Very first projects

[Silverker]

Now that they lifted the burn ban, I was able to fire up the forge for the very first time. I didn't have a whole lot of time so I kinda of went for something I felt would be useful but quick. The holdfast was a piece of round stock I had, and the poker was a piece of square stock that had previously been hammered on the end. Here are a couple of pics.

[Marksnagel]

Glad the burn was lifted and you could get to work. Nice looking holdfast and poker.

Mark<><

[freeman]

First day at the forge and already making useful stuff. That's fantastic! My first day at the forge I made a mess and burned myself badly a couple times. Looks like you're off to a great start. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work as you progress.

[Silverker]

Yea I have a blister to show to..lol, but figured that is just an "occupational" hazard. Fire popped and a piece landed between my hand and the stock. Didn't take long to let go, just long enough to slide the work over so it wouldn't go flying out.

[Frosty]

Gee! Scale popped and landed between your hand and the stock? It usually lands on the web between my thumb and hand where it's much more sensitive.

It's good to see you making useful items as a first go, just don't think whatever you make has to be useful. Sometimes we learn more from hopeless mistakes than dazzling successes. What you've made are not only useful but they're saleable items, Believe it or not holdfasts sell well to wood workers among others.

I'm also glad to see you're following a growing trend where people are turning out good work on their first attempts, solo attempts at that. This is happening more and more over the last few years and it makes me almost giddy. I can hardly imagine how good some of you guys are going to be in a few years, heck it took me a couple years to get good enouh to make what you just did. Sure, I was pretty young but still.

Frosty the Lucky.

[Silverker]

Well second attempt tonight. Learned quite a bit, too. For starters, I thought about what Frosty said about not all things having to be useful, and decided to have a try at a leaf. They're not as easy as some might think!! Any input on doing these for a beginner would be greatly appreciated. While doing the leaves, I learned bigger is not always better and the difference between a 2#er and 3#er. I also learned that doing compound angles on round stock isn't that easy (for me at least). I found out why blacksmiths were given fingerprints, so they have something to burn off. I also learned that different types of forges each have advantages and disadvantages (I'm lucky enough to have 2 different ones: an oval one about 1.5' x 3' and a deep fire pit and a rivet forge). Also, if I rebuild the oval forge, I'll make a shallower fire pit. Thank you for all of your inspiring compliments and helpful comments. Here is the work from tonight, please feel free to give me pointers. The first one is a stock support and flux spoon (made me want a swage block..lol)The second is the 2 leaves I tried the smaller one being the first. Notice the small crack in the first one, what could be the reason for this?

[Frosty]

Making leaves is REALLY useful even if the leaves aren't particularly. Those are pretty good first attempts, a few tips and repeats and you'll have some nice elements.

You might want to page through Brian Brazeal/s BPs and videos, he's really good at isolating sections of stock to work and explaining what and why.

There's always sequense to consider and use. This is basically the order you use to do a piece in steps. When I make a leafe the first step (for me) is to draw the point. Second is to draw the shoulder that delineats the stem end of the leaf. Third is draw down the stem. At this point I have a teardrop blob at the end of a thin section on the end of a piece of stock. My next step is simply smashing the blob flat till it's nearly to thickness. Then I start striking on either side of the center vein to leave a raised center vein.Next step is to use my veiner to detail it and perhaps a sharp chisel or file to serate the leaf. Lastly I shape it, finish brush, highlight it and wax it.

The total process takes less time than writing this does. Why is because I have a sequense that works well for me down pat.

I can do all but the veining in one heat under my power hammer and I use the same sequense. I don't have a veining die is why that's an extra step.

Frosty the Lucky.

[sfDuck]

Like frosty said keep a coffee can around and fill it up with leaves. Then you always have a bunch to choose from when you need them.