Dick L.

I saw the $50 knife shop at Barnes & Noble . I'm sure you can order online through Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com Hope this helps, Dick

Old Cadillac !

Welcome Andy, Another New Englander !!!! Lot's of information here to absorb. Dick

Obie 1 Dick

Real nice Brian! At the rate your putting out these project ideas I'll never catch up. Dick

Here is a quick model of what it sounds like to me. Dick

Glad you like it. One thing you can't see in the photo very well is the center post is 2" square uni-strut with holes every 1 1/2" (Think sign post ) and my top assembly is welded to a piece of 1 3/4" / 3/16" wall square tubing that fits inside. It Adds adjustable height to it. Dick

Thanks for the input guys. I'll post what a build in the end. Dick

Yes, That's the forged 275 . I just got it on the weekend. It has a real nice feel to it . Now to quote Frosty , I have to train it . It does make me feel like slabbing my other hammer handles. Dick

I did a leaf tonight and when it came to viening it with a chisel I chased it around out there quite a few times. So my question is which type of hold down works best for this sort of task. I've seen the hold downs that lock in the hardy hole and the ones that are spring loaded and wrap around the heel of the anvil. Also the mechanical clamping arrangement with the foot pedal that applies the pressure. Curious what the thoughts are from the group before I pick one to build. Thanks, Dick

Did my first 304 SS forging tonight, and learned a lot from it. Whole different animal from the mild steel I've been working with. Anyway I did one leaf for practice . Not as good as I had hoped for but I will get more this weekend. Dick

Well last week turned cold and raw with a lot of wind so outdoor forging wasn't working out to well. As a result I turned my focus toward getting better organized and decided to make a rack for my hammers and tongs. I had a steel base from an cast away office chair so I added industrial strength casters and built from there. Keeping with the five footed pattern I did a pentagonal angle iron frame then wrapped a band of 1/8 X 1 1/2 around it. Now I need to unload it and put some paint on it before it's to late. Dick

Welcome to I Forge Iron, there is plenty of info here to read and lots of experience to draw on. Read and ask questions you will get answers here from experienced smiths. Don't forget to post pictures of your work . Dick

David is doing a great job! It's easy to see he both enjoys and appreciates the opportunity he has been given. Brian you are doing a great job as well Dick

Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers Dick

bicycle trip :)

Thanks Brian, I really appreciate the photos because it removes all questions, but you keep raising the bar and I'm barely on the first level. Your level of experience is something many of us would like to some day achieve I'm sure. Dick

Hi Brian + Karen, Thanks for the words of encouragement and the tips ! That bottle opener is 1st class ! Dick

What part of CT are you from? There is the CT Blacksmith Guild CONNECTICUT BLACKSMITH GUILD : ABANA (Artist Blacksmith Association of North America) affiliate. New England Blacksmiths New England Blacksmiths Hope this helps, Dick

Well I went at it again tonight paying close attention to the anatomy of the head and trying to get as much done per heat as possible. I used 8 heat to get it to this point and if it weren't for the giraffe like neck I would be pretty happy. This is 3/16 X 1 stock and it cools pretty quick.I am walking about 10 ft from the forge to the vise. I don't have a portable setup yet. The anvil is right there close up though. I think I'll concentrate on getting things arranged better so I can work more efficiently. Dick

Welcome Charlotte, While your on the mend there is plenty to read and learn about here! Dick

You could hang on to them and get a lathe when it's feasible! What size square are they? Lathes are a handy tool to have. I have two. Dick

[quote What do you use the bent looking center punch for?

Thanks, Brian + Karen ! It is a great exercise to do with many challenges. On the next one I'll pay close attention to the near and far side strikes so it doesn't have the crocodile snout... Dick