wolf mtn

Great suggestions from all. I don't have a digital camera to show u, I'll try to describe. With mine i took it right off the base, and welded tabs to bolt it down to a 1/2"x 24"x30" plate which I also rewire a new safety switch to the bottom to free hands, yet get to, in a safety situation. . This plate allows me versatility in cutting, clamping, and angling. I took that silly in the wat threaded hold down off and welded it on a plate. This I use on a jig table made from a 3'x3' steel flooring grate with 1 inch squares. Drill ends and cut the correct slot in the plate. Add bolted base and back stop to it. For a right side support, I used 3foot long x 5" wide of 1/8 inch sheet. Welded down a 3 foot cutoff steel ruler. Then welded 1/16 thick sheet metal with a ruler cutout on top of that. This side support, hinges down and out of way after the leg supportun pins and folds back. The next big helper I did, is attach a cable to the bottom of moving chop saw arm about 3 inches forward of hinge. Running this cable down thru a new hole in the 1/2"x24"x30" plate to a pulley and a foot hold to assist me in cutting and shaping on the chop saw. This has allowed me to make long cuts, with steadier down pressure, I need this for a couple of my unsuggestable tasks, but has been a time and arm saver, also free's up both hands to work as needed.

You indicated using oxygen. coal dust and fumes aren't gonna help much, have you considered propane. It's much cleaner and faster. zoeller forge tells how to build a real nice gas forge. All the parts are available so you won't have to travel. I know how it is to be limited. Start small or build one to suit the size u want. With propane you can have hot metal in 5 minutes and shut it off at will. Safer without having to build a chimney and worry about too much dirt and dust.

Littlewolf can pretty much speak anytime for me, he's my link to the outside modern world. bipolarandy- Think his name was mike. JohnB- reflectors sound like a real good idea, haven't done that yet. lysdexik- lookin into Gearge Millanich, let u know if I find anything. Woody- I have only done a couple styles of leaves, but no time like the present to learn some new ones.. Thanks all so far.

Welcome To Wolf Mountain Center Web siteWill Pryor is a friend of mine who I volunteer for. He told me the folks that he bought all of his land from might be interested in selling the last piece which had a 34'x 40' steel barn, and a 16'x16' camp on 6.5 acres. So I bought it. Having a passion for the wolves and nature center, and being on the same hill, I named my new shop Wolf Mountain Forge. Scott

I was on Craigs list for my near local area of Binghamton, NY and found a guy selling an avnil and all his farrier tools. I called him up and asked how much? He said $200 for all farrier tools, 70# mankel, NC tool anvil stand with shoe vise, and a van load of misc. steel stock. Ended up, through talking with him; I spent $300 with all I bought. In this pile of steel, he had 30+or- stainless steal laser cut discs and several smaller shaped pieces. I've been reading threads on stainless but am now looking for more ideas to use these other than just bowls and leaves. Any Ideas?

Sorry, am tired. I usually start at last post and work forward. tonight started at first page, and made a reply. It semms Jose Gomez and Glenn have pretty well summed it up.

Have to do a search for anvil chorus. I think its on here and explains a nummber of standard rules to universally learn so you can strike with anyone.

I use black sched 40 in making my own log, stick, and vine projects. Takes a bit to get used to, but depending on texture die in power hammer gains a different result. Antbody else use this?

get a firm list together, see who bites.

Aside from a few pritchel hold downs I use a chain. I put a full loop of bycycle chain down thru my hardy hole. On the bottom I have a straight bar, to step on, with a partially closed eyelet that goes on after I drop chain thru. I put the hammer I am going to use in the chain to hold it up from falling thru. hammer is standing vertically on anvil, so when hot metal comes I grab hammer pull up, and insert metal. Hasn't let me down yet.

Good luck happy cat, I understand and feel for you. It's ramen noodle soups for me for another few days. I can't pass on some deals.

Sounds like something everyone could read. I constantly have to remind myself quit being so mechanical and let it flow. when i am learning something it never looks right, so i put it down come back and do it again, then I make it my own. The man I learned from would say "Stand up and dance with it" You are not a robot. When i did things got easier, finer,and quicker. I'll order that book. Can always use fine tuning on my understanding of any thing bigger than me. I'm with you on the math!

I decided, through other hats in my life experience, not to name a place for what I would hope and dream it was; but for the name that would present itself. It's like nicknaming yourself to tell everyone how you want them to percieve you. I named my shop Wolf Mountain Forge due to the property I have made my life on borders Welcome To Wolf Mountain Center Web site. It's a non profit organization geared toward the education of people as to the misconceptions of wolves, there are so many. It was a life changing gift, to me, to help raise three pups this spring and summer. In setting up a new smithy, the oppurtunity presented itself. I couldn't pass up a chance to expand this area of the hills. Not the 90210 hills, the 0U812 hills.

URL is exceptional, saved for reference. learned alittle on my small vices too. Thanks Again

pics coming soon, I am still cleaning it up, friend of mine dug it out of ground behind his garage.

I have a post vise with stampings on it, does anyone have any history info on this particular one or this Address? NYCRR 133 ATTORNEY ST. GOLDIE. This one needs a little work. Can anyone tell me how to fix jaws or make a jig for inside jaws to straighten. This one the jaw is starting to seperate on one side. What alterations have you done for your vise? Just curious. Iv'e been sitting on this one debating whether or not to change it.

Getting past the stone walls and learning curves doesn't seem so bad when a forever lasting warm feeling of success and satisfaction overtakes you. When I look back at my first pieces, i, for a second, think how did i ever get excited about that; then i remember it wasn't just the work in the piece, it was also the feeling I had of thrill that someone could appreciate something I made. that feeling should never go away. (or your getting stagnant in your work and it's time to learn something new).

All good advice from Canska. for all of that and more check out artistblacksmith.com. David Robertson has great site and info on alot including a book on building your own forge.. Keep it safe.

Not having any control isses, brake is great. tough decision to sell bigger equipment to get smaller equipment in order to spread self and money thinner. in turn will get equipment to accept a specific job. thanks everyone

I know a full timer who sold a chandlier for $80,000+, built wife a horse barn, scrimped off it for a while before starving for a year and a half, nearly loosing his home, shop, and family. Find your bread and butter to keep you well, whether it means part time smith and a job or search out some production work in the shop. Then you can get creative and price because you are KNOWN. Hawk ur wares, find people who want something and trust that your learning and practice, up until now, will make it worth it for you and the customer. If you don't know how, give them a longer due date and learn it or be honest w/ them and say I haven't done that but I will try it and see if you like it. Be clear w/ them on prices agreed. The customers that I did that w/ always came back for more. In the beginning I allowed a certain time every day to making something, didn't matter what it was. This accomplished two things; kept the forge hobby warm, and slowly improved skills (which never should stop). This way, in time, every $ I make goes back into the shop and the many toys we all love. when I get all my tools and toys, and providing the work is there, I will may make the decision to be full time. Full time too early makes for an expensive, burnt out hobby gone wrong. Don't do that to yourself or those around you. Besides, then you have to keep stepping over and moving storage of a hobby gone stagnant, it wears on you in a harsh downward spiral, so don't be impatient and make sure your shop supports itself before supporting you. I put more hours in my part time shop than a full time job. lsiten to your gut feeling, if you have any doubt in you mind it's probly right. Part time or full, doesn't make me a blacksmith, it is just what i do.

Thanks SG, I bought this hammer from a university art department. they had rebuilt it w/ new blocks and babbitts. The foot print isn't the problem i have, 1 it's 3phase, don't have that much electric in the barn, air compressor is also, 2 being disabled, the base seems like too much of an undertaking for me to handle. trying to do everything myself with out hiring out, and 3 I keep hearing about hammers that don't need such a base. Saw a man in VA. put his air hammer on the lawn and pounded up to 1 1/2 all day without needing a base. Are you familiar with the ontario artist blacksmith Dave Robertsons hammer?

I had a dollar in my pocket, bought a 50# LG. Due to changing my shop path I would like to get a differnent hammer. I learned on a 25# hammer but have been lookin into treadle, helve, or small air hammer. Mine is too big for what I need. Could I get some insight from u folks on which direction to go without spending big $ on something I don't need. Thanks.

Hello folks, My name is Scott. I started slowly on my own, worked w/ a smith for two years, and back on my own now. Doing just fine, though have realized in the last year that starting out from scratch is harder than I had hoped. Big lesson in taking for granted the ease of a well established shop. Constantly having to change plans as I learn and grow. have poked around here for a week and am impressed. thank you for bein here and I'm glad to be able to learn here. My smithy, Wolf Mountain Forge got its name from my neighbor Will Pryor, who has the Wolf Mountain Nature Center. I was blessed with helping raise 3 pups this year. I feel truely fortunate to be able to continue my education and happiness in metal.