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I Forge Iron

P Dee

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Everything posted by P Dee

  1. Well actually, I really like what you are saying here. I did have her learn on a moderately expensive $1800 bike, the same one that she rode on our trip, but the reason for that was that it was one of the few that fitted a person of her size ( 4'11" at that point) and still had the ability to have her in an ergonomic position, while still having the safety of well designed brakes, good wheels (one of the most important details of a good long distance bike) a Brooks saddle ( of course) and a Dyno hub to power her all important iPhone and lights (we did a lot of night time cycling to get away from the daytime highs in the 102 to 104 degree F range) But the most important detail was that the frame was properly sized, with the right geometry for an all day posture, for someone as small as she was. It also had the trail for a ride that was going to keep her going in a straight line. I'd have loved to get a much less expensive way to get her started, but many of the bikes in the price ranges of 400 to 600 dollars are deadly in the hands of a novice. But the thing you mention about a specialized touring bike is important, because the fact is that it is the only sort of design that is forgiving of a novice. A touring bike will want to travel straight and takes bumps and potholes in a gentle manner. A Walmart bike, or one not designed for purpose is more all over the road, under similar challenges. I guess it's like starting one's 12 year old with a 1.5 pound hammer, rather than a five pound hammer. An odd thing happened. She knew how expensive the bike was because her mother went on a rant about how crazy that was. And she felt a deep pride about having such a thing given to her. She said that "yeah, some of my friends have these little bikes" but nobody had a bike like mine - except adults. My take-away from her comment was that pride, and feeling special are a big deal in how we view ourselves and our efforts in life.
  2. Of course stupidity is a survival trait. It absolutely is. For society as a whole, not necessarily the individual and their odds. Someone once was the first to poke a wild boar with a stick to feed his starving family, and later one day someone even more foolish decided to get on a leaky assemblage of wooden boards and take it across oceans. My personal favorite, and unknown person of the millennium, is the guy who was fist in deciding to drink that stuff of rotting barley left in some water - and then declared "this is good". Beer was born. I've also heard that playing with fire is dangerous, thus supposedly for fools. Any opinion on that derring do style bit of folly? My reference to forging being a "Manly art" didn't hit what I thought was an obvious point. It was a dig at the machismo that men tend to get up to. It's informative how many jumped at the chance to clear up any possible denigration of female ability. I conclude there are many long married men here. (another point not to be taken with the wrong humor)
  3. Hey, I'm about to get one of those! It's not that I like the drudgery, but part of my woodshop is a 26x14 foot room in the house. It has electricity, naturally, but I no longer use any of my power tools. I hate looking for my terrified cats under the bed, in the laundry, and knocking down dishes from the open cupboard. My outside area has no electricity. I like to make things but feel such a deep shame that I may have to hide my hand-planes and the soon to arrive pedestal drill. Perhaps there is hope for the ridiculed, in this new beer therapy I've heard about? (Said tongue in cheek, though on the reality of my situation) I'm a card carrying member of the "Cats First" party. Is there, in common use, the phrase "whitesmith" or just "smith" which in the understanding of those in the field is something different than "blacksmith"? I ask in part because it's somewhat in line with the conversation here, and as I attempt to learn more before wading in, I've slowly been reading several books in PDF format. They are all from the timeframe between 1904 to 1917 and in one of them there was a distinction made. The author stated something to the effect that a blacksmith was one who did one off jobs. Whitesmith was referred to, but I will have to find it again, because I can't remember how he sought to define a whitesmith. But now it seems that all practitioners call themselves blacksmiths.
  4. From many years of experience with skill acquisition in several fields, I have to say that I find that very poor advice, given by someone who is too far down the road to truly remember the beginning trials and frustrations beginners face. If you want to save on many years of pricey tennis lessons and gear when your kid shows interest, buy him a cheap racket, or worse, one he/she can "grow into" and let him play in any shoes that they find comfortable. It's a near guaranteed loss of interest due to lack of expected progress. Same with hiking and long distance cycling. I can't tell you how many people quit the hobby because of beginner level boots and pack, or a poorly fitted bicycle ridden in cotton jeans. When my daughter was twelve years old, we took a 2,200 mile unsupported bike ride through eleven states over 56 days of stealth camping. It changed her whole outlook on life and actually changed her personality in one summer. Not a single adult except myself thought it was doable for her, but much of the success was that she did not have to struggle with sub-optimal gear and clothing. And I could go on. If one believes in themselves, a family member or a friend, and especially a young person - take the chance. Buy three quarters of the way up in the price ranking. Often it turns out not to be their passion, and you lose a pot of money. But in a subtle, yet powerful way, you show that person you support them, and their possible growth is more important than cold money. Heck, we can't take it with us anyways, if rumors are right.
  5. From someone with the same beginner status, I wonder why so many people just starting gravitate towards making tongs right at the start. Does not buying a few first make more sense? A related question that the OP has raised in my head is out of all the metal stock available, is there one or two sizes that are best to start with, such as very thin or quite thick stock, and is round or square or flat the first thing as one is starting. If one was limited to two beginner pieces of steel, two hammers and only two tongs, especially the tongs, what to run out and acquire? I'd like to forge a copy of the Eiffel tower, but realize that six months of experience and something small may be best at first.
  6. To the OP; now that you've had a bit of time with this type of hammer, what are your thoughts on how it feels to you to use, compared to other styles of hammers that you've got experience with. I'm still not certain that this is the hobby for me as I have a bunch of logistical problems in the way. That may in fact be a good thing because I'll wade in slower rather than my usual getting carried away. I've now tried three styles of hammer and found the French style the most comfortable. I don't trust that experience at all however, because most good personal fits require proper techniques, which i don't possess. The school doesn't have a Hofi hammer and thus my heightened interest in feedback from any of those in the know. I'm starting to think that very small differences in design of hammer, of the handle and also weight, are important considerations.
  7. Thanks everyone. I didn't even have anti-fogging agents in my brain for this, which is sort of silly because it is something that swimmers use all the time. Duh. I will look into goggles for forging and perhaps try a face shield as secondary protection. Again ... thanks for the well considered replies. Of course seeing that this is a manly pursuit, I shall take heed of that Duck tape ( the actual original name for the stuff, as it was made of cotton duck cloth) and go straight to gorilla tape. I've read about "no pain ... no gain" and am too old to go slowly towards sage wisdom.
  8. Hello. I signed up a week or so ago after delaying my interest in Blacksmithing three times in my life due to reasons of practicality. Well life hasn't gotten any more "practical" for myself to get into smithing now, but I just hit age sixty, so I better start factoring in "now or never" Partly because of advice gleaned here at this forum, I decided to participate in two blacksmithing classes over the last two weeks. My experience there is fodder for another day's post, but before I consider taking any other classes I need to find a solution. The problem in need of solution for myself is that of facemarks and eye protection. The masks were mandated, so we could expell our hot breaths out to the sides and up, instead of out towards the front, and the practice part of the class was useless. I couldn't see what I was doing due to the fogging. I tried two pairs of glasses and two different styles of mask - it didn't make a quantifiable difference. So, my questions is about safety glasses as they are designed for use in a Blacksmith's Smithy. Is impact resistance a big deal when moving hot metal, as it would be when machining for exapmple? The reason I ask is that I was thinking about using swimming goggles instead. That would cure the fogging (I believe), but would that be some sort of really dumb, Darwin style, idea? Has anyone else who has reacently taken group classes been faced with the same problem, and if so, did you find a solution, or just live with the diminished visibility? Thanks. Looking forward to being "slapped upside the head" by some of the old grumps here.
  9. I've read a few post here about the Hofi hammers and now I see a photo finally. My grandfather used to have several hammers just like these, but i didn't realize what they were. I used one to beat down the corner of a new brick doorway he had built and then he did some beating of his own. I've read that these have different qualities from the other designs and it sounds intriguing. Where does one buy this style hammer, and now that I suppose you've had some time with it, how do you like it compared to other designs?
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