ironstein

apparently rules have been violated. My appologies. Am i still allowed on this site? My private messages have been turned off. Glenn, had you pm'ed me when i started this thread, i would have been informed of my error and no further post would have occurred. My appologies, i am no acting agent for Roger Lorance, just thought he was selling some thing at a price that was affordable. Lesson learned.

No, i emailed Brian and Karen, and they looked all over, and didn't see anything, i felt bad asking them to look for stuff i misplaced. I'm heading up that way this weekend, i will drive through the route i took when i left Brians shop and see if i can find them. Unfortunately i live 2 and a half hours away. Those tools were so sweet. That bottom fuller was a full three incher, it was beautiful, and the hot punch was awesome, super thick in the hitting end, and it had a great shape to the punch. the worst thing about it is that i was striker for Brian while we made all these tools, and i am very upset about losing them. Its not very often that you get to forge with Blacksmiths of their caliber, Brian Brazeal is amazing. I am proud to have tools with his touchmark.

I almost forgot, Brian made a set of tongs while i was striker. Sweet tongs too! I can't express enough how great Brian Brazeal, Ed Brazeal, Karen, and everyone else were. These people are the nicest most giving folk i have ever encountered. I learned so much. It was literally a life changing experience to be able to learn from and get to know people of their caliber. Simply amazing! I will be doing everything i can in the future to be able to spend more time with the Brazeals.

So i went up for a final visit with Brian Brazeal before he leaves to embark on his road trip. Arrived saturday morning, and we forged until the wee hours of the morning. Ed Brazeal, Clinton, Brian Brazeal, and myself had a great time making tools. Brian once again taught me an incredible amount of blacksmithing info. We forged a handled punch which Brian uses to make hammers, two top fullers, a beautiful 3 inch bottom fuller with a 1 inch shank, and he taught me how to make punches and chisels. When he was done showing me how, and after i made mine, he generously gave me the ones i watched him make. Everybody made a bunch of other tools as well, too many to list.
We forged all day sunday as well. After an amazing weekend, i started to pack up all the beautiful tools we made, feeling ever so grateful that i was going home with all this great stuff. i placed the awesome bottom fuller on the step of my truck along with my prized handled hot punch so that i could open the door to my truck. I loaded all my tools, and a whole bunch of tool and mild steel that Brian gave me, forgetting about the tools on the step of my truck. I am such an idiot. I drove home that night and went to sleep, the next morning to my HORROR, i realized that my beloved tools were nowhere to be found. They must have fallen off my truck step somewhere on the road home! What a bummer. Anyway, heres the pictures of the stuff that DID make it http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhome.http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gif

If any of this previous information is deleted, or deemed not acceptable due to iforge rules, you guys can pm me for contact info for Roger Lorance. I don't see how it could be because Hoffi hammers are regularly priced and ordered through this site. This is simply something Roger does to provide people with a great product, he doesn't make alot of these items, and doesn't always stock them.

148# made in 1918, the top half is tool steel, the base is wrought, welded together.

heres the pricelist for the swage blocks and cone anvil. Pretty good price for swage blocks, they look nice.

Brian Brazeal asked me to post these, because i am able to scan into my computer. These are the firepots that the Brazeal Brothers swear by. The prices are very reasonable. I am definitely ordering one of the fire pots, for the fire pot complete with clinker breaker and tyere and ash dump, its a great deal. I looked at Brian Brazeals set up while i was visiting, and it is a super stout set up.

If you want to use "good" rebar, look for the markings that tell you the grade. Rebar is kind of all over the place with regards to carbon content. If you find a piece that has a "W" on it, that means its weldable, and therefore more of an alloy steel. These would be decent for tools. I talked to a blacksmith that told me he made a chisel out of rebar, and it turned out to be one of his best chisels. Usually the larger stuff is an alloy, so it can be welded. Like #8 bar and above. By the way the numbers are in eighths of an inch, a #8 is one inch. The weldable rebar is similar to tool steel in its working properties, pretty tough stuff.

I'd have to agree with both of the last two posts! Brian, as usual you are posting information of substance and interest. Do you and Karen have a list of locations where you will be teaching classes? I know there is a sticky about the road trip, but i'm sure there are a ton of people who would love to come take a class from you during the road trip. Is that the boy you told me about in that picture? The one who's parents didn't believe he had made the item?
That is some impressive work he is holding, maybe he could teach me a thing or two!

Grant, Brians right, you ARE a genius!

Thats a beautiful forge. Nice score!

by the way, be careful using galvanized pipe for the tyere, or for anything that gets hot, bad stuff to breathe. Nice looking forge !

Grant,
I haven't even attempted to forge the h13. I took Brians advice, it will be a long time before i attempt to use it. I need to just concentrate on the basics and not concern myself with what the pro's are using for tooling. Kind of got ahead of myself ordering some h13. Thanks Brian, i am looking forward to coming by this weekend.

Actually if you read my posts, i stated simply that i wanted a durable tool so as not to have to redress and rework constantly. Brian you are right i have never made a punch or a chisel. My first attempt on sunday turned into a pretty scary looking object. This is why i am shelving my h13 for ten years while i learn how to forge properly! My hammer control is so terrible that i think i need to work with some mild steel for a while to develop some technique before even attempting spring steel. I am thinking of building a solid fuel forge. Using the propane forge makes it difficult to control my heat, kind of all or nothing.

Thanks Frosty,
That hammer is my prized possession! I get to go back and forge with Brian again this weekend. I just wish i had met these amazing people sooner. Brian Brazeal is really a treat to be around, the way he teaches and talks about the techniques, and why, really translates. i'll hopefully have more pictures to post after the weekend.

DennisG,
It would definitely be worth your time to take a class from Brian Brazeal. I can't say enough about him. Great teacher, he truly loves to teach.

Brian,
I will plan on being there saturday morning. I'll bring some stuff to bar-b-q. I have a three day weekend too. The drive up there isn't bad at all, i made it home in about two hours saturday. I am excited to do some more forging with you.
Clinton, I hope to see you there.

Thanks,
You should check out the post that Brian Brazeal posted. You can see the process. And even more pictures of clint and Brian making another smaller hammer.

Clinton,
Ed Brazeal got some great photos of you and brian making your hammer. Great pics of the punching process! You can see the oil flashing as you are hitting the tool. Sorry to hear you had a rough journey home. Hope the dogs were ok. I got your card so when i come up that way again i'll call you and maybe we can all go have dinner.

Brian,
I too would jump at the chance to come back and see you before you leave. I know you will be busy getting ready for your trip and finishing up your commissions, but if you get some time, whether it be an actual class, or a play day, just let me know. If you need any help packing and moving i would be happy to help too. It was amazing to bring home such an amazing piece, and to think i had a small part in making it! By the way, i would love it if you and Karen could e-mail those pictures of the hammer making to my email address if you get a chance. Thanks again.

Thanks again Brian Brazeal! This is the most fun i've had in a really long time. I learned more in one day with Brian than in the last six months on my own. I have posted pictures of the finished hammer, all i need to do is work the handle to my liking. I feel honored to have been able to experience these techniques and learn from such an amazing individual. Truly an amazing teacher. I will definitely be meeting up with these wonderful people in the future. if Brian is gonna be in your area on his road trip, definitely go and take his hammer making class. i saw all of the tools Brian made for these classes, and they are beautifully forged. Don't miss out on the chance to forge a hammer with him, You would be hard pressed to find someone who forges these hammers with these techniques. What a great process for Brian to be sharing with the blacksmithing community. I was lucky to be in the company of Ed, Brians brother, and Karen, Brians wonderful wife, among other amazing people. How lucky i feel to have been in the company of such accomplished blacksmiths in Brian, and Ed. I just wish i had met them sooner, as they are leaving to go on the Brian Brazeal Roadtrip.



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I spent a day with Brian Brazeal and his family yesterday. Ed, Brians brother, Karen, Brians wife, And Clint, a fellow blacksmith and friend of the Brazeal brothers. What a wonderful day! Brian and i made a hand forged hammer. Brian Sent me home with a bunch of 4140 tool steel, and a mind full of information. I just thought i would post Brians generosity. He just kept handing me material! I think Brian is gonna post the pictures of us making the hammer, as i got to strike for Brian while we made my hammer! The Brazeal Brothers and their family are a very generous group of people. Brian gives so freely of his time and technique. Thanks again for a great day Brian. He even gave me a hot cutter and chisel. A few coil springs, a bunch of leaf spring, and a ton of 4140 in all differrent lengths and sizes. enough tool steel to keep me busy for a long time! http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gif

I spent the day with the Brazeal Brothers Yesterday and i can't say enough how this affected me. Brian Brazeal is possibly the best teacher i have ever encountered. I have been to a few years of college, and i have had some awesome teachers in my day, but Brian Brazeal is a true artist, not only in moving metal with a hammer, but in teaching others how its done. He has an innate ability to convey exactly how to do something and why you are doing it.
Making a hammer with him was literally a life altering experience. Just being around him, i felt like i was absorbing blacksmithing all day long! Anyone out there that gets the chance to take a class from Brian during the Brian Brazeal Roadtrip should definitely jump at the chance. I plan on flying out and spending some time with Brian When he settles down after his travels. http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gif

Ed Brians brother, and Karen Brians wife were so nice and their hospitality was wonderful, they made me feel like family. I only wish i could have been expose to these wonderful people earlier in life! Here are some pictures of the finished hammer and my new prize possession!

Thanks Phil,
Very informative and well stated. Appreciate the response.