1) Brad Voris 2) Sugar Land, Texas 3) Hobbyist - decorative, knives, tools 4) January 2015 - was watching a video on how to make mini swords from 4 inch nails... I decided I would learn how to do that. 5) cheap 9lbs jewlers anvil 6) coffee can forge - 50/50 mixture of sand and plaster and a MAP torch for heat/fuel 7) Internet pointed me in this direction... & Chandler Dickson 8) I have always had a facination with blacksmithing but building my forge and putting a hammer to steel changed everything for me 9) Advice of others... I have always been a loner but getting advice from HABA and some blacksmiths I have learned a lot and continue to learn. 10) You are going to break a lot of stuff when you start, don't let that stop you 11) Be safe! 12) The look in peoples eyes when I tell them and show them what I have made. What I have made so far: 10-15 mini swords from 4" nails, some with multi-colored wire wraps on the handles and hilt. Large fire place / forge tongs 3 Rail road tie knives 1 knife made of rebar, wooden handle wrapped in leather with a copper pummel... looks like a fancy prison shank couple of hot punches axe head
