John NC

This is a photo of a shoe from one of Samuel Smith's Shire horses. We took a tour of the brewery that ended in the stable. I asked one of the stable hands where in the world they bought shoes for these enormous beasts he replied "We mek 'em oorsefs" in his best Yorkshirese. As we were leaving he slipped me this shoe to take home. It's made from 1" X 1/2" from what I can see.

I put photos of my latest handle HERE (Click for pics) I used Black Locust that had been dead but standing for about a year. Black Locust is the only wood I know of that can stand dead and not rot. Guys even make archery bows out of standing dead Locust. Other good woods have already been mentioned. If you find a nice long log of Osage Orange with straight grain sell it to a bowyer for big bucks and go buy 20 Locust fence posts. I use a saw to cut 18" logs, then split the logs into billets. As mentioned, it's important to follow the grain. Then I use a drawknife to get an oversized oval. A wood rasp and half-round file shape the curves, then I coarse sand with an RO sander. The head end has been clamped in the vise this whole time. Now I'll flip it around, cut it to length, and use the drawknife and rasp to shape the head end. You can see in the pics that I like a flat right side, and a bulge in the palm area. You might like something completely different. For a finish I just rub a little danish oil on it. I don't fine sand or use varnish because I don't want a glossy, slippery handle. I used an epoxy intended to be used to set bolts in concrete, thinking it would stay flexible and not crack. As you can see from the pics it did neither. I'm going to try Liquid Nails next time.

Best estimate is 15 to 20 years worth of methane in the landfill. Here's a link to the landfill gas collection system at the Jackson County Green Energy Park, where I rent.

Grant, I have no control over that site, that's the Philip Simmons Foundation's doing. My pics are on the Panoramio link. http://www.panoramio.com/user/5796612/tags/Ironwork

I took a lot of photos of old iron in Charleston last weekend, including Philip Simmons' last big work, "Heart Gate" My link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Simmons http://www.philipsimmons.us/index2.html

Nice work. I've seen lower quality stuff sell for hundreds around here, so you should be good to go.

Thanks Giles. Next time you have to put down the camera and pick up a hammer though!

I touchmark anything big enough to mark and date items if requested by the customer

Yup, got one of the four for $450.00. A couple of little nicks on the edge of the face, otherwise cherry.

I have a line on a used LMF 175 pound anvil. Any comments, opinions and price suggestions would be appreciated. Condition was described as 'good' by a fellow smith.

Don, I just did one for a local cabin. We're using lead anchors, lag bolts and are drilling into the mortar joints.

Cool! Show us some pictures. :D

Uh oh, my wife just saw those pics. Great work, sir!

Can you define 'bow tips'? I'm a bit of a bowyer myself, but I'm not sure what you mean by that phrase. For a portable forging set-up, a farriers trailer would be ideal. See if there's a farrier near you and give him a call.

The Google Maps Street View car has photographed the Creusot steam hammer. From Wikipedia: The Creusot steam hammer was a giant steam hammer built in 1877 by Schneider and Co. in the French industrial town of Le Creusot. With the ability to deliver a blow of up to 100 tons, the Creusot hammer was the most powerful in the world until 1891, when the Bethlehem Iron Company of the United States purchased patent rights from Schneider and built a steam hammer of almost identical design but capable of delivering a 125 ton blow. The Creusot hammer still exists, although it is no longer operational, and is a tourist attraction in the town of Le Creusot where it was built. With few remaining rivals, the hammer today is once again the largest of its kind in the world.

I have a bunch of five-lined skinks in and around my shop. This pic is of an adult, the juveniles have bright blue tails.

Very nice! I do something a little different with mine. I do a socket base then whittle a stick (or have my customer whittle a stick) to get more distance between user and fire.

Good stuff. Congrats!

Go to http://maps.google.com/maps. On the left you will see a link that reads "Put your business on Google Maps". Follow the instructions from there.

Ken, I forgot to mention my website. I did it myself with zero programming skills at intuit.com. They registed my domain name and provide free templates for sites. It's cheap, quick, and easy. Intuit's Website Builder I hear they're considering a new tagline for their advertizing: "So easy even a blacksmith can do it". :P

Get yourself listed on Google Maps. It's free, it tells folks where to find you, how to contact you, and they even host photos of your work, for free! My Google Maps link #1 My Google maps page Did I mention that it's free? ;)

Drop a handful of copper scraps in a pint of vinegar and let it sit for a week or more, then use that solution to patinate steel. Wipe it on, let dry, then neutralize. It gives it a sort of gray/gold tone.

Ken, it's Saturday only. In Sylva, nothing happens on Sundays except for church. ;)