Lou L

It’s good to hear you are getting a handle on it. I give all due credit and respect to your son for working through that level of sickness as long as he did. When I was a kid I got “croup” twice a year every year like it was my job. Two weeks of strep throat, a 104 fever, brutal coughing to the point of bruising ribs (and moving the couch I was on around the living room), and sudden loss of breathing due to constricted bronchial tubes. It was brutal for me. It took me years to realize how tough it was on my parents! ....and don’t you just love it when you talk about having children and someone joins in with an “I know what you mean” story about their dog?

Welcome Dennis. Take it from someone who went at it anvil first, you can do a lot without a. Expensive anvil...but not if you have garbage tongs. I’ve made it my mission to save people from destroying their learning curve because their tongs are undermining them. Having hot steel wobbling everywhere while you hit it, falling constantly, or (worst case) flying into the air makes for a miserable experience. If you have the budget buy a new anvil. There are plenty of good makers in hobbiest sizes. 150# is plenty. Have fun and keep reading everything you can here. Lou

I keep forgetting to take pictures of what I make before I give it away. I’ve had a umber of friends and family ask for bottle openers so it’s nothing exciting anyway. Today I went at a pair of fire pit tongs for my cousin. He has enormous bonfires for friends and family that are unapproachably hot. I decided to make him some 36” tongs so he can adjust the wood in his fire. They are roughed out and only need to be straightened a bit, riveted and adjusted. I’m thinking about putting a half round on the reins with my swage block.

The floor of my shop counts as one of those dreaded horizontal surfaces...unfortunately.

It will be cleared out again, soon I hope! Every time I clear that garage someone we know feels it in the air and dumps more stuff on us. At least the last time it was a snow blower. The time before that it was 75 boxes of junk from the in-laws...

If you manage to gain access to Uri be certain your skin is thick. If you think the curmudgeons here are hard to deal with you are in trouble. One of my students was lucky enough to spend three days with Uri this summer. He told he that, for every lesson he learned, he was cursed out at least three times. Uri sent him off on the last day with a smile, a handshake and a hammer. Another interesting insight he heard from Uri: "Don't waste your time forge welding or using other traditional methods when modern technology has made it easier."

OMG do I want a swamp pounder. You should have tried to talk him into expanding the order. I'm sure the organization could have cashed in the the big sale of nail wrenches the supplier was offering. Sadly, Im aware of a few organizations that have fallen for that nonsense. They do it because it works.

That piece of art would make the durian smell amazing by virtue of association. I think it's called proximity aesthetics. Maybe I just made that up. I'm out of superlatives for your work.

The 4"x4" stump/stake anvil is $140. I imagine you could get something much bigger for almost free. Their anvil is 4140 steel but even mild is plenty good for a "beginner anvil". Spend your money on tongs!

It would be on the floor at my anvil stand as an upsetting block for sure. In fact, it might be sitting on my old tree stump for the same purpose. If I didn't have an anvil it would be my anvil.

Nice win, Theo! I have to admit, I was torn because I absolutely love and respect Kelly. I wish she was a member here too! If you were going against her in the final round I would have been torn. I was shocked they didn't test the temper with a flexibility test. Tai Chi swords are supposed to be supple and flexible. Your approach to forge welding the handle section was brilliant. Lou

It must be nice having anvils delivered to your door for good prices!

Journeyman Blades (I like Marc's suggestion of JB handmade knives)

I totally saw a couple dancing the Tango. Welcome to postmodernism....

If the numbness is in just the pinky and ring finger then it is the ulnar nerve, which passes through the elbow joint. That wouldn't normally account for the grip pain. It could also be a blood flow issue for the shoulder down that is exacerbated by your hobbies. Both are from my own personal experience, not internet medicine. I point them out just to highlight the importance of looking at the whole arm and not just the hand. Orthopedic surgeons tend to cut first and ask questions later. It's important to go with an orthopedist who specializes in sports medicine. They are used to dealing with people who plan to push themselves and work through injuries. Doctors who aren't used to that type of patient tend to just tell you to stay off it for six months then come back because most patients are comfortable with that. Good luck!

Frosty's congrats wins. All others henceforth are doomed to be formulaic issuance of praise. Accept my meager addition of praise, Thomas. Congrats!

I'm assuming he meant "gable vent"...which would make more sense. I've interchanged the two words accidentally before so I just went with it. Also, I'm planning on venting through a gable vent as well!

@TechnicusJoe recently took over an amazing blacksmith shop in France and is awash in new gear and tooling. His video on those French anvils with the side exit hardy holes is worth the watch. I've begged him to get back here and give us a walk through of his shop but he is busy with the new business and has slow internet as well. His first question was, "Do they have the chat working yet?" Watch the videos for sure,; he has fallen upon an amazing opportunity.

That anvil appears to be in excellent shape. A close picture of the other side may prove useful. If you have looked and see nothing try doing a rubbing of the sides. A wire wheel could also reveal information that was hidden. Truth is, though, if it performs well it's pedigree as a great English anvil is solid already. Enjoy it.

Just cut some metal randomly and savagely for pure pleasure. It feels good.

Which shop are you going to visit? I have only met a few of the guys from NH but they are all quite nice. The NEB training facility is quite well stocked with equipment and is in Brentwood, NH. Members can go to the open forge sessions there every month and get support/ideas from the experienced people there. Either way, you have a lot of talented NEB membership in your area and should be tapping it. Good luck! Lou

I've heard the same from too many people. Those are apparently regularly stocked at Lowes but can be had online as well. Congrats on the new toy @JHCC. It was meant to be after I showed off mine on Thursday!

Figured I'd add the picture of the hot cut @JHCC and I made together last Thursday. This was the final design we settled on after thinking through some more complex options. We should have done two that night...duh.... I kept JHCC's sample leaf on the anvil as well. I haven't gotten another chance in the shop since then. It was a busy weekend for sure with my son's fifth birthday party and then the "we have way too much food left over" party the next day.

I've been to Port Angeles a few times to visit family. My father-in-law is from WA and his nephew is Dan McKeen, your town manager and once fire chief. It's a beautiful town. I'll be out that way next summer if plans don't change. Lou

I hope this suffices.