I did well this year! Here's what I got:

 

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So far I have gotten a chocolate crescent wrench, and a copy of Jim Hirasoulas' The Complete Bladesmith :-D

I got Mark Aspery's Volume III (signed by Mark) and a cordless Dewalt 20V Grinder. Good stuff. But, most importantly, I got to be with my family and celebrate the reason for the season!

I got a Variable freq drive from my wife, on a coupon which she listed as a "thing-a-ma bob for your drill press" :)

And my 3 surviving children all at home, happy healthy and safe.

What more could a Father ask for?

Nothing much in my stocking,  Fontanini anvil was a little to heavy for Santa to ship I guess.  But my wife is super pleased.  found a  cheap wire basket and made a handle for it.  She'd been looking for an egg basket all summer  :)  as a bonus all the hens have laid an egg so fresh toads in the holes for breakfast.

Karma3 are you doing trench art with the old brass shell case. Someone on the east coast got blacksmith dvds from his daughter in law from Florida.

Did real good! My wife got me David Einhorn's book on Cilil War Blacksmithing AND a 4 1/2# hammer (#39) from Dave Custer at Fiery Furnace Forge. Gave it a try making a couple of things for my daughter who visiting from SoCal. It really moves material!

Not really blackamithing related but I got a completely restored 1932 Emil J barber chair! And the fiance did pick up a small paper weight anvil for the office! But most of all I got to spend Christmas eve in church and Christmas day with the families!

12lb, 3lb, 2lb,  and a few more books than these.  Making handles this weekend.

 

My wifey got me Mark Aspery's vol 3 Joinery book and the Toby Hickmans Power Hammer techniques dvd.

And a banging christmas dinner too.

Happy New Year to anyone reading this!

Finally aquired a copy of the archaeology report on the roman fort at inchuthil in Scotland.

Imagine excavating a pit containing in the region of 10 tons of iron nails?

Merry Xmas all

6" 1/2 horse buffer and a 6" bench vice.

Greetings All,

 

You all should have as great of a wife as mine...   A signed Hofi hammer that she purchased from a very nice person from IFI..

 

 

I wish you all well

Jim

 

 

 

 

I got a pair of Bose sound cancelling headphones to wear when I grind.......
Ah the sweet sound of silence.

I got 3 books. The art of blacksmithing by bealer, the travelling forge, and a museum of early American tools. Also got a humorous blacksmithing bumper sticker that I can't remember what it says at the moment. It's only 13 days til my birthday also so no telling what I'll get then. Love my girl and her family.
~The Mad Rabbit

I got an I pad mini so I can read this form and more easer than on my I phone . And a lot of great family time with my two grand sons

Got a 2" X 48" Kalamazoo belt sander, should be a great addition to the shop.

I got a Kindle Fire, shirts, new Carhart jacket, a bunch of cool stocking stuffers and a crocheted hat from the daughter in law that is a superb representation of a Hoplite helmet. That one tickles my happy more than the other stuff it sure put her at the top of my birthday goody list. Well, right behind Deb of course.

 

Outstanding Christmas at our place.

 

May this be the best new year ever and may it be the least of those to come.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

I was given a Cole Drill! Not a surprise, because I had to find it, order it and get is shipped over here from the US... but it was nice to be asked if there was a special tool I really wanted.

 

Owen, how effective are those headphones? I've read some good reviews, but the only chance I've had to try a pair was in a shop without much 'real' noise around.

I was given a Cole Drill! Not a surprise, because I had to find it, order it and get is shipped over here from the US... but it was nice to be asked if there was a special tool I really wanted.

 

Owen, how effective are those headphones? I've read some good reviews, but the only chance I've had to try a pair was in a shop without much 'real' noise around.

 

I tried the around ear ones in america, they were great but a bit risky to have exposed full time in a workshop (for the cost of them).

 I have been using sony  noise cancelling ones and they were good . the bose in ear ones seem amazing so far  (completly wash out a hair dryer up close) into the workshop today to try them out against the grinder . 

 spotify and sound cancelling headphones change grinding from a task into a road trip.....

I got some clients to pay me. LOLZ

I got a small one-ton arbor, and just got home from San Antonio to visit my daughter and my grandsons. I have a great wife who lets me blacksmith and had a great Christmas. I hope everyone else did too.

Got a new angle grinder, and some scrap iron. :D

Santa cheered me up with a first edition of the PRACTICAL METAL WORKERS ASSISTANT by Oliver Byrne.

 

I've been packing it around like a little kid with a puppy. 

Well I got a puppy. Long story short my favorite dog who is my avatar died after a two year battle with degenerative myelopathy this spring. I was quite upset. I guess my Vet loves us cause she took in a 9 month old puppy who was hit by a car and set to be euthanized. They reconstructed his shoulder then gave him to me! He is a lovely dog and loves to be in the shop! He gets on well with my other three so never a dull moment and he brings me great joy.