Hello All,
I've been a long time lurker and figured it was time to say hi. I've been interested in smithing for quite some time, just had to get some other hobby's out of the way. I've always been a professional tradesmen, so working with my hands and fire is nothing new. I started a 10 basic blacksmithing course at my local club and it's been a blast (only 2 classes in) and look forward to the class every Tuesday. My ultimate goal is to make a Damascus chefs knife (first time that's ever been said!) but throughout this short journey, I've amassed 100's of things I want to forge. Hopefully we'll be making nail headers soon, i'd love to build a new workbench from forged nails.
I'd also like to make nails, hinges and hardware for a mobile storage cabinet for all my homebrew supplies. xxxx, the list grows every minute.
I've got a 5x5x6 chunk of steel and a 2 1/2 x 6 round stock for an anvil and lots of tree stumps (heat with wood). Also have a MIG and plasma cutter. I've got materials being delivered to build a Freon jug forge, and I've already built the T burner. Just need to find the time to get out in the shop and get busy. Thanks to all of you who have been so generous with sharing your knowledge, I've read most of the posts on this site and have learned a lot and forgotten even more.
Just a suggestion, but on a firewood hoarders fourm I belong to, they had a map, and if you were so inclined, you could add yourself to it like a dropped pin. It was pretty cool to see where everyone was from. It was also neat to see the concentrated areas.
Anyway, thought I'd say hey, and hopefully post some pics soon.
Keith
Here are pics from class day 1.