CrazyGoatLady

rich_c, I just came back after a couple of hiatus-es? Welcome back. I had to do the same thing. So currently, I'm forging under the stars lol. Although, our home insurance is being a pain (long story) and I'm going to have to move everything. I wish one of those critters would follow me home. But my little pink blow dryer is getting the job done

Noted. Turtlewax probably better for vehicles. I was curious because the label says it contains carnuba wax but I've not ever heard of anyone using it for a metal finish. I came across my old brass brush the other day. When I first started smithing, I used it a lot but then decided I was over doing it and I haven't used it since

Shainarue, I hear you. I have to remind myself to take note of things for repeatable results. A lot of things I do are one offs. TommyVee, you're results were good. I like DF in the Shop too. Der_Micha, I love it too

TommyVee, I like that fork a lot. Nice work. Irondragon, I'm glad your wife is happy with it and that it makes you happy to make her happy Shainarue, how long did it take you to make those? I'm feeling a bit inspired looking at your work to make some pretty things like that. And I agree with your assessment of TommyVees fork reminding me of Jennifer's videos on colonial cutlery. I was thinking the same thing

Nice hauls from the same place. Maybe there are deeper hidden treasures yet to come

Ridgeway and Frosty. I loved reading y'alls stories of fond memories. Thanks to both of you for posting them. And also Ridgeway, since you have Centaur Forge tools and I'm assuming tongs as well, those Caliburn tongs I showed on the other topic remind me of my Centaur branded tongs. Sorry off topic, but I was thinking that earlier and was going to mention the similarities I forgot to add this, but i was going to get some trewax and the local wal mart said they had it, but they didn't when I went in. I'll have to order it unless maybe O'Reillys autoparts has it. Has anyone used Turtlewax for a finish?

Ridgeway, I saw good reviews for them in use. I haven't worked them yet, but they seem to hold material very well. I will definitely let y'all know what I think

I'm using exclusively charcoal and I've been doing what Irondragon just described. If I don't, the fire fleas are terrible. I still get them wetting things down, but not nearly as bad

Irondragon, I'm glad you got to get some forge time in and make something you needed. Y'all, good work to everyone. I'm just now catching up on the everyone's projects. I probably won't get back to the forge until Friday night Lord willing. We did get my vise out of the shed though so I can actually use it. I'm going to experiment making nails with it. Also bought myself some Amazon tongs from Caliburn. $42 for two pairs that were a bundle. I didn't really need the wolf jaws, but they were priced lower for the bundle. They are bigger than the pair I already have so that's good. The bigger bolt jaws were what I wanted. I know I should just make some, but time is a factor that I have very little of. And I've made tongs but it has been a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away I can't imagine forging with an audience. My immediate family will watch and my daughter will run the air for me if she's home while I'm working but that's about it. I get kind of nervous with people around

Shainarue, thanks. You're right. I'm only getting to forge about once a week so it's really slow going. I like the sprite and the garden hearts. I made some similar creatures a few years ago inspired by John Switzer. Except they were spooky things for Halloween. Getting about time to get them out for fall Here they are

That's a good idea. Good thinking that will serve you very well I think

Chad J., that's gonna be awesome when you get done with it. JHCC, I'll hop over to your post to read about your vise stand mod. Meanwhile, still practicing nails. I tried drawing the shanks on the face instead of over the horn like I've been doing and I don't like the results. It even took way longer so no more of that for me. It's starting to get darker earlier and it's cloudy so I ran out of light quickly and that doesn't help. I played with a couple of other things, but they look terrible. Lol it just wasn't my night but here is the result.

Frosty, I was born in the 70s And we run Boers with a little Spanish in the mix. A couple of seasons ago, I decided to introduce a Kiko buck into the herd because they have excellent parasite resistance. But they grow out extremely slow even being half Boer. And I just miss the big Boers so that's the buck I'll be getting for the next season's kid's. Nobody, I have heard that about wild rabbits. That you can starve eating them but I think it's because they are so lean. Domestically raised rabbits I don't think you'd have to worry about that. In fact, when we first started butchering them, we decided they were eating too much and were full of fat and rabbit fat is kinda gross. Since then, we've found a good balance

Rasp-berries. I like it. I have 2 or 3 old rasps but never made anything from them. I use one that still has pretty good teeth for hot rasping. Y'all have good ideas for them that I'll store in my memory bank

Most of the people I've sold goats to have been Hispanic and they like to buy intact bucks. One of the last ones I put up for sale was a good looking two year old and he sold within about 45 minutes of listing him. My FIL sells to some people he knows that like them really young for holidays. I'm not too crazy about selling them so little for that so I just don't. But I'd be on board with it if folks would be willing to pay extra for us to do the work when they are older. I had 6 bucks this year but we just wethered 2 for ourselves. I gave one to my FIL and sold the other 3. We introduced Kiko into the herd and I decided I want to go back to Boers after a couple of years so I'll be shopping for a good Boer buck soon.

Lol yes and that would be a tremendous amount of work for sure. What have you come up with?

I don't really have a clue, so the only thing that comes to mind is taking a file to the teeth that have been hammered down. Assuming they are still present in any way. If that's a possibility, that would be a matter of how much time you'd want to put into it. If it were me, I think that's what I'd do without having a better plan. But I can work on tedious detail for probably way too long

Ha ha yeah like in the movies where they circle the bad guy and all shoot at the same time. I don't think I'd try that in real life. Rabbit meat is good but we like goat better. We used to sell rabbits pretty decently and covid business was great. Everyone wanted rabbits and we were some of the only breeders in our area that still had a good supply. People from Oklahoma, Missouri and even Colorado and Florida bought from us. Since then, you can't hardly give them away because everybody has them now. For years, we didn't eat goat, just sold them on the hoof occasionally. About 3 years ago, I decided we needed to start sending some to freezer camp. I have two wethers designated for that this winter. And when the cows calve, I'm hoping we'll have a bull calf for the freezer as well

Baked rabbit is pretty good Although we don't butcher rabbits anymore. These days their job is for manure for the garden and for adding to vermicompost bin. I recommend starting with rabbits to show. Our nephew showed rabbits for FFA last year. He won 2nd place at our local show and Grand champion for his breed at the County Jr. Livestock show. His was the only Rex rabbit, but the judge said he an excellent example of the breed. Unfortunately, we will not participate in FFA this year because the nephew is not dedicated to it enough yet. If he shows more interest next year, we will reevaluate. I'd suggest buying an ARBA book. It tells you everything you need to know about rabbit breeds and even guinea pigs.

Praying for you and your family

Chad J., the roses are gorgeous! And your nails are pretty great too. Mine are from 3/8" stock, but I'm forging the shanks a little shorter than yours

Goods, that is a beautiful bending fork. Great job on that and the knife looks like it will be pretty great too. Arthur210, thank you! Your nails look really good especially compared to mine and I'm glad the new header is holding up and it's doing it's job. I think if it's not raining tomorrow evening, I'm going to go make some more. Shainarue, who cares if the tongs are ugly if they do what you need them to do. Good job getting them to work for you. Speaking of tongs, I've got 3 pairs of Kens Custom Iron Quick tongs that I forgot that I had. Bolt, scroll and one that holds a RR spike. JHCC, that's the way my anvil is oriented full time. I never could get the hang of the horn pointed to my left although it seems most folks do. But I move to whatever I need to to accomplish my purpose

Rojo Pedro, it's a little of both And thank you. I'm trying.

That's so true. Glenn once told me near the exact same thing

Oh my George. I'm so glad you made it and we're able to help others. I can't imagine. The train runs right through the middle of town and we have a depot that Amtrak stops at. I've always wondered what would happen if it derailed. There's a dog park, an antique mall and an apartment building for elderly people RIGHT there. And on down further, there are lots of houses and funeral home that could be in serious trouble. There is also a scrap yard right by the depot and a as a result, I can get all the RR metal I could possibly ever want. I have plenty though