Soupyjones

That sounds like about the time you whack him in the shin with your shaping hammer and ask the same question.

Anyone who has put more than one shoe on an animal must have at least one story of things going somewhat poorly. I always enjoy hearing about other guys wrecks so let's see what kind of disasters we have had. My favorite gong show is multi part. When I was working for a big trail outfit they sent a few of us out to the winter pasture to get the stock ready for the summer season with shoes and haircuts. Day one I got bucked off when we rode out to jingle the herd in. No injury but I lost a can of Copenhagen. Day two our biggest mule got tired of holding up his hind left and placed it on my boot. Being the kind soul he was he promptly jumped away breaking four bones in my left foot. Day three a quiet old gelding named Dally took less kindly to the feel of my rasp and pulled back, throwing himself over and slicing through my apron, jeans and right leg. Suffice it to say the rest of the week was not much fun with a broken foot on one side and a still bleeding leg on the other.

We had to say goodbye to my old horse yesterday. He was an interesting sort, he would always give me a few hops or kicks when I would put my saddle on him but he would walk like he was on eggshells every time he carried my daughter. In ten years he taught me more about horses than I could have hoped due to the fact that he suffered no fools around him. If you wanted him to do the job you had best be willing to do it right. I could put shoes on him without tying the lead shank yet I could not build a fence that could hold him. Easily the best horse I have ever known and he will be missed. So long Sarge.

The blade they showed in the demo clip had a rather large J. Nielson marking on it. I would guess the do a proving run with a good blade before hand to see if it is possible.

Willow creek forge in Nanton does weekend classes sometimes. Not sure what he covers but it is less than an hour down the highway.

That is a great haul! Lots of useful steel in one form or another.

If you are up for a bit of a drive there is a shop in Nanton called Willow Creek Forge. Not sure if he lets folks come work in his shop but you could always ask

St Croix Forge for the most part. A couple of guys blasted near broke their feet when the old dead 120# anvil would hop off of its stump if they hit a shoe too hard. Not a great way to learn unless you really want to build muscle in your hammer arm.

A custom bit maker I know uses a combination if low percentage zinc strip and copper on his mouth pieces to make them "sweeter". As he told me it is strictly for the owner because the horses don't seem to care.

I just had a most terrible flashback to the hours I had to spend beating cold keg shoes because of my boss being too cheap for decent fire insurance. If you have ever tried to open up a size four shoe cold you have learned how it should not be done.

Thanks again guys. I will study up. I am doubtful about the quality of a bar made this way but if it is a possibility it would be very cool. Imitation wootz is now my goal.

Thanks guys. At this point it is purely hypothetical as I lack the setup to build it so far. More than anything I was just curious if I was thinking along the right lines

A rather odd thought came to me last night that I am sure has been covered at some point, yet escapes my fumbling research. In my research in the past I have read about high speed steel being poor for most blacksmithing applications for a laundry list of reasons. Similar reading tells me that wootz steel owes it's excellent characteristics to some things that seem similar to why high speed steel is a poor choice. This led me to wonder if one could possibly turn some old taps or drill bits into good usable steel. If a person was to make a cannister damascus bar containing some high speed steel and some low or mid carbon steel, draw it out and fold it a few times, could they get a crude wootz type steel? Granted it would not be true wootz, but at least a bar with similar qualities?

That is just fantastic. Speaking of which I really like this blade. It is just a wild looking brute. The pattern is really nice and the handle is very cool looking. Very impressive work.

Playing around with some one handers out of some practice pieces that were laying around.

I must agree with this. It is awfully intimidating trying to decide if your question is worth typing in. I do not see the value in running someone into the ground for not knowing better than to ask for help. If you took some time to read you would understand.

If you have tools you probably have some ideas. Start trying things that you are interested in and if they do not work you should be able to find out why on this forum. The best way to learn anything at all, at least in my experience, is to do it. Heat some steel and make some mistakes. As frustrating as it is breaking a piece that has an hour or two of your time in it you will gain a pile of knowledge from it.

Nice blade. Clean smooth look to it. Looks like time we'll spent on an excellent job.

It is very impressive making your first blades from cable. Well done and keep up the good work.

I have been spending a great deal of time reading this site recently which has semi naturally raised some questions from my better half. My personal favorite so far has been "what kind of people are blacksmiths?". I must admit that I had no answer for her. As a result I am curious what else the members of the forum get up to outside of the shop. I am an electrician by trade which soaks up most of my non sleeping time. When I get a chance I like to play bad golf and make what I consider good barbecue. I ride my horse when I can. For the most part I just try to find fun ways to drink beer outside. What kinds of things get you out of your respective shops?

I remain optimistic that I can eventually make almost enough money to go broke doing this. It is just a pile of fun turning metal into fun things. Addict is probably the right word.

The TV coverage had certainly made getting decent tools difficult where I live. I should know as forged in fire is the reason I cleaned the dust off of my renato muskovic anvil and found my old hammers. Finding tongs has become the fly in my ointment and everyone I ask says that anything related to blacksmithing is flying off the shelves. The upside of this is that there seems to be more demand for hand forged items in the area. I have no idea if anyone else around here intends to make a long term hobby of smithing, but I am now a lifer.

Very nice work. The pattern really looks amazing

Good to know that there are guys around with more hours spent at the anvil than me. Thanks for the responses guys, I really appreciate it.

Thanks guys. Hopefully soon I can get a chance to come check out a few of your set ups and attempt to sponge up as much knowledge as possible.