windancer

Rhomboids are a part of life as a blackmith [at least *this* one]. The main thin I have learned about forging is to watch what your material is doing and make corrections as soon as you notice anything is not exactly what you want. Not after one more strike, or on the next heat. Stop everything you are doing, right now, and look over the material carefully and decide what you must do to make it exactly the way you want it. If you do anything else the problem is going to get worse, and may go beyond saving the work you have already done. This, for me, was my main breakthrough to forging decent work. Once this becomes your main focus your work will start to improve immediately. As you gain experience you will be able to make better corrections and throw less things in the scrap pile. I usually take a good heat, rotate my material so the 'high' edge is up, and pound it down. Rotate to the next high spot. Rinse and repeat. The vise is also useful to correct twists, as mentioned above, while material is good and hot. Keep swinging the hammer- it gets easier! Dave

Nice work on the forge! Dave

Very nice, clean work! I like this. Dave

Many, many faithful years of service there- proly outlive the next three generations easily. Good job on the cleanup! Dave

I like 'em both Dave

Very interesting thread. Enjoyed it a lot. Thanks for taking me along! Dave

Gorgeous! Dave

Beautiful! Dave

WOW! Very impressive design and execution! I like it all very much. Dave

Very nice and different! Dave

Nice work, BillO. You should be very proud of them! Dave

It looks ready to use! Dave

I like it. Made from whatever is at hand will work, too- silver, steel, brass, whatever ya got, is a great excuse for hangin' out at the anvil Dave

Score! More pics after cleanup, please Dave

+2 on the vinegar- saves a lot of sanding/filing. Good job for first attempts! Dave

I already far exceeded my lifetime ration of beer but another option- thanks! Dave

There are the folks I have grown to know love, complete with mouths Never been good with witty responses [too square] that take less than a full week [probably a 'knot head' comment here that contradicts that somewhere]. Frosty must be away from his PC... Do need to make a Brazeal-style hot cut that fit perfect, Glenn, can't work with a wiggle there. Dave

The only REAL questions here, for me, are 'do I already have a power hammer' and 'Can I afford it'? Cool find! Dave

Yup- what they said! Dave

Nice work! Nothing there for me to pick apart at all. You should be proud of them both Dave

Guess no one else appreciated my sense of humor, Glenn Seen that posted here a gazillion times- thought I would try it once. Dave

My new anvil arrived and is sitting in place on it's new solid wood block. The hardy is much lager than my old anvil Been doing this many years so have every hardy tool I ever imagined I could ever need. So I want to make a sleeve that fits inside the anvil. Not going to even consider remaking all my hardy tools or doing something to change the shanks. Will you folks share pictures pictures pictures pictures pictures pictures pictures pictures of you solutions for me to steal? If there are no pictures it didn't happen... Thanks, brother and sister smiths! Dave

My wife would have loved your gardens [as do I!], she was the green-thumber at our place. Her gardens, and most of the yard except the mowing, is slowly deteriorating. I don't have time for both, so the smithy wins, no contest at all. Truly beautiful! Thanks for sharing the pics Dave

Very, very nice design and execution! Dave