Mark Wargo New2bs Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Well, the weather wouldn't cooperate for making charcoal today. As the wind died down late, I decided to try using corn for a fuel. Worked like a charm and allowed me to forge my first "S" hook. I know I didn't clean up the hammer marks too well, but I was having a hard time seeing since it had gotten dark. Otherwise, please let me know what ya think. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Not bad looking. Maybe dress your hammer face, especially if a store bought hammer. I noticed a lot of marks like that before I dressed the faces of my store bought hammers. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petere76 Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Mark, looks good and will it work, what else can they ask for. hang tough and keep up the pursuit of quality. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John NC Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Tell us more about corn as fuel, please. Hook looks good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKFrosty57 Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 That's a good first effort Mark. It is symetrical, well balanced and even. Hammer marks, they tell me two things, first as said dressing your hammer will help. However, all of them are of the same orientation, the same edge is hitting. This tells me you are holding your hammer a bit cocked so the face isn't striking parallel with the anvil face. A little practice and attention to the effect should train this right out of your hand. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 I would also like to hear more about the corn for fuel. I know a couple of folks that use corn burning furnaces. But I have never seen it used in a forge. Sounds interesting. Include some pix if you can. BTW, Good looking S-hook. Keep up the good work. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Wargo New2bs Posted December 10, 2009 Author Share Posted December 10, 2009 Thank you for the comments. Indeed, I was using a brand new hammer, and it has sharp corners. I'm attending a short blacksmithing course over in Mississippi next weekend and was hoping the teacher could advise me on dressing the face. I don't want to wreck the hammer trying to dress it with no knowledge. Also, I'm sure I wasn't using the hammer well. It bounced unpredictably off the face of the anvil. I was not in my usual forging location, but had moved onto a concrete pad and my anvil was slightly (a milimeter or two)rocking on its base to make matters worse beyond my general lack of experience. Corn Forging: I started a small charcoal fire in the forge, then poured corn around it. You get a rush of smoke that fills the fire pot, but burns off before it goes very far. I posted a bit more about it here with a picture:http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f85/charcoal-vs-corn-13989/index2.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keykeeper Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Looks good, feels good to just DO IT, huh? So what if you have a few hammer marks, I call that learning. Good job! Listen to what Frosty and the other wise ones on here have to say, correct what needs correcting, and forge on brother!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rcrew Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Where in Mississippi are you attending a blacksmith course? You also can contact the MS forge concil they can help you and you can buy coal from them in Jackson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Wargo New2bs Posted December 11, 2009 Author Share Posted December 11, 2009 In Jackson at the Mississippi Craft Center. It's called A Taste of Blacksmithing. I'll be following that up in January or February with a more involved class. I met several of the folks from the MS Forge Council last weekend at a craft fair. Super helpful guys and I look forward to talking with them more. Thanks for the hint on buying coal. One of the fellows did mention that they buy it 22 tons at a time. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rcrew Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 They are a great bunch maybe we'll meet after the frist of the year. To busy right now to make any meetings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sukellos Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Any time you're tempted to get too critical of your own hand-forged work just stop by the local hardware or home store and look at the ones on their rack! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 I like that twist! It's hard to get a nice even twist. I like that twist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sukellos Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Hey BentIron! You and I live close. I'm in northeast Mesa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Sukellos, "Close" is relative, it's easier for me to drive to Prescott than Mesa. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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