Ben Hoover

That is cool!

It is indeed. Iria is her name. She's my bud .

Thank you Ausfire.  There is a busted cable spool at work that has four three foot long bolts on it that my boss said i can have.  I have been trying to think of what I could do with that.... and those snakes look like they could definitely be the ticket!!

Very nice Das.   Spider looks really goood.

He's cute. Is his name George?

Nice snakes.  I like the cobra.  How do you get the hood like that?

This is Iria and my grandson where I forge. It isn't much, but it's fun.

   Just started, but I missed working with my hands, and didn't want and couldn't afford to get into precision crafting a a hobby.  Smithing lets me get away from the world, and requires that I focus on the task at hand, and consider what next to do as the metal heats.

   I view it as chess with a hammer.  You have to take your time, and know the next move even before you finish the current one.  

   I get to be left to my own devices, and the smile on my wife's face when I bring her a forged snail, bottle opener or hook is great.   It's as close to being an artist as I will get.

   I am still working on my third book, but I truly believe that it is going to be rewritten because this hobby has made me want to write a book about a blacksmith.  

May not have been directed to forging in particular, but a bit of wisdom my dad always said, which stuck with me was 'repetition breeds routine'.

What would be recommended for the best steel for a beginner with limited tooling to use to make said touch mark?

Thanks JHCC.   I forgot all about the bearings, and the bracelet idea is really cool.  I like that one.  So... guess I'll store this and the next one away until I get better at my hammer work.  First dry weekend in a long time coming up, and that means I finally get to play again.  Going to start building my shop next month, which will be a work in progress. 

Friend of mine came by last night and dropped this off.  Said they are getting the other side done Friday and will bring them by.  I  know the price is right, but... what should I do with these?  I have no idea of what kind of metal I am using (other than an assumption it is predominately tool steel), and it will probably be a booger to work by hand.   

  I appreciate any help/information on what to do with these.

JLP, just added you to my watch list.  While this is quite a good bit out of my current range, really well made and I am impressed at the ingenuity and skill displayed.  Absolutely loved the tongs in the hardy hole trick!

Thanks.  I don't think the picture does it justice.  I used a long spiral nail on it and I left the sides pretty much alone so that it gave it a nice texture.   I like using nails and bolts and stuff.   Soon as it dries off again I fully intend to go make more still. 

On 3/8/2019 at 9:41 AM, Daswulf said:

Ben, I'd love to see yours. Might get some tips or tricks to improve. 

I seriously doubt you'll learn anything, but man this was fun to make...

Das, that snail and shroom look fantastic.  Now I shall keep mine hidden in the shadows.  It is nowhere near that sharp.  (I also am still learning.  But I am getting there!)

I'm having fun.  And I am going to do tongs eventually.  

Why should I buy it for $10.00 when I can forge it for $100?

On 7/12/2017 at 12:21 PM, SLAG said:

In my opinion tong making from scratch is not a good first project. S- hooks are a good one. You need to to draw out and twist to make a sexy one. Bottle openers are a good second project. They usually require punching and drifting in their manufacture.

 Slag, I wish this post had been here when I first started.  All the Youtube videos said 'best thing to do first is make your own tongs'.  
   Well, after a couple days I realized just how bad that advice was, and I swallowed my pride and ordered some from Kens.  Best decision I ever made.

   I then began making bottle openers and practicing twists and such on them.  Took less that half a dozen and I was turning out some bottle openers that I am quite happy with.

   I will eventually make some tongs.  But the hammer control and eye required to make tongs is significantly higher than that required for a bottle opener, J or S hook or even a snail.

   As for a knife... that will come in time, but I am NOT going to waste money on steel so I can screw it up.  So... guess who has a box of RR Spikes to practice on?  When I get to where I am moving those well and they are turning out the way I expect, THEN I will take my coil springs and make some paring knives to start, then move on to other blades.

   But man... bottle openers are FUN!!

   Tongs just make me think I need to go sit in the back of the short bus.

That is cool.

I am a newbie.  So wet behind the ears I have tadpoles growing in the pond.  

   Biggest mistake I am seeing?  Trying to keep up with the smiths.

   Seriously.  Do NOT expect to do something in the same number of heats that the experienced smiths do.  Not even close.  They may be able to make that bottle opener in four heats or less, (saw that and just said not even.).  So... be ready to realize that they do it in four or five, ,you are probably going to need two to three times as many.

   This is a marathon, not a sprint.  So take your time and follow all the excellent tips in this topic.

1 hour ago, ausfire said:

Yes, the weld joining the bolt to the wrench is a bit ugly. I follow what you're saying there, but I think the forge weld could be a bit tricky. I'll do another one and have a go. Maybe you could post a pic if your method works out.

It will be a bit, but I am going to try a leg this weekend just to see. I'll post a pic.

15 hours ago, ausfire said:

Ben, What is your idea for the feet? I only use wrenches because they are stable and I have a lot of them. Small lag bolts welded together make good feet too, but more time consuming of course.

Instead of welding them to bolts, dog ear it back, then forge weld toward the front for the base, giving them the back 'claw' we're used to birds having, and eliminating the welding of the threaded rod on them.   You could actually hammer the fold in a claw type point, and should provide added stability.

On 6/24/2018 at 5:17 AM, ausfire said:

OK, continuing the owl theme, simplicity is sometimes a good option. These little guys are really easy to do and the kids like them. Just a bit of 'cognitive' thinking:

 

Man those are cool.  Once I get my shoulder back to working like normal (hopefully a month at most) I want to give a go at those.  I have an idea on the feet I want to try.  But those are just as cute as can be.  You  should do some minions!!

I've been doing 3/4 of an inch, and that is tight.  I have a one inch that I will see if I can form into a drift today and give it a go.  Thanks.