Ranchmanben

I’d imagine the eat ham there too. It’s delicious. 

A couple of new additions. 133lb Hay Budden and 154lb Arm and Hammer. 

Cleaned up a couple of anvils. Just the top two. 

I wasn’t worried about it a bit. I love all bacon except for Canadian bacon, that’s just ham. 

On 9/18/2018 at 9:56 PM, Rick S said:

I've long admired Peter Ross' work since first exposed to him in the Woodwright's shop TV programs. 

I’m with you. Pete Ross is truly a forged and filed blacksmith. His video is where I learned to make the box joint dividers. He’s a man who eyeballs measurements, forges something out and with a “few” licks of the file has a gorgeous product. The thing about his forgings is that for the most part, they could do with out the filing, if so desired.  I’d say that’s the level of finish that I strive towards, they are perfectly fine in an as forged state but with minimal work with only a file they are transformed into an more refined condition or somewhere in between. Best way I can think to say it is that even though the actual forging is the same, in the as forged condition is great for the back door and the filed finish is for the front door. 

3/4” sucker rod. 

This is a tough question. In my personal work I strive to make something that’s consistent enough to be factory made without the finish work. Smooth surfaces with as little scale as possible. I’m my own worst critic and so I very seldom forge something that I’m truly satisfied with. There’s always a little too much scale or something’s not quite straight enough. Basically my work is never “finished”, just finished enough because at some point you’ve got to call it quits.

These tongs are a decent example of the finish that I like vs another level of finish I did on a set of dividers that are a copy of a vintage set of CS Osborne. 

14 minutes ago, JD Forge said:

I think what I should do is let a carpenter use some of the hammers I've made, and get him to test them on a real job site. I'd like to make them to sell, but I do want them to be worth buying.

That’s the right way to go! Just be warned, others will do things to tools you made that you never would have thought of. You know how that took was made and will use it accordingly, others just see a hammer. They do look nice and I hope everything goes well. There’s a shortage of nice handforged claw hammers in the world. 

Finished up the experimental hammer and I’m pleased with it. The next goround I’m going to make the cheeks smooth and see how that looks. 

Also handled a normal 2lb hammer. 

7 minutes ago, JD Forge said:

Good point! Personal preference I guess... I hadn't really thought of it before.  I guess they are a little blotchy. 

You’re exactly right, it personal preference. If you fully burn the handles, as they are used they’ll develope their own patina as the burnt wood wears through to the unburnt. Same as an oiled handle will darken in spots from handling. You made some mighty nice looking hammers but to me the handles don’t do the hammer heads justice. If you’re happy, stick to your guns and I’ll keep my yap shut. 

It’s tough to say what the proper temper color is for a hammer because steels vary so much even from batch to batch. I personally err a little on the softer side because I’d rather not worry about the liability of a sliver going into someone’s eye. Plus, the claws need to be a little softer and springier that the face so they aren’t snapped off. 

I really like the hammer head and the handle shapes but I hate the handle finish. Either burn it or don’t, as it is it looks like it will give you leprosy when you go to hammer a nail. 

On 9/17/2018 at 8:29 PM, jlpservicesinc said:

Well done.. What are they for? 

Its a style of tongs I’d seen other people on Instagram use for holding larger stock, 2-3” round, under the power hammer or the press. I built a pair and I don’t know if I could ever go back to hammer eye tongs. I built those two pair for another smith, the gapped our set is for 2-3” and the tighter set is for 1-2 inchish. They seem to work well because there’s always three points of contact on the work material. Here’s the first and only set I’ve built for myself. 

On 9/17/2018 at 9:50 PM, Frosty said:

Nice, you're getting better you know. I think they're for picking up bacon by the end.

Now that’s an idea I’m going to explore. It’s also amazing how much better your projects appear when you take the time and effort for real pictures. 

Thank you much. 

I tried something a little different in hopes of making a hammer that stands out from the 50 million other hammers currently being forged. I need to refine the process and tooling a bit but so far I like it. This one is 2lbs. 

I buy my coke and other supplies at a store in Amarillo called well-shod. They’ve got a website that goes with that name. Very nice people and the owner is a top notch guy. Their in store prices are actually better than the online prices and if you talk to John, the owner, he usually will knock off a little extra. They’ve also got an open shop night the first and third Tuesday of every month. You get to use their tools if you want to or don’t have any, it’s free although there is a box for shop night donations and on top of all that they feed you. 

Glad to hear it went well. They’ve got the hip replacement procedure down pretty good now adays. My dad has had 7 hip replacements, three on one side and four on the other, having the first one done in the late 70’s. He said that every time they’ve been better, last longer and the recovery time way shorter. 

I watched the Peter Ross video on building a set of dividers and gave it a whirl. I’m reall happy with my first go but I think it was just beginners luck. Also, the rivet on the other side looks pretty rough. Maybe another dozen tries and I’ll have a pair as good as this one. 

You’re a wizard! That hammer turned out gorgeous from head to handle. Thanks again for all the tips you gave me for my own try. 

Ended up with Jay Sharp’s forge blower today. I’m pretty sure that means I can turn it on and my fire will always be at the perfect temperature and never burn up what I’m working on. It runs perfectly  

Dang Mark, those all look awesome except that first one. That one is stellar. Really great work on that one. 

After seeing Jennifer’s wrought iron/steel hammer I thought I’d give it a try. This is the first time I’ve hammered wrought iron. There’s more to it than just working it really hot. Learned a lot for the next one. 

I’ve honestly got no idea about the size/danger ratio. Seems like we’ve only got the one type of scorpion around these parts and it’s sting is similar to a wasp. 

Das, I like it. There’s certainly no confusing what it is. A couple of weeks ago, Pinecone and I were playing in her room when she asked “what’s this?” and grab something off the floor. It was a scorpion, it stung her. There was surprisingly little crying before she said she hates scorpions and went to “help” The Lady cook dinner. Ordinarily, I forbid her to say hate but I felt she was justified.