ironstein

Nicely done! I always thought those were forge welded, always nice to see diferent techniques. Thanks Dave.

Clinton, yeah usually we Ironworkers leave at the first sign of rain, but i am more tolerant than most! I will work till i get wet and miserable, then go home. I used a piece of 3/4 square i believe. I just picked up a new hammer at pieh tool when i was in sedona arizona over the weekend. It is a blu rounding hammer, i believe they are the same design as the Hofi/ Tom Clark rounding hammer, just like the hammers you and Brian Brazeal have. I picked it up and it just seemed the perfect weight for me right now since i haven't been getting much forge time in. I really like my Hofi hammer, but it just feels a bit heavy since i haven't been forging as much. If you ever get up to camp verde arizona and want to see a cool farrier and blacksmith supply check out pieh tool, they have a huge selection of stuff. It was cool to see so much blacksmithing equipment in one place! I Got some l-brand coke too, and it is good stuff.

As usual an amazing thread! When i visited Brian and was striking for the first time, i missed a blow and thankfully didn't hit his anvil, he was so graceful, he just looked at me and said "don't worry about it, this crowd doesn't know the difference"! Totally put me at ease. Looks like Darren is getting the full treatment, and is doing great. I'm gonna have to save up some cash and invite Karen and Brian out to my place for a class.

Thanks Curly! I made the damascus out of 15n20 and 1090. Started with 9 pieces, folded twice, and cut a small piece off the end of the billet. The billet is for some damascus tattoo machine plates i am doing for Eddy Deutsche, hes a friend of mine. I plan on folding it up a few more times and flattening it into plate for the machines.

hope this works

I just got a few bags of l-brand coke to try out, so i fired up the forge today since i had the day off due to rain. It's been a few weeks since i have been able to actually hammer some stuff, man it felt good! I feel so much better, seems like the stress from work and such just melted away. I made a horsehead bottle opener Brian Brazeals concept, and a damascus money clip. The money clip was fun in that i started with a chunk off a billet i had been working on, the chunk i chiseled off was the size of a silver dollar, but a bit thicker. I hammered it out into a rectangle and fullered it into a strip, folded it over a piece of round stock, and etched it in muriatic, then ferric chloride. Thanks for looking. Brian

Being a union ironworker (rodbuster), if i were to build a floor for a shop, i would reinforce with 5/8 or larger rebar, and in the area where i knew power tools would be, thicken the slab and use a double mat of rebar with a tighter spacing. I have worked on slabs which were to be used for heavy equipment and power equipment which were reinforced with 5/8 rebar at 12" on center, and they held up very well. Depending on your budget, a post tension cable reinforced slab is very expensive, but the cables keep the concrete in compression so cracking is kept to a minimum. A reinforced slab with 1/2 inch rebar at twelve inches on center is probably overkill for most shops, but if you are planning on driving forklifts and such , i would go with as large as you can. Like previously stated, you can always saw cut the spot where your hammer will be located, excavate a footing, and install what is recommended. I am envious of your adventure, wyoming is beautiful, i would love to be able to live somewhere where i could do the same! Good luck. If you have any specific questions, feel free to pm me. Brian

Looks like fun! I gotta get to a conference, or hammer in, as Karen Brazeal says, "the forge attracts the best people". Karen, Brian i hope you are well.

don fogg knives sells it too i believe.

Robert, you should check out the thread "tools from spring" by Brian Brazeal, he shows some great examples. You'll find it in the tools section.

Absolutely! I will be checking out that shop. Gonna pick up some coke while i'm there. Thanks Sam, i will.

Turns out the actual price is over $2000 for that baby so i won't be bringing it home!

Wow, you guys are way off topic. Thanks for the responses...i think. I was asking what anyone knows about TFS anvils. I am driving my 2010 duramax quad cab 4x4 out there, and it could pull a house, so i don't think hauling anything will be a problem. Actually my plan fell apart as shipping will cost me $75 less to have it drop shipped to my home! If i have it shipped to the store it will be more!

I am going to Sedona Arizona for a wedding and some rest and relaxation in two weeks. I am currently in the market for a european style anvil. I have been kicking around the euroanvil, ozark pattern, and the smithy special. Pieh tool is right by where i will be in arizona, and they offer a 400# smithy special for under $1300. Just curious if anyone here has any experience with TFS anvils as i would not have to pay for shipping, and could afford a larger 400 pounder if i picked it up from pieh tool while in Sedona. Any commentary would be appreciated.

Interesting stuff. Thanks artfist and southshore for the explanation.

cool video. almost seems like a single blow power hammer. I guess essentially thats what it is? Looks like great control.

nice looking friction screw press. Looks like it has some nice tooling options too with the dovetails. whats the tonnage?

Brian Brazeal is an amazing smith, he is like an energizer bunny! I remember one weekend we forged all day (i did alot of armchair forging!) We worked and talked about blacksmithing till around two in the morning, i had to tap out and go to sleep, i think Brian stayed up a while and kept working. Every time i visited him, i would arrive around seven in the morning or so, and he would be at the anvil working on something. Even when we stopped to eat or have a chat, he was always asking everyone what they wanted to make. You can really tell he loves his profession. If anyone is looking to learn about blacksmithing, he is a great man to learn from.

Nice job clinton. I agree with you, i kinda like the rusty look on stuff i make as well. I just clean up the areas i am gonna weld using a grinder or wire wheel. That hammer looks like a great striker substitute.

Sounds like an amazing man. Craftsmen like that are few and far between anymore. You are lucky to know him.

hows about some chocolate covered bacon?

I believe he got it from the salt fork craftsmen website, they have items listed for sale.

Confucius say "always listen to the wise curmudgeon"!

I agree with monster. Your work is absolutely beautiful. Those judges probably had cataracts.

Looking good Downsfish. Thats gonna be a nice looking anvil. I love that style. When i get the mone together, i will probably buy an ozark or a hofi anvil. I am a union rodbuster foreman, so i was just curious about the rebar you make at that mill. The billet you are using for that anvil, what makes it unsuitable for rebar, but suitable for an anvil?