DennisG

I shovel the coke pile off to the two side, take out whats inside the fire pot to about 1/2 left then go home. My shop is not at my home so I like to make sure the fire is not going to keep smoldering. When I go back I take a little more out of the pot and drop the clinkers and dust down the grate and out the bottom and start a new fire with a little paper, shavings, the coke and some new coal on the sides. But I am with Frosty, there is no right way only the way that works for you.

done

My father is 83 this yr, he has always told me we will run out of skilled workers or "ditch diggers" as he called them. My dad was a drywall taper for almost 40 yrs., I myself am a Journeyman welder. Working with your hands even in trades requires you to think just like a "professional". The difference is we wear coveralls and a hard had, not a suit and tie. As to $80K, just being a regular welder up here you can make that, and B pressure or specialty welding you can go way higher. Nothing gets done in this world without skilled labor.

I thought that some knife makers in the northern states and southern AB, BC and Sask would be interested in this. Sorry for the short notice if you do want to attend. The chance to learn a bit on damascus might be good too. excerpt....... Jim Clow, will be hosting the 1st Southern Alberta Hammer at my shop, on my acreage near Tilley, Alberta, Canada, on June 17th, 18th & 19th/2011. Currently we have scheduled 4 knife makers to conduct demonstrations. 1. Ed Caffrey M.S, -- Great Falls, Montana. U.S.A 2. J.Neilson M.S, --Wyalusing, Pennsylvania. U.S.A 3. Steve Kelly J.A, --Big Fork, Montana. U.S.A 4. Cal Ganshorn, -- Regina, Saskatchewan. Canada Some areas of interest which will be demonstrated. There will also be some side demonstrations taking place during the main demonstrations. 1. Can Welding Damascus 2. Layered Damascus 3. Forging a Billet into a blade 4. Fit and finish a knife 5. Salt pot heat treating 6. File work 7. Leather sheath construction Here is the full pdf and info if you are interested. http://www.filefactory.com/file/cb57de7/n/Southern_Alberta_Hammer_2011.pdf

Very nice. Lyle, it amazes me how many pics you can do while working on other stuff.

Our Condolences to you and your family Glen. DennisG and my wife Michele.

Do you sell these, if so what do you charge? They are very nice and makes me want to make some myself.

LOL..... Should have said yes you would go, but that to actually "DO" Blacksmithing is $75 and they supply lunch plus 5% of the gate. I am still having trouble understanding this " I come to you to do a show but you have to pay to do it" mentality you all have down there.

Ok, I am up here in Alberta Canada, there are 6 of us doing demos from mid Alberta up to the north, that we are aware of. Our demos are done at various "heritage day" type events for the small towns. With our short "nice weather" time we can be busy from end of may until end of sept. . Because of our past there are still alot of people who remember the local Blacksmith, may even have worked for him. So we are really there as a draw of sorts and also there to show the craft is still alive and being carried on. We are showing the heritage of our province and past. If you look at a map you will see the size of Alberta. Some shows we do are 2 or more hours drive on the highway each way. Shows are generally 1 day some 2 days. So with all this being said, we get paid for our demo time usually. I say usually as some events are so small it is just not possible for them but we go anyway, it's a volunteer thing. The fee is about $150 and up per day plus a meal and if it is very far there may be mileage. For that fee they get 2 Blacksmiths, this way while one is resting/mingling/educating at the front, the other smith is "working". We supply all of our needs from water to coal. We leave our site like we found it, no ash or clinkers anywhere. We have tables set up for our wares and benches for people to sit and watch. We can and will sell what we make there as well as what we bring. The income from our sales is ours, we do not pay out percentages. If it is a 2 day event, we will pay for our own camp sites ect. Our day is from about 10 am until 4 or 5 pm. We take a mostly full shop, anvil, forge, post drill, leg vise, hand crank grinder and wire wheels, plus our hammers, tongs, various tools. The other thing we do besides demoing is educate. We show what was done and how along with how that has helped bring about today. We promote the guild we belong to, Western Canadian Blacksmith Guild . Thru these efforts we let others know that the art and craft are still remembered and practiced and all are welcome to it. It seems to me that alot of you who do these demos also are full time Blacksmiths making a living doing so. If this is the case then you also have to pay taxes, insurance fees, ect. If you are having to claim your Blacksmithing as a job and pay for a site as well as percentages, then you best be getting receipts to claim for your taxes. These people should have tax numbers too, or however it is you do it in the US. A fair or show may want to wave the fees and such if you are forcing the tax issue. Also, if you have to pay to play you should also have a right to pick your spot. Might I suggest in the middle of the lane of other stalls, or the end spots. If they want you to be anywhere that puts you off or out of the way from other vendors, making people walk further or out of the way, then you will need to renegotiate a rate to reflect this. BTW, do you get a cut of the gate? To pay a fee makes the whole thing seem like it is a "flea market" setting. Whats next, you have to pay the organizers a commission if you get any off site work from someone met at these shows? Say no to "Pay for Play" shows!

Hmmm.....do you want to study Metallurgy or do you want to work in the field? If you want to do theory can't help you, but if you want to do practical then become a technologist. Up here in Edmonton we have a place called NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) and they have an MET course, metallurgical engineering technologist, I took the first yr of the 2 yr corse but had to leave due to life situations. very cool what you learn.

drill a small hole at the end of the cracks to stop propagation. cast can be welded f you have patience and time with nickle rod, about 1" at a time, after a weld tap it with a ball peen ball let cool to touch and do another and so on and so on. you could also braze the cracks too. washer to spread out the pressure at the bolts s good. The other is to just build your own forge to accommodate the blower. just my thoughts. as to refractory stuff, look up refractory places near your place. some will give you left over bags of clay that you may not even have to pay for. Bing or google refractory.

very cool design. the board will need coatings, this I learned as it dries, cracks, then flakes off. can't wait for the pics and vids of it going

congrats, looks very nice and good shape. enjoy

WoW, you guys sure have some good ideas. Thanks! I am gonna have to see how this is gonna work. I don't have a lathe or a shaving horse. I could get files and a draw knife. As for wood choices I have a wide variety to choose from as long as they are in stock and possibly available in 1 1/2" X 1 1/2" or 2X2 or even pieces I can cut down on my table saw. Thomas, I made the change so that my location is not just in my profile, but is also shown here. Fosterob, I wonder about cherry too, also rosewood. if you are reading the thread and have ideas pass them along please. Thanks.

I have been looking for articles covering the making of hammer handles but have found nothing specific. I am getting into making my own hammers and so want to make handles to go with. Yes For 5$ - 10$ I can buy one but thats not what I want to do anymore. I see some members with made handles on their hammers. The handle seems flat on both sides with curves on top and bottom, straight handles. I hear that one side has a slightly different curve so that by feel you know what face you are working with. One handle is the type Brian uses. So I need to know, what types of wood to use, how the handle is formed, dimensions for the rough and finished handle, finishes used on the handle, and any other info I can get. Links, picture (lots is best), vids on making are all good. Thanks guys for the help.

I agree with Thomas. Fire codes and spacing is all covered in building codes. You need to check them with your design. Show pics when you are done.

hmmm......with all this free time, borrow the family truck and pick up a load of coal, some bags and start a supply business for other smiths nearby. Not all smiths can buy large amounts or have time to get coal when needed. A business for someone young?

Hello again Kerry, The Western Canadian Blacksmith Guild website is now up if you want to take a peruse. http://www.wcbg.ca/ Hope to meet you in person some day. Dennis

A lucky guy you are Alec! Would you mind sending up pics of your setup at home? You realize also that you will have to start showing way more pics of your work with explanations.

Mark, if you say you got it all for 20$ I will have to come over and beat you. LOL. nice haul

Hello from Edmonton