Ande3538

Thanks peeps, I totally forgot I even posted this.  Thanks for the ideas and advice

When the hinge wears out this it's what I'll do. Which is what I originally intended but found the hinge to be less work and I wasn't sure if the imaginary blueprints in my head for the build were going to be functional...so I went with quick and easy but yet easy to modify (improve)if need be

I'll post some pics. I decided to go with a set of uprights on either side of the arm. Not the most appealing but the simplest solution. Again, this was a "what was laying around" build. I used it the yesterday to make a push dagger style letter opener for my brother in law, hot cuts and a drift was involved and it was beautifully wonderful to use. Nothing fancy but I'll post that as well. I think i spent 20 minutes total on it. 

Push dagger letter opener. Quick and easy 

Btw, when tractor supply gets  new zero turn mowers in they come in a square tubing frame. Which they just throw away... And is where I got all the tubing for this build. Just pull around back and if it's by the dumpster you can grab it for free.

There's a top and bottom and uprights. The uprights are what I used. I made a total of 6 cuts out of two pieces for the build.

I thought about this.  I've actually never attempted a hinge, looks easy enough, just never had the need to but it seems to be the best option so far

I'll try...  Keeps saying  -200 and fails to upload. The file is only 185mb. Idk

Scrap pile build. It's a little hammer but the drop the tongs method of doing things gets old. Problem is in the hammer arm, it's got a little wobble due to the fact that I used a hinge for the pivot point... like I said though, it's what I had laying around...  Any ideas for getting the wobble out without changing the design?

VID_trim_ifi_post_vid.mp3

Well, new to the trade here, started with making tongs and what not and have made a couple of blades from flat stock and so on... My problem is all of the learning technique is literature and web based.  Due to the new born and the one on the way I've had to concentrate on learning as I go... As there is not anything close enough or available enough for me to adhere to my life schedule.. so my question is , how do I efficiently draw width without drawing length? 

Forexample, I worked a horse shoe today for my brother (who is disabled and always wanted to be a blacksmith but just can't physically do it) who wanted a knife made out of a horse shoe... Whatever the reason may be that he wanted this I was more than happy to rustle up some shoes and give it a go.. I cut in half and took one piece and went at it.  Put a tip on it that he described and figured out where he wanted the blade and tang to meet and went to start putting a belly on the blade.  No matter what I tried it just got longer and thinner and I was only able to draw about a 1/4 of the original width for a belly.  Of course I know there is a distinct technique that I am not familiar with or that I am doing incorrectly... As I mentioned before that I am unfortunately restricted to being trial and error without guidance from a seasoned Smith.  I would really love some advice and will gladly admit any wrong doings in this process.  Lol all criticism is welcome of course.  Thanks for your time. Pictures available upon request