WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith

What kind of welder? Hammer and 20 Mule Team. :rolleyes: Actually get a good MIG 230v 180amp minimum with 75/25 carbon dioxide/argon. Once you start using a MIG welder you will not use anything else, except maybe a TIG and that hammer.

Frosty and wd, that was what I suggested to him. I think that the items are relitavely small and I also suggested that he register here and post a query. He has done a lot of resurch on this and watched a lot of YouTube videos. Maybe all of this will get him started anyway. Thank you.

I was contacted today by a person wanting to have some aluminum casting done. He is in East Tennessee. Anyone interested PM me and I will pass the info along.

I walked into a bar....and asked for a beer!

I have single phase 2 hp 1800 rpm motors for $284.35 or a VFD for $448.00 Both wit free shipping to you. while the VFD is more expensive than the motor you could use it to also run a belt grinder or other piece of equipment with a 2 hp 1800 rpm motor. The other advantage is that you can control the speed of the motor with the VFD form 1 rpm to 3600 rpm. This might be an advantage on the hammer but definately for a belt grinder. If needed a fwd/rev switch is $35.00.

The motors were provided by the buyer so the motor may be almost anything.

Ron just proves that it can be done. Nobody said it would be easy, as Ron says, "It's just a challenge." Of course, nobody ever said that learning blacksmithing for any of us is easy. You just have to have enough desire and persistence. One of the Williams sisters (tennis champs) said that her mother told her about the seven "Ps". Prior Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

I got this reply to my request to Ron. The solution is simple: Since I have a left mid form amputation I use several pieces of conduit of different sizes to hold whatever tongs are used for a particular job. The tongs need to be fairly long and springy so they can be squeezed and pushed into the pipe and they can easily be rotated between the arm and hip and then worked from side to side or a full rotation. I manage to teach classes in blades, crosses, hearts and tomahawks, etc ., and it seems to work. A number of real people have started using this “invention” to save strain on the tong hand. Ron Childers

In Lake City, Tn there is a blacksmith named "Gray Smith". He often commented that when he got good enough he might be a Blacksmith.

The blacksmith in Florida is Ron. He makes tomahawks but is actually a general blacksmith. He demonstrated at the Southeastern Blacksmith's Conference in Madison Georgia several years ago. He has also demonstrated all around. We had him at a Alex Bealer Blacksmith Association several years ago. I sent him an e-mail with a link to this thread so I think we can look for a post from him soon. Ron will tell you right quick that it is not a handicap but a chalenge. Ron is missing his right hand up to the middle of his forearm. I have watched him and wished that I could do the work that he does.

Dresden, Tennessee is in north west Tennessee. It may be a long way to Texas but almost as far to east Tennessee without even leaving the state. Check out http://www.appalachianblacksmiths.org/ There are some blacksmiths in that area that will be happy for you to attend their meetings and you will probably find a mentor. Two of the local forges are Clarksville Warioto Forge Blacksmith’s, - not meeting at this time - see Possum Trot Forge for the Clarksville area. and Possum Trot Forge -- Meets the last Sunday of each month, 1:00 pm at the Adams Museum located behind the old Bell School building on Highway 41 in Adams, Tennessee. NewsletterLink

I have a small can that I put it in and save it. When I have a forged item and for some reason have to do some grinding on it and want to get back the forged look, take some place it on the hot slick ground area and pound it in. You can't tell that it was ever ground (or filed) on.

www.oldworldanvils.com and www.euroanvils.com. or come to Batson Blade Symposium 1 st weekend in April after Easter this year, or BAM Conference in Mo. early May, or Alabama Forge Conference 1st weekend after Labor Day, or quad state roundup 4th weekend in September.

I'll get there Wednesday and will have a large canopy. I call it a Hospitality Canopy so plan coming by and spending some time. I will have a large gooseneck horsetrailer with living quarters and all my stuff for sale. Bring your favorate beverage. I always say, "If Wayne Coe has beer everyone has beer, but if Wayne Coe aint got no beer, better not anyone else have any beer."

I have soft insolating fire bricks @ $3.00 each plus shipping. They came from a kiln that was never put together so I can not testify as to the temp rating.

I have a 141# Trenton that is in good shape and would not need resurfacing. I have radiused the edges. It was used for years by a farrier and the horn has a grove worn in it but that does not effect the use. I am about 70 miles north west of Knoxville. Come out for a visit and some time in the shop and you can look at the anvil.

I always get there about noon on Friday, We stand around, tail gate sell, They always have a party and a pot of chilli or something. Bring your favorate beverage, your sleeping bag and air mattress and camp out in the shop. Just beware that Dean will come through turning on the lights about 6:OO AM.

Get Moe's Grinder DVD. There is all the information you need to build that grinder or you can get enough info from the DVD to design your modification. The grinder frame is all off the shelf angle iron and bar stock.

I had Big Blu make my dies with 3/8" holes drilled similar to the Saymac. Now I just make "die caps" and bolt them on the top and bottom dies. Works like a champ.

Thanks Willis, to many Madisonvilles, Morgantons, etc. and I live in Morgan County.

Come to the NCBCA meeting at the Big Blu shop (www.bigbluhammer.com) the third weekend in March in Madisonville. See you there.

And you don't get a "do over".

Caping Chisel for cutting keyways.

Why do you not consider them "art"? The lag bolts idea is also great. These are the kind of things that gives the rest of us flat foreheads. Consider forging 4 facets on slot head screws or forge lag bolts or hex head bolts with chisels and punches for a complete forged look. My forehead aches now. Thanks

Now, aint it amazin': Look at the gender of the folks who have responded to this thread.. Not a bunch of women saying, "Oh, yes I can." but men showing their recognition that many women are not only competent but exceptional smiths. I taught a class at the Appalachian Center for the Craft this past summer and every student was a woman, and the class was not scheduled as a "class for women". I thought that I would somewhat alter the projects to more nearly appeal to what women would want to make. I found out, real quick, that cute little jewelry items were not what they were interested in. More sculpture and large lighting fixtures. And this was a "beginner's" class.