Errorgance

Josh, glad to hear ya, I also started a business around the same time frame and I completely understand the time sink that can be, never mind on top of raising kids, we're all lucky that you're still sane!

so, Hack a day stumbled across reactor forges Git hub page,

hack a day article

looks like they didn't notice the inactivity.

Yes, they are new unused spikes, I managed to snag about a dozen of these from a gentleman at the local knife club in exchange for a railroad spike knife, a great deal!

daswolf, I'd rather "get both" that is, quality and quantity!

cool indeed, but I'd be worried about someone prying them off and taking them, I hope you left them in a decent neighborhood where theft is less likely.

Just finished these two, and contemplating the handle for the bearded axe/hatchet. By the way, what is the difference between a hand axe, and a hatchet?

I like it, it's got a nice flame vibe to it

Fergy, I'd try lining the inside of your tumbler with plastic or rubber, (mine's rubber) it'll last much longer and be significantly quieter! 

Ausfire, thanks for the complement, if you can't find a mixer, you can make a upscale knock off of mine easily with any cylinder. Though I think gas cylinders are a bit thick and heavy for the job. You could even make one out a 55 gallon drum if you're so bold!

Right, here's a picture of the steel shot, it's from  a few packages of steel sling shot ammo from Walmart. The rotary tumbler here, is the kind you'd use for polishing rocks or cleaning cartridge cases.

Thing is, it knocked 90% of some really thick scale off for me, works fantastic, although it did round the sharp edges, though that might of been the two axes rubbing against each other since I put them both in at the same time.

Some steel sling shot ammo, soap and water, and the tumbler took care of an entire days worth grinding and brushing off scale!  Why didn't I think if this before?!

Snaaaake, snaaaake, oh it's a snaaaaaake! 

seriously that is a good looking snake, I like how the threads give it a good scale like texture.

Thanks, I'll have to try that another time frosty.

But before I do another one, I might as well show off the finished version 5!

Dogsoldat, I have but I dislike them, I think the straight lines break up the curvature of the piece.

I have thought about taking a chisel to the edge of the "figure 8" portion of the vine to give it more of a plant like look.  But I think the leaves are broad enough to avoid being mistaken for a snake, what do you think?

fantastic work, I especially love the first item in your pictures. I gotta ask though, as a glass blower, is the glass always half full or half empty?

cool, I'm saving your picture to my inspiration folder, I love identifiable re purposed stuff!

cool, I've been thinking of picking up this technique in the future!

cool, I'd add their initials like Glenn suggested, you could have some fun with file work on the corners, but that may be overkill.

Here it is, coat hook version 5, it's still a work in progress and I'm posting this now to get some feedback before I call it finished.

my primary concern is to make this leafy vine like hook unmistakeable from a snake. My second being, is the top of the hook a broad enough curve to not damage coats.

Basic profile right after making the holes.

Rounded and bent the tops into "figure 8s" notice anything wrong?

after fixing the figure 8's and bending the actual hook

Side view of the hook, you can see the profile of the curve, (the leaves are about thumb sized if you can't figure out the scale.)

I may be a bit late to the thread, but I happen to be a Jeweler with 10 years experience in repair, sizing, casting, gem setting, cabbing and inlay of gems in gold silver, platinum, base metal and now iron, Pretty much a jack of all trades here.

there are two factors behind the value of something, how scarce it is, and the amount of human effort behind it. 

Despite increasing automation, the fruits of our labor will never truly lose value.

Beauty through elegant simplicity!

If it were me, I'd forge down and sharply bend the tip to make a rivet.

I'd also leave the rivet head looking like a flat disc instead of a rounded top, to better match the overall design.

14 hours ago, jeremy k said:

Throw a loop just below the leaf, so it points down about a 30-45º angle so it doesn't look like a snake as I've had many ppl told me when I started with similar hooks. Also, yes a wider coat rest.

Thank you, I'll have to try that next time, I imagine that will help prevent the snake look that my second coat rack badly suffered from!

6 hours ago, 4JS said:

I'm a police officer by profession, for the last 13 years and took up blacksmithing only a couple months ago. It's something I have always wanted to do. I've been teaching myself through trial and error, books and the occasional video. My hope is that over the next 8 years I can gain the skill to make it a second career. I find that I'm very critical of my work and I want it perfect, or nearly perfect yet I lackthe skill and experience. It gets frustrating at times and I spend more time redoing stuff. 

Perfectionism, Tis a blessing and a curse! At least you're not in the jewelry industry like me, where mistakes can cost you more than just time!

9 hours ago, Daswulf said:

Actually I like it a lot. I think it could only look better if you antiqued the wood. 

Thanks, I left it up to its new owner to treat it however they wish, though I am beginning to suspect most won't do a thing. 

5 hours ago, Frosty said:

Nice job. The leaves are consistent through the set, that's a little harder than getting the rest of the hooks consistent. I can't tell from the angle but you DID roll the ends of the hook finials over far enough a heavy coat isn't hanging on an edge. Yes?

Oh yes, making tools is an ongoing feature of the craft. Nobody but NOBODY makes the right one for THAT darned job, gotta make it yourself!

Frosty The Lucky.

Sorry, I don't have any pictures from another angle.  I think I understand what you mean, that a hard edge that will wear through, rip or catch on a heavy coat?

Well no worry not, for these hooks now resides in San Diego Ca. "Heavy coats? What's that?"

That said, I never thought about a hard edge/curve ripping through, version 5 shall be perfect!

well, that sucks, at least I've finally found a decent online smithing community then.

well, they don't look as straight as they should, that said, the rest looks great and your anti gravity is spot on!