Al Stephens

The Athens Forge, member of the AFC will meet Sat. June 24, at 10 AM. We will continue the plan to focus the monthly meetings for the rest of 2017 on knife making. In April we talked about the different parts and styles of blades, and some common steels to use. In May we talked about the basic tools needed for knife making, and some tricky filing and fitting jigs, even had a box jaw tong demo. This month we will have an abrasive specialist, to talk about and allow us to try different types of belts, and maybe even several different style belt grinders to try. Open forge time will follow for AFC members. Visitors always welcome, for more info. see www.athensforge.com. On Sept 8-10, 2017 the AFC will hold their annual conference at Tannehill State Park. Demonstrators this year will be, Jymm Hoffman, Raymond Head, and Steve Alford. The demonstrator bio's can be viewed at www.athensforge.com.

Thank you for taking the time to document and post this. It will be a great help to new smiths. I'm sure you realize the same idea can be adjusted to be used with any type of hand crank blower. Al

If you don't want your tubing to collapse while twisting, plug the ends, fill with dirt, twist hot, or cold, remove dirt. Really like the big handle Jim. Al

Looking forward to further reviews, reports. Al

Slowly and carefully is the key, it can be done. I've made electric light brackets, even large "s" hooks with tapered ends out of square tubing. Be sure you plug the open end with paper, and be VERY careful about cooling in water. A shot from a steam cannon will ruin your day in a hurry. Al

Beautiful shop David. Great ideas. Thanks for the pics. I also have white walls, and love them. Anything I can move is on casters, so I can roll almost everything out of the shop to give it a good cleaning. I'm always amazed at how much smoother things go when the shop is clean, and organized. Al

The Athens Forge a member of the AFC will meet Sat. May 27, at 10 AM. We will continue the plan to focus the monthly meeting for the rest of 2017 on knife making. Last month we talked about the different parts and styles of blades, and some common steels to use. Saturday we will talk about the basic tools needed for knife making, with open forge time following for AFC members. Visitors are always welcome, for more info. see www.athensforge.com.

I had a shop with fine pea gravel as a floor. It always seemed to be moving under me, if it hadn't been for my wife"encouragement" I would have left the floor dirt. If dust become a problem, lightly water it down at the end of the day. It will stay soft and hold dust down. Al

Ausfire, absolutely wall art. They'er great. Al

Great Idea! Count me in. Too busy for dust on anvil, but will plan some play time. I really miss recess! Al

David, I love it. You do put a lot more thought into pieces that I usually do. I must also be greedier than you I save 1" pieces. Here's a handrail section put together from found, saved, couldn't bring myself to throw away stuff. The dark rectangle, is two pieces of an old bridge with about a 1" rivet through them. Al

Thanks for the pic of the mini's, I'll have to try some of those. Al

Very Nice! I'm sure she will treasure it forever. Al

Hi Boedie, Welcome. Contact the Alex Bealer Blacksmith Association, alexbealer.org They will be a great help to you. Al

As I understand from Steve, a catastrophic failure of a regulator seems to be the culprit. Al

I apologize if this is old news, but Steve Bronstien's, Blackthorne Forge was destroyed by fire on March 28th. Steve is a great guy an asset to the blacksmith community, whom I've known for 20+ years. Details can be viewed at.. .http://www.wcax.com/story/35025672/marshfield-blacksmith-shop-burns-down http://www.timesargus.com/articles/blackthorne-forge-destroyed-by-fire/ The shop had very recently passed a fire safety inspection with flying colors. Al Additional links removed as per site rules.

The Athens Forge a member of the AFC will meet Sat. April 22, at 10AM. Athens Forge has planned the rest of the 2017 meetings around knife making. We have several good blade smiths in our forge, and they will lead the presentations, and do the demos. This meeting will start with a discussion of different parts of a knife, different knife styles, and materials. Open forge time will follow, for AFC members. Visitors are always welcome, for more info. see www.athensforge.com, or Athens Forge on FB.

Very nice, well done, very clean.

If you haven't already done it, contact BAM, Blacksmith Association of Missouri , www.bamsite.org. They will be a great source for info., tools, and material for you to start with.

Brickman, Good job! Now you can go to work. Keep us updated on your progress. Al

When I find myself "correcting" minuscule things that no one but me would ever see, I often decide that it's good enough. However, it is the chasing, and correcting, of those same minuscule issues that separate a great piece, from a common piece. And lest I open myself up to abuse, I don't consider any of my work in the "Great" category.

I draw a lot of pre cut lengths to a specific length, this has helped, and saved a lot of time over the years. Just a piece of angle iron, marked at 1 inch increments. Use vise grips to set a stop.

Compact sand, lay piece of plywood in, place anvil on plywood. Go to work.

Brickman, the solidest, cheapest, easiest, fastest to make stand, I've ever seen is a plywood box, filled with sand. You can add or subtract sand until you find "your" best working height. Build it high enough so scale or sand can build up around the feet, which will quiet it down, and keep it in place. Easy to add a tool rack to, in any configuration "you" find works for you. Al