Old Reliable Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Hello all. The art of blacksmithing has always fascinated me, but I always figured that it was an art passed from one generation to the next and that in order to learn one would have to find a blacksmith willing to teach. That opinion has changed, I recently met a young man at a BSA Camp in Georgia while there for summer camp, as a leader it is very easy to wander around and talk to people who are doing interesting things. He was working in a period living type demostration area as a Blacksmith and he and I got to talking about the art. This incident has inspired me to learn what I can and see if I can manage to get into it. A slightly more personal note, I currently work at a Steel Truss manufacturer as a Groundskeeper, but am hoping to soon get a job on the production line as a welder. I know I can get scrap steel cheap, so I image that it would be very easy to get into this. Anyways I shall be here lurking and learning for the next little while, we shall see how it goes. Reliable (which is not an indication of my age at all, it is my handle from another forum, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, and is my truck's name) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Welcome aboard Reliable guy, glad to have you. If you put your general location in the header you may be surprised to find out how many of the IFI gang live within visiting distance. If you want to get into smithing you will, the big secret is, just do it. The minimum equipment list is almost nil, something to beat on, something to beat with, fire and desire. this is a great place for information and help. Pick a section you're interested in, pull up a comfy chair, a lunch and something to drink, there many hours of reading once you get started. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Reliable Posted July 1, 2013 Author Share Posted July 1, 2013 Thanks for the Welcome Frosty! I am already fnding many fascinating things to read about here. So, for now I do believe that I will just be here absorbing information. And as I cannot seem to edit the opening post, there must be a time limit. My location is North Central Florida. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iron woodrow Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 go to your profile and change it from there...... and WELCOME! being a young (relatively) blacksmith, I am always happy when an interested person comes and asks the right questions. as a living history demonstrator I always received a myriad of questions, from "is that bread real?" to "if you are a viking, where are your horns?" but every now and then, someone would come up, and ask a real zinger of a question, and the conversation was on..... all other spectators would wander off, bar those who could keep up, and I would be lost in the explanation..... very rare, but very rewarding! keep up the learning spirit mate, and you'll soon be passing it on yourself! I will never stop learning, my family are under orders to dispose of me if I ever do...... woody, australia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Reliable Posted July 1, 2013 Author Share Posted July 1, 2013 Thanks for welcome Iron. I was planning to eidt my profile, but have been slightly distracted by all of the fun and interesting things hidden here. What I wrote above was in response to frosty asking if I could put my location in my header. I have similar ideas about learning myself, and while my family doesn't have orders like yours, I suspect that if I did stop trying to learn they would dispose of me out of sheer embarrasment. P.S. does anyone have any idea how to turn on the automatic spell checker on these forums, my browser already has it activated, but there appears to be an overirde for this specific forum as it is not catching my spelling errors, and I have a lot of them as spelling is not a strong suit of mine... :( P.P.S Although it does look like IFI uses IP Board, based solely off of the layout and styling and the forums I fequent that use IP Board work with my browsers spell checker, interesting... :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 It's easy to edit your profile. Click on your name or avatar, at the top left of the page that comes up click on the "edit Profile" button, make and save changes. Including your general location isn't a rule but it sure helps folk know who is in the neighborhood, making get togethers easier, tipping on tools, projects, supplies, etc. much easier. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 A Ford! Well, I guess you're welcome here but everyone know the only good trucks were Studebakers, now that was a reliable truck. It sure seems to be easy to get hooked on pounding hot iron so you can't be all bad even if you do like Fords, actually my first truck after my Studebaker was a Ford, gave me good service for five years and it had a 100K miles on it when I got so they ain't all bad, well I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Reliable Posted July 2, 2013 Author Share Posted July 2, 2013 I do love the look of those old Studebakers, shame not many are still around. My Ol' gal is a 1978 F150 Ranger/Explorer with 58K original miles, I am only the second owner! She needs lots of work and love, but that will come in time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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