniel Boone and has published a book on his family. He is also one of the best smiths I have ever met in his personality, attitude and willingness to help. He is widely known for his dragon heads and will be putting on a great demo!

    More info on the demo topic to come soon!

    WHEN: March 14th 9:30am-4:30pm
    WHERE: Yesteryear School of Blacksmithing Crewe VA
    WHO: Dan Boone
    LUNCH: Hot Dogs will be available for purchase.
    IRON IN THE HAT: Make sure you bring an item or two for our primary guild fundraiser!

    Let me know if you are thinking of attending. ALL are welcome. Members and Non members! We are all members of the same community no matter what guild if any you are a member of! Blacksmithing is what it is all about and we welcome ALL Blacksmiths ALL the time!

    Thanks.
    Peyton

  11. Mike "yesteryearforge" sells them.
    His are heavy duty and professionally made too.

    He had some listed in Tailgating here on the site...not sure if they are still there. He is also on ebay under the same name. I am sure he can help you if you were interested...

    Peyton

  12. At this time we have some technology road blocks at the school that are keeping us from running the webcam at this time. We are still in the works of building the office/store for the school and will have network cables in at that time to do it. As for now...all I can say is ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Also he is teaching a class at the end of March based on his demonstration.

    Peyton

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