BIGBAMAK5 Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 Hello all. Just wanted to take a minute and introduce myself. I have been visiting this board for about a month but this is my first post. I live in Hoover, Alabama which is a suburb of Birmingham. I am married to a wonderful woman and we are expecting our first child in April of 2007. Very exciting. I am an accountant and I work and my father's firm and my wife is a first grade teacher at a local elementary school. My interest in metalworking/blacksmithing started when I was in college at the University of Alabama. I purchased a 1974 K5 Blazer that needed restoration. It had a significant amount of rust, and after about a year of having friends saying that they would do the welding and never following through I decided to tackle it myself. I purchased a welder and went to work. I welded in new floorboards and body panels that turned out o.k. considering that I had taught myself how to weld. I currently own a 110 Lincoln wire welder and a 220 AC/DC stick welder. I want to upgrade to a 220 wire welder when I have some extra $. I also own an O/A torch and tanks. Welding led to the desire to learn blacksmithing. I got an anvil as a Christmas present from my parents; a 124lb Peter Wright that might need to have some work done, but we will see. I have been checking the local flea markets and antique stores and have been able to find some other items. My best deal was a Buffalo Co. forge blower with stand that I got for $50. I still need to make a handle for it. I have not had much time to practice since I have spent the better part of this year studying for the CPA exam, but that is over for now. I should have some spare time to get out there and pound on some iron. Sorry about the length and thanks to all that made it to the end. I look foward to learning this wonderful craft from all of you. Rush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Howdy from East Texas!! and welcome to IFI! Sounds like you are getting off to a good start on gathering up your 'toys'! Check out the blueprint section for plans on building a forge. (Glenn will probably chime in and give the BP# hehe) As for buying your next 'new' wire machine let me recommend going Blue...that's to say buy a Miller machine. I've been in the metal trade (welder/frabricator) since '73 and IMHO Miller makes the best wire machine on the market. Check your local trade schools, high schools, you may pick up a good used one for a song...you do sing don't you?!? Anyway, good luck and if you have a question there is someone here that can give you an answer! Shoot, we'll give you an answer even if you don't ask! hehe OH! and CONGRATS on the new blacksmith apprentice due in April! (that's a GOOD month for b-day's ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 BP0300 Getting started in Blacksmithing has all types of information including building forges. (BP0300 was chosen as it is an easy number to remember). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irnsrgn Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Welcome to the Coal chute rush, Anvil was a nice present to say the least. Get it hot, hit it where you want to and enjoy watching it go where you want it to and sometimes where you don't. Congrats on the upcoming addition to the family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 Welcome, Rush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGBAMAK5 Posted September 25, 2006 Author Share Posted September 25, 2006 Just wanted to say that I am amazed at the amount of useful information on this site. I have been reading through a lot of the old posts and blueprints to catch up on what I have missed. I have also been reading about forges and other tools that I am interested in. I am learning so much. This is a great site. I plan to post some pictures of my shop and tools soon. Thanks for all the information. Rush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clark-kentski Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 welcome aboard,born at fort rucker army base myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapman1077 Posted September 26, 2006 Share Posted September 26, 2006 BIGBAMAK5, I am in Jacksonville, Alabama. About 2-2 1/2 hours from you. Scrapman1077 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith58 Posted September 26, 2006 Share Posted September 26, 2006 Welcome aboard Rush! Man that sounds Right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGBAMAK5 Posted September 26, 2006 Author Share Posted September 26, 2006 Clarke - My brother-in-law is an Apache pilot. We went to Ft. Rucker to visit him while he was training and got to see the Apache and Longbow up close. Those are amazing machines. I would hate to have on of those monsters target in on me. He showed me some footage from his tour in Iraq and the technology on those things is so advanced that you can see the stubble on the enemy's face from the onboard camera system. Simply amazing. Scrapman - you are close, maybe we could get together sometime and you could show me how this is all done. Later guys. Rush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted September 26, 2006 Share Posted September 26, 2006 welcome rush-raised and live in Texas-was born at Redstone Arsonal-Huntsville,Ala. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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