HWHII

After spending some time watching some British smiths laitly and practicing I have become more comfortable not using any flux at all.

You should put Nov. 9 on your calendar. The AABA will be having our state demo in Tucson featuring Mark Aspery. All the details can be found on the AABA web site. This is a demo not to be missed. He will be demoing traditional joinery technecs from his new book.

110lb SayHa

Thomas, do you have any info to pass along for your conference this year?

The plan is Mark to go in the morning with a period Spanish Colonial theme as this event will be held at the Presidio Wall a city historic park with a period correct blacksmith's shop. Gordon will handle the afternoon festivities. Tucson is a great place to visit this time of year. The temps are cooler lots of with lots lodging close by. The Hotel Congress is a great historic place to stay. It is were they captured Dillinger. It is also Second Saturday Night. Which is a downtown monthly street festival. Live music great food, art all with in walking distance.

Nov. 9 9am is the time and date in Tucson, AZ. Their will also be a 3 day work shop to follow with Mark Aspery to follow. For more info. Go to the Arizona Artist Blacksmith Association web site to follow Nov. News letter which will post mid Oct.

I have made a real branding iron for a rancher here in AZ. In AZ they are regulated by the state. They specify the size and shape of the iron. Here the letter material is a wedged shape like you would see on a piece of structural leg on C channel and 1 1/2" tall. best to check with the state cattle association. If you were to use 1/2" round stock it might not hold up over time as it will deteriorate over a short time from heating and reheating in the fire.

The first few years when I got started I too spent more time making and acquiring equipment than I did making items. Glad you enjoyed your time with Dave.

Manleyiron, Peter Sevins has his shop on the edge of Peoria. He is a great smith! The shop is known as the blacksmiths zoo. This is because there are a total of 4 smiths who work there. All the shops are open in a chain link fence with corrugated roofs. Maurice Hamburger, Len Ledet, and another farrier are the other smiths. On Fridays a lot of the Phoenix smiths will meet there for lunch. Our AABA blacksmiths shop is in Glendale at Sahuaro Ranch, were we have 4 forging stations and a Giant Hammer. It is open for use 1 or 2 Saturdays a month for members. The whole valley is scattered with smiths. Pieh Tool just opened a new shop in Cave Creek. Welcome to Az hope to meet you in person! I believe I have met the blade smith you are talking about out side of Seward. Did he take you out back and show his shop and that sweet Chambersburg utility he has under the tarp?

There is a fabulous blade smith by the name of Ray Rybar who lives in Camp Verde. He makes a lot of his own metal for his knifes. He gathers a lot of it from the area around there. If you can get a hold of him he will be your best bet on sources around there. If you are lucky enough to get a invite to his shop you will be in for a real treat. He has several old mechanical hammers all set up for different functions of blade work. He also has a metallurgical lab which is equally impressive.

Over the years I have had people come to my shop with the same request. I run a small shop and do all the work myself. What I have done for them is invite them over to watch me work and I will teach them as I go. I currently have a young man who comes buy on his day off and spends the day working with me. He helps me in exchange for the knowledge I can give him.

I have 1/4 minus crushed granite for 1/2 of my shop. I just rake and water every now and then. It's very sturdy, very little dust and can even roll carts on it.

Yes I do know Gordon! Good guy and one hell of a blacksmith.

Good luck to you! Make sure when your smithy is up and running make sure you pass your good luck along by sharing your knowledge to others and gifts of your craft.

I have a 20' on my property in Northern MI. I use it as a shop when I'm there. I pull the forge and anvil out use it and put it back when I'm done. I would like to get another 40' for a back and 20' for a side. Then build a 24' roof to go over both.

Prayers sent for you and your's.

When meeting a new smith a common question asked is, "What style do you do?". This question has always puzzeled me, and maybe this tread will help provide some anwsers. Personally I don not have a style or type of smithing I like to do. I like it all! This could be part of my problem, as what do I want to do next? Sadly at this point I do not get a chance to do it just for fun much. All of my time is devoted to making a living and what other people want me to do.

Right now I have the need for a Doall vertical bandsaw.

Manleyiron, your very welcome! Good luck on what ever you try. Over the years I have seen a lot of anvil repairs. All have seemed to work at some level. The only one I have seen that did not not was one that was MIG welded. When it was finished they hit with a hammer and a the welded area, about 3" square popped right off.

I agree with Iron wolf also. Stoody 1105 and 2110 are the way to go. Although I have used 309 stainless for small spot repairs and has worked well.

Bauce, give me a call. I just picked up one I can make you a deal on. Needs a little work but I can help you with that.

I repair anvils. I use the Rob Gunter welding procedure for major repairs. A average repair would run around $100 depending on how much welding rod is used. That is just for welding. If you want it finished ground it would be another $100. I have done several to date. I hope this info helps.

My sister in law lives 10 miles from there in Wilhoet. Bad news for all who live in People's Valleys. Gods speed boys!

Good choice! It's the one I would have chosen.

Jason, look me up when you get to town. Pm me when you get here.