brianbrazealblacksmith Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Ironstein, Brian Morris, came by yesterday to my shop. I gave him some tool steel and we forged him a hammer out of 2" round 4140. We forged the hammer in about an hour, then while we waited for it to cool, another freind, Clinton Parkinson, struck and we forged another hammer out of 1 3/4" stock. Brian ground his hammer then we hardened it. He finish ground it then we tempered it. After it cooled, we handled it. Now all he has to do is shape his handle to his liking. I really enjoyed the day. I rarely get people coming by. It's nice to have a play day. Brian, my brother Ed, Clinton and his girlfriend Dora, and even Karen hung out in the shop. Thanks for coming by Ironstein! Here are some pics of making the hammer. I didn't get any pics of the finished hammer. Maybe you could post some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironstein Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 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.http://wwwhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gif.iforgeiron.com/forhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clinton Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Hey brian looks like i got some pretty good shots that photography class paid off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 Thanks for the kind words Brian, and the plug! We'll be leaving here by the Sept. 10 with enough gas money to make it at least 1/2 way, so we'll need to be working to get the rest of the way. I don't think we'll have any problems. We have mostly weekend gigs, but we'd like to fill in the weekdays, also. I really enjoyed the day also, and you did a great job of striking! Nothing to it was there? It practically made itself. We just had to put it under the dies and hit it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 Hey brian looks like i got some pretty good shots that photography class paid off Yeah, Clinton you did a great job. I had a tough time narrowing down my choices. We have alot more great shots. You should post some pictures of your hammer that are on your camera. I'm glad to see you here on I Forge Iron! And thanks for coming by! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clinton Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Ya i will put up some pics as soon as i can we had a rough trip home there was fire on pacheco pass so we had to back track and take a back road 6 1/2 hour trip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 Wow, what a bummer. We were out in the shop until 10:00, so I probably got to unwind before you did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clinton Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 ya it was quite a jouney we would like to get over to see you guys one more time before you hit the road. i am trying to figure out how to post theese pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 Hey Clinton, this is Karen. I don't know your camera program but with ours we choose the photos and resize them then put them in a designated folder outside the camera program so we can find them later to select when we browse. Hope that helps! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaylan veater Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Very nice looking hammer, I would think that it would be really fun to be the striker and the student learning hands on is really fun!! I too hope to have Brian come and do a demo for the BFC. GREAT PICTURES!!! Gaylan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clinton Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 It was a great learning experience to work with brian forging his hammer brian is a great teacher and he makes it seem so easy. it was a lot of work but very fun. i will add some more pics later my batt died Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironstein Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironstein Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 Ironstein, I'll be here. You're welcome to come by. I know you work during the week, so maybe we should plan on next weekend. I don't think I'll need help packing, so why don't we plan on forging, and I can probably dig up somemore material and such that you can take home. Karen will E-mail you somemore pics today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlpierson Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Just a tip: I've moved to using Picasa for most of my photo maintenance. Free and very easy to use. Primarily designed to organize all the photos on your PC, it has enough editing support to handle most fix up needs too. They also have an online site to upload the photos to but I'm still using Flickr for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clinton Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 ironstein- those are some good shots and the dogs were fine just a bit hungry. I got to sleep for the ride home after we got on the alternate route dora did all the driving home slow but safe so its all good. it was nice to meet you and maybe we can do it again next week end hate to travel on holiday but its a 4 day week end for us so i could camp out got to go do more sanding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironstein Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisG Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Hello guys, Brian, what are the chances you'd be heading up to northern Alberta, Canada? I see all the work you do, the comments from everyone and it is like I am missing out being way up here. Now thats not to say we don't have some teachers but hey, I like to learn from different people. Might have to look at a blacksmith tour one summer, just don't like the new border crossing rules. Good Hammering to all the lucky people meeting up with Brian and Karen over the coming months. I look forward to the stories and pictures to come. DennisG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironstein Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted August 31, 2009 Author Share Posted August 31, 2009 (edited) DennisG, I'd love to have the opportunity to come up to Alberta, Canada, but I'd have to have some work to do. I haven't had a vacation since I started blacksmithing, and I don't see the possibility of one in the near future. I have to work my way where ever I go. Here are somemore pics of Ironstein's hammer being made. Edited August 31, 2009 by brianbrazealblacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaylan veater Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Great Pictures, Looks to be alot of fun.Brian in picture #6 and #8 what is that hardy tool do and what does the inside look like? Gaylan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted September 1, 2009 Author Share Posted September 1, 2009 It is just a round depression. It forges the rounded side of the rounding hammer. That is why we call them "forged to finish", because we forge the faces instead of sawing them off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Great series of pics all round of a great day. Beautiful new hammer Ironstein you lucky dog. I really like the smiles around the vise, says it all. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironstein Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsiler Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 This thread was a lot of fun to read and see. Blacksmithing, hard work, a lot of fun and a bunch of great people! Brian, Somewhere I read that you're planning to be in NC. If so have you decided where it will be. It would be a privilege to meet you and Karen. Hope that it will so that I can. Would love to have one of those hammers! Thanks for sharing all you guys do with us, Billy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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