Chad J.

I really need to get to a couple schools soon. I wonder if I could get my company to pay to further my education. They benefit whenever I make a new tool to b make life easier. Jennifer do you have a list of classes your going to teach online? Anyway this evening I started converting an attempt at a funky designed sword to a pizza cutter. It wad from my second year of smithing. It was goofy looking but I was trying to concentrate on getting the steel to move where I wanted it to go. Never finished it, cut off a piece for a different project. Also made a quick jig for doing dinner bells so I get more consistent results faster

Had an aspiring smith out in the shop today. I had talked to her at 2 events and had helped her forge a bottle opener and probably a leaf at the previous meetings. She had gotten a scholarship to a school down in Kentucky where she had made a frying pan. She loved the pan but the handle was literally 2 feet long and she wanted to cut it down. I broke out the portaband, cut the handle and walked her through punching and drifting a hanging hole in the handle. Followed that up with making a simple J-hook out off 1/8 x 3/4 flat stock, tapering the tip, making the curl. In the process the rivets on her pan started to loosen so I make a quick rivet header, while explaining what I was doing, why, and how. She was a good student. Looking forward to having her come back again. On a side note, is the ABANA course good? Is there someplace I can review the course requirements and materials? I think I want to start getting done more formal training.

By appointment if anyone ever gets to the area.

Not yet. Thought I'd poke my head in here first and ask.

Had anyone actually ever visited the Holland Anvil Company? I've been trying to find it this work trip and nothing pulls up the actual address. I wanna go see anvils since I'm nowhere near my shop.

Looks like it had a good weight behind it. What steel did you use?

Spent the night yesterday working on more clothes hangers. I'm playing around with the bodies making them each kinda unique. Did I mention how much I like my swage block I made from 1 inch square stock? It's great for making half rounds. Need to make a few other shapes to pound into it. Maybe some nice tapers...

I was wondering about that, thanks George. I haven't really worked with glass before. Could it also be done contraction of the steel around it? Not gonna lie, i may do that on purpose a few times.

I'm getting a bit better at the hair pins, started wrapping marbles up in them but one seems to have cracked. Not sure why but it looks good.

Go right ahead. I use 1/2 inch round, 18 inches long marking the center and 2 inches on either side, drawing down 3/8ths round for the hook. Have fun with it. I'm in the process of making an anvil-top swage film a piece of 1 inch square that makes great half rounds really fast

I wanted to clean the tongs up a bit more before I posted them but, per Jennifer's request, as forged and riveted here they are. I also made a 3 part plant hanger type thing and stretched a piece of 3/8 × 1 3/4 round of to 1/4 x 7 1/2 inches and made a quick S hook.

Just rough forged a set of wolfjaw tongs in less time that I ever have. They do need some cleanup but this was the least amount of trouble I've had forging tongs ever. Tomorrow or Tuesday I'll set the jaws and clean them up. Made them from a couple pieces of 1/2 round stock.

Been trying my hand at hangers. The one I ground down to 1500 grit on the body. I'm going to use a spray on clear coat as I'm not sure if bee wax or BOL could cause staining long term.

Roper Whitney is still around and they may still make the punches and dies for that if you reach out. Not sure where they are located anymore, they were my first employers after I got out the Marines.

Took a long weekend and attended the UMBA winter conference. It was a good time but most interesting thing is the club president has been trying out making crucible steel using an induction forge. Trying to replicate wootz with more modern technique and analysis. He have me a piece with 2% carbon to work on. It is the single hardest piece of steel I've worked. I welded on a work stick but the first few heats it barely moved. I've got it to a rough shape of where I want it now but I've had issues with cracking and hand to take it over to the grinder and clean it up. I'm working it carefully not going too hot but it is stubborn. On the other hand I completed a nice little skinner and got my best grind on it yet. I slowed down and took my time v hammering in the bevels then going back and cleaning them up with a file. Seriously reduced my grinder time. Also made a couple more hangers I'll have to post pictures of when I'll done cleaning them up.

Jenifer, I hope you heal up well, you're one of the best smith's I've seen in here and I often recommend your channel to people asking about getting into blacksmithing. It was tuesday, but I've been busy but I forge a few hearts for valentines day and a new skinning knife. On Saturday I FINALLY managed to get a forge weld out of my propane forge. The 100lb tank doesn't like being run at 12 to 15 psi in winter but I made a 4 glass wine holder on Saturday. Now that I know I can do it, it's going to happen more often.

Had a little fun past couple nights. The rail spike cleaver is being tricky to get the proportions perfect.

No worries George.

Arthur is correct I was looking at the bottom item. I've had very good luck selling hair pins. I usually start with 1/8 inch stock. When I started with quarter inch my gf felt it was too heavy though I do start with that size of I'm going to split the end and draw it down for something decorative. Here's one I've done in the past.

Both look great guys, Aurtur one recommendation is to soften the corners on the hair pin so they don't pull any hair going in or out but you did great on the twists.

I'd be looking at making an anvil tool out of them, not quite a Bick but it looks to have potential.

Uhh, i would use one for a day or 2 before it was buried under a pile of ADHD inspired half finished projects. Of someone designed a notebook that had angled covers on it that prevented it from allowing misc. Projects from building up on it...

Made a wine bottle and glass stake. First attempt. Riveted the bottle holder in place, punched the hole for the glass holders and used a piece of twisted 1/8 inch. I'm happy with it and know how my next is going to be done a bit better.

That's the one. I do enjoy their music as well, but I listen to everything except modern rap and country. Sometimes I'll even break out the anvil chorus to warm up in the shop.

The Museum of Work at Milwaukee School of Engineering has a bunch of sculptors and paintings of smith's. If you're ever in the area. I highly recommend it. Also has anyone seen the video for the Longest Johns' song The Hammer and the Anvil? A smith out of the UK spends the video forging an anchor. Forge welds, punching and drifting, the works. Very nice work.