Strine

Hopefully someone will gaze at their navel and think gee, wouldn't it be a shame if the skill of the old smith is lost and set up some sort of a group either on line or in their local village to revive said old skills. Sadly though this group will succumb to the mighty dollar and start to introduce the mig or the plasma cutter to their work. Those old skills just take too long to learn don't they. The learning curve sure makes a mockery of the bottom line and the average mug punter doesn't know the difference anyway. Who are we to try and convince him otherwise. Just hide the mig or stick weld and call it wrought iron. We'll all make a killing. All hail the bottom line. Fortunately there will be enough proponents of 'traditional' stuff (bore me with a definition of traditional...that'd be fun) and so the term "Blacksmith" will remain. This will just enhance the bottom line which is the main thing isn't it? ---------o0o--------- Is there anyone out there who couldn't give a tinker's cuss about how much money can be made by reshaping metal or joining bits of metal together? Is there anyone out there who is intent only on learning and honing the skills for the sake of his own satisfaction and hopefully for the sake of the craft? Or are these just ridiculous ideals that need to be mocked and derided and put out of one's mind. Forget all that carp about tradition! It's carp, money's what we're here for, nothing else. OK, I'd rather be somewhere else then. I look forward to when this argument arises again.

Wait a mo, I think I've been jilted. It was your first word Gobinu, that invited me to read on but alas, no mention of what I thought may have been your mother country. Thasorright tho it seems our language is preferred in more places than we Aussies think. First it was a trickle then a flood. Strine (the language) is gunna rule one day for sure. Welcome cobber

And did you play the farewell when you left? Ashokan Farewell that is... a very pretty tune

Mine reflects my ancestry and our language. Australian....Strayan....Strine.

And the worst place to find it is in your budgie smugglers. By the cringe, I do hate the beach.

Loud enough to call the farmer from the DELL

"The previous owner of the house left them behind", "They're still in their wrapper" Oh please, do we really look that stupid. Jake, just.... Ask the seller a question. Is it the same anvil that they have for less than $100 at Harbour Freight? Any questions I've ever asked appear at the bottom of the listing so there's your warning. I'd ask, but I've never heard of Harbour freight nor have any idea whether the anvil is carp or not. I don't want to look the goose if in fact they are the best anvils ever made.

Ding ...the hole you made in the anvil when you made it Ring. Avoid hitting hammer on anvil without something in-between:D

Not out of your mind at all. I have had projects on the go for years:rolleyes: I just patiently wait for that inspiration to get me over the current hurdle. Every now and then the little light bulb flashes over head and I can move on. I'd get pen and paper and start drawing. Fair dinkum designers make lots of drawings and concept plans before they hand it over to the manufacturer with exact specifications etc (who then makes it work!). As a woodworker how would you go about making a chest of drawers for instance? I rest my case:)

Alan. I could break the clay knot down and post some pictures but I won't because I fear it will taint your thinking. As I have mentioned, thus far I have failed to achieve the end result. There's no point dragging you along my dead end track. I wait with bated breath to see how your idea goes. Stevo, The one shown in the pikkies is made of modelling clay. As a mace it wouldn't knock Grandma off the toilet seat!!;)

With no time to explain anything it is a matter of making about a 70d bend and upsetting in the vicinity of this bend to fill out the radius gradually increasing the angle to 90d. There's a bit on it here http://www.iforgeiron.com/blueprints-200-300/bp0295-nail-in-hooks.html

Good point Thomas. I should at least allow the use of steel hammers and anvils Rule 4 now shall read 4. It must be the product of blacksmithing methods used prior to the invention of electrical machinery and gas torches, however an electric light in the shed is permissible.

Attached is a series of photos on tying a "Sailor's Lanyard Knot" in cord. They tell me it's difficult for some and easy for others to follow pictures of knots...bad luck, it's all I've got. There's probably other descriptions on the net. The challenge I propose for readers is to tie this knot in steel. The last three photos show an attempt in modeling clay/plasticine. With out attaching to many tickets to myself I reckon that in itself was a fair achievement. See how you go at rolling out a sausage of plasticine and tying it into a knot. Some may say, just show us how you managed it in plasticine and we'll do it in steel. No doubt there'll also be lots of suggestions as to tying claytons knots or Bill Epps (I think) knots. Forget it. I'm not challenging you to reinvent the wheel, I'm challenging you to come up with a way of tying this particular knot and no other. All I'll say about the plasticine model is that you'll probably forget about tying the knot as you did with the chord. There was a bit of lateral thinking involved. Out of interests sake I'm wondering whether your lateral thinking is any different to mine. Some are probably thinking I should get off my backside and just do it. I have tried and thus far failed. I have cheated and made the loop separately and shoved it down the middle of a steel turks head. It looks OK from certain angles but is "just not right" Why bother you say? I see this knot as having a multitude of applications and if a successful method is found the configurations of these types of knots is almost limitless. By the way, those that know my stance on fabrication will understand that this is a challenge in forging not forgery. If there are rules to this challenge then let these be them 1. It must be a replication of the "Sailors Lanyard Knot" which consists of a loop on top and two leads extending from the bottom of a three lead, four bight turks head which when tied in cord uses one continuous length. 2. it must be made of iron or steel 3. It shall be known as the Strine's/(insert successful smith's name here) Knot 4. It must be the product of blacksmithing methods used prior to the invention/discovery of electricity. Finally, you are correct in thinking that this is not explaining a particular aspect of blacksmithing and you've learnt nothing by reading this post. This is not a "taking" exercise it's a "giving" exercise allowing you the opportunity to give something back to the craft in the form of something bordering on "new" in a craft where nothing is new.

Here's a sketch of my scroll tongs. See also BP0246 http://www.iforgeiron.com/blueprints-200-300/bp0246-door-wedge.html where there's a picture of these tongs somewhere. They are certainly a favourite, possibly because my daughter (aged eight or nine at the time) was instrumental in their making if for no other reason. They work good too so I suppose that's another reason. Start with about 1" x 3/8" bar and shape the jaw and reins from that. Maintain the 3/8" dimension for the full length except for the tip of the jaw. The jaw is just a short, round taper for about 2/3 the length from the eye. Drill or punch the eye in each rein. By the way, both sides are exactly the same. THERE IS NO LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE. At this stage there is no shape looking at the 3/8" dimension...it should lay flat on the anvil. Now rivet them together. Bugger, they're stuck aren't they and the jaws don't line up nor do the reins. Heat the jaw area and set the jaws together and jog the reins till everything lines up. Ease the reins apart until the tongs open and shut freely. Quench them with short jabs into the tub opening and shutting them all the while. Simple yet functional all you need to do is think about aesthetics. There is no reason why the tongs can't be simple, functional AND artful.

Louise, are you left handed or right handed? Which ever it is look at that hand for a pattern. Touch your index finger to your thumb and there you have it. Except they don't have to be as fat since steel is much stronger than fingers. The rest of the tongs...eye, rivet, reins etc can be found in the blueprints.

So Nick, what was the trick you found in making a nail header?

Blkbear, I hope the tattooist doesn't rune the job and your stuck with a scar for life. I like to get a tatt but I just can't think of a design I'd be happy with for the rest of my born days. They don't scrub off too easy I hear.

I'm a little confused, Ben. You say you create lots of hammer marks, which is good in that you recognise a downfall in your ability; something a lot of us, including me, fail to realise sometimes. Then you postulate as to why you are getting all these half moons and other sorts of divots and your reasoning makes perfect sense to me. That's probably what I was doing when I was making divots. What more can anyone else offer I ask? You know the problem..divots, you know the remedy..change the hammer angle. Word of warning. Perfect results will not come after one or two lazy afternoon sessions at the forge. You have to practice AND you have to learn from your mistakes i.e. gain experience. Your problem at the moment is you're not listening to yourself. Forget making a particular article for the moment. Concentrate on bashing hot iron with out leaving divots or at least leaving the divots you want to. I was told once that it's OK to "leave your mark" ie keep the forged look, encouraged even, but it's not OK to leave everything from your mother's maiden name to your great-great auntie's preference for sock colour. Footnote: The angle at which the face of the hammer must meet the work is for ever changing. But that's OK, after a ton, no, two tons of practice you will be able to hit at just the right angle.

Although you don't mention it, HOT used motor oil fumes such as what you'ld get going from forge to slack tub is CARCENOGENIC.

What's this More Australians, welcome aboard folks. First there was a trickle then there was a flood. Leon there is anorher mob out around Tamworth, but I know nussing. You'ld have to perhaps pop in to a local pub or post office and ask around. There's another crowd in a suburb of Sydney called Melbourne at least that's what they'd have you believe They can be found at Australian Blacksmiths Assocation (Vic) Incorporated - Welcome

Jake, you don't think getting the WCB Arns as a tatt is misguided unless of course, you are a member.

Dale Look 't moy, Look 't moy, loook aaat moyeeeee. Post something

I dunno about the extra clay. It seems to me from the photo with the squirter tape that it would be deep enough without it. Just tack it/bolt it or otherwise join it to a plate to fit inside the wheel. Leave a bit of the wheel proud of the plate and you have storage for fuel. What about burning out the pot...no worries...knock up another one.

Enthusiasm, an openness to suggestions and a preparedness to pass on the skills you learn.

Or you could try 1 part turps, 1 part linseed oil and 1 part vinegar ...a recipe I heard on the weekend. Trust me it works a treat on wood and may just work on metal, hot or cold. Worth a try but my fires out at the moment.