gaylan veater

I wish I was closer to Virginia but will hve to wait till we can have Brian come to Utah some time in the future. I have been impressed with all I have seen of Brian here on this forumn. Keep up the good work and have fun!!! Gaylan

Saturday me and my son forged some s hooks to go on my forge hood to hold it and the pipe up above the forge. I will get pictures later. We had fun!!! Gaylan

As for your air hose from blower to fire pot. I have made my own pipe out of thin sheet metal cut and rolled. Also you can buy stove pipe with adjustable elbow at hardware store like here in Utah Cal Ranch Stores. I have also used cans from welding rod they are 3" dia. just cut off bottom. (welding shops probably have some laying around or in the garbage.) Anyway just some of my ideas. Gaylan

I like it alot. Looks like you have put alot of thought into it. When does it get the first fire!!! Gaylan

Hi Flatwoods. Welcome to the site. People here are very helpful and knowledgeable. Have fun!!! Gaylan

Jason, There is a blacksmithing group here in Utah it is called Bonneville Forge Council we meet every other month. We are meeting right now in Salt Lake City for our fall conference. We are having Ward Brineger demoing for us. He showed a slide presentation tonight and tomorrow he will be doing his demo looks to be really great. If you are interested in coming out to our events. Send me a PM. I can get you all the info. Gaylan

is the head made from a RR spike it looks simular to one the is forged out on the head looks really cool !!! I do the mountain men thing so I get to throw things around too. HEE HEE!!! Gaylan

I too would like to tell all that Mark Aspery has taught me more about blacksmithing that any one else I have been to 3 different week long class from Mark and have learn more and more each time. I have both of his books and can look back and find things that I have maybe forgotten and it is amasing how it will come back once I read it again. Mark is a great person, blacksmith, and teacher and a great friend to me. Thanks Mark for all you do for all of us!!!! Gaylan

Welcome to the I Forge Iron, Hope to get back to your museum sometime that would be really fun. Thanks for your efforts for the blacksmithing community sake. Hope the leg gets better. Gaylan

Thanks for sharing your experience. I cant tell you how many times I have used my blacksmithing skills in my everyday work as a auto mechanic. All the other guys in the shop come to me when they cant get a part and I usually can repair or make what they cant find, As long as it is out of steel HEE HEE. Gaylan

Wow, I sure hope you can find them when you retrace your way back. Once I lost a hunting knive that a find of mine made for me.I didnt know till I got home the knive had fell out. I retraced my route and ways able to find that knive 4 hours later 2hr drive and 2 hrs looking. Good Luck!!! But like some have mentioned you havent lost the knowledge to repeat. I too would be interested in step by step photos . Thanks again for the above photos. Gaylan

Hi Brian, This has been a really interesting thread!!! Thanks for all the information and pictures. I like many others are still absorbing information and thinking though the pictures. I too will be making and using these tool ideas for my upcoming project.Thanks for all you do for us. Gaylan

Brian, That is really nice. I have done some collaring before but not alot. One of my next projects is going to have some on it. I would like to see the tools you use. Thanks!!! Gaylan

Brain, Thanks for showing us this information and the pictures are super!! I have not seen it done that way before. Makes sense and looks really nice. GREAT JOB and THANKS Gaylan

Dennis, I really like the looks of your new anvil thanks for all the pictures. I am glad it works out for you. Gaylan

Boy that looks really nice!!! I don't have the answer for the proper harding and tempering. But I sure like it nice job and thanks for the pictures. Gaylan

I too like Wagonmaster would like to see some pictures of both headers and finished nail. Gaylan

I have 3 Champion blowers and have rebuilt all of them. I have used 30w engine oil with some ATF added to it. I built auto transmissions every day so I just have to add the ATF. It is a good detergent. Anyway that is my 2 cents. ( Also I learned from experience that the bearings do not need grease on them it does make it hard to turn until the grease gets worked out) Just lube with oil!!! Gaylan

Boy the wasp and yellowjackets have been bad the year for me. I had them in my coke bin under the lid and everytime I thought I had them taking care of they would show up someplace else. But finally getting on top of all of them but summer is starting to change to fall cooler at night. But the fun we have right!!! Gaylan

Yes they are THAT GOOD!!! Thanks for the pictures you have a really nice place to forge it looks like to me. Some time I will have to take some pictures of my anvil and shop and post. It may be a few weeks My Son just got back home from Iraq last night and he has a few weeks leave. Boy good to have him home!!! Gaylan

Great Pictures, Looks to be alot of fun.Brian in picture #6 and #8 what is that hardy tool do and what does the inside look like? Gaylan

Very nice job I like the idea. I havent seen that kind before. Gaylan

When I taught some boy scouts we made tongs to hold 1/4'' round then when took some 1/4'' round about 6'' long tapered the ends the bent the ends over the horn mades some s hooks. They loved it and went home to talk about what they had learned and made. But most important is to make things that you may need, wall hooks, door pull handles drive hooks for hanging things on walls etc.That is what blacksmiths do is make things that you or other people need. Gaylan

I reworked a pair of nippers into a pair of scrolling tongs they have been great I had no use for the nippers as a tool but the scrolling tongs I use all the time. Great to rework tools for ones needs. Gaylan

Chichi, I went to a class of Mark Aspery a few years past, for my project I needed to punch a 1/8'' slot. I made the punch out of sucker rod that was at the shop. It was 1/8'' thick about 1'' long then tapered out to the 5/8'' sucker rod and mine was 3/4'' wide. It takes about 3 heats to puch but you only lose about 1/16'' thick material by 3/4'' the rest is pushed out. The punch has worked well just don't leave it in only about 3 or 4 hits and the water cool. It works for me and Mark Aspery. Oh it is just flat on the bottom with edges rounded just a little. Gaylan