Blacksmith58 Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Well, I finally got the chance and the time to get hooked up at this fourm. My name is Rick and I'm on a 12 step program for Blacksmiths. Don't know what step I'm on and I Don't care. I'm one of the Lucky one that has a full time job Blacksmithing. I'm the Resident Blacksmith at the John Deere Historic Site in Grand Detour, Illinois. I just got started here at this web site so I thought I jump ion with a big old Howdy! Glad to be here! Looking forward to so some good conversations and idea exchanges! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irnsrgn Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Welcome Rick, Welcome to IFI, I have a MOLINE Walking plow in the shop to sharpen and set up some day soon. I am on step 2 I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 Howdy from East Texas! and WELCOME aboard! would like to see some pics of you and "your" shop sometime. I saw a small clip about the John Deere HS a few weeks back on RFD-TV. Just enough to interested....andyway, welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rthibeau Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 Welcome to IFI, Rick. Lots of info and good advice here for the asking. If irnsgn (Jr) is at Step 2, most of us can't spell blcksmth...;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Thomas Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 Thomas Dean: Rick put a link to his web page in his profile. Just click on his name in his first post and you'll see it. Rick: Welcome. I enjoyed the tour of your work on your site. In particular, your news rack is VERY nicely done. The sort of work that makes one smile just to look at it. Thanks for the link! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith58 Posted August 31, 2006 Author Share Posted August 31, 2006 Here is a photo of the outside of the John Deere Historic Site Blacksmith Shop! And here is a photo of the Inside of the shop. It is a replica of John Deeres Original 1837 Shop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 Rick, Welcome to the site, great shop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 Ed Thomas thanks for the info to Rick's site. Nice job on the site too BTW. So Rick, you being a TEXAS boy where do you hail from? I'm just out of Longview, 120mi. east of Dallas and 60mi west of Shreveport, LA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith58 Posted August 31, 2006 Author Share Posted August 31, 2006 Well Mr Dean, I'm about 90% Cajun (CoonAxx to those in the know) was Born and Raised in Port Arthur, Texas. Only reason I wasn't born in LA. is cause my Dad got a job in Texas. So a Texan I am. You can take the boy out of Texas, but you can't take Texas out of the boy! All of my kin folks are around Lafayette LA. I left PA TX in 1976 for the USAF at 18 years of age. I retired from the USAF in 1995. Started working for Deere & Company as their Blacksmith and been there ever since! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacksmithtech Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Rick, Welcome to the site. Lots of nice folks here. I was at the Hammer in a couple of weeks ago and there were 2 different smiths working in the shop. A big fella and another fella who had to use a step for the anvil, which one are you? One made a big closepin and the other made a wire basket handle. A lot of fun to watch both. Take care - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Levi Posted September 2, 2006 Share Posted September 2, 2006 Welcome, Rick. I'm also retired AF and I grew up just south of Springfield, Ill. Levi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted September 2, 2006 Share Posted September 2, 2006 rick i live in west texas- welcome here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith58 Posted September 2, 2006 Author Share Posted September 2, 2006 I'm the big guy that made the safety pin. Were you a guest or a demonstrator at our hammer in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacksmithtech Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 Rick, I am a member of the IVBA but did not demo. You had a very good demo making the people try guessing what you were doing with that saftey pin. I still can't figure out how you made that coil end so the pointy end part fit in the head on the first try! Had a good time watching you work. Take care - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 Welcome Rick. Great smithy you have there. Thanks for sharing the pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith58 Posted September 4, 2006 Author Share Posted September 4, 2006 Blacksmithtech: The key to working the coil to the right length is when you first bend and then coil around the anvilsteak is to be looking at the ends of the piece and making small adjustments so they do line up while everybody else including yourself is looking at the coil on the steak! It's either that or just pure dumb luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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