Dabbsterinn Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 so, tomorrow (hopefully) i'll go to another hammer-in at the local smithy, and yesterday i put together a neat travelling kit, thought i might start a thread here where you can show us your travel kit, learn from others or be the spark of an idea for someone anyways, here's mine hammers, more detail on them you can find in the hammer section of the gallery tongs chisels, drifts and punches files misc. things safety equipment the entire set, for size referances and the bag it surprisingly fits in this entire thing weighs 14kg/30 lbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Are you going as a visitor or as a demonstrator? As a visitor, I would use the tools on site. Using the tools on site will force your to adapt and use what is available. It is a learning experience. You will find tools you like and dislike, and different ways to do things. If you really need a tool, make it and then donate it for sale or donate it to the site. If you are doing a demonstration, may I suggest you plan out the entire demo, practice it at home and pre-cut all the stock you will be using to the proper size. As you have practiced the demo project you now KNOW what tools will be needed. Those are the tools you will take with you. If you have left over time, or someone shows interest and you need a different tool, use the site tools or make the tool. One thing for sure, paint ALL of your tools YOUR color. It helps in collecting your tools at the end of the demo. It helps to always have one or two quick projects tucked in your pocket. When an extra presentation is needed, you will be prepared and ready. Always take half again as much drinking water as you will need and use. Get a 5 gallon bucket of fresh water when you get on site for burns, quenching, etc. Keep a candy bar or two, some aloe gel and bandages in your box at all times.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dabbsterinn Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 going as a visitor, they have pretty much the same tools i have, it's not exactly a tool rich shop, i think all they have that i don't is a swage block and top and bottom tools i've burned my initals into the handles of my hammers and written then on other things they have aloe gel at the spot, but you're right, i should have some with me, i always make sure i have enough of drinkable water and something to chew, and the smithy supplies us with water thank you for your contribution, and reminding me of the aloe gel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 As a visitor you MUST take a note book, pencils and camera. (grin) Video recorder optional, but decide whether you are going to WATCH the demo or RECORD the demo. It is difficult to do both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dabbsterinn Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 ah, we're probably having a small misunderstanding, this isn't exactly a demo, it's just a few blacksmiths meeting up at the smithy, a hammer-in i think it's called, but i'll take a camera with me, notebook and pencils are a good idea either way, it helps sometimes when explaining to someone else what you're doing or asking for advice if you can draw it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan C Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Not as many hammers, but I did take a project I was working, some scrap for anything impromptu and a hot cut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 What I need for the project I will be doing save for large tooling I know is in the shop there. Sometimes my bucket will be quite heavy, sometimes quite light. Pretty much never twice the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Olivo Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 varries from time to time as some people have more equipment available than others. For instance I only take this hammer when teaching beginners blacksmithing classes with my guild. http://ipneto.deviantart.com/art/Hammer-from-the-Brian-Brazeal-class-283343787 But then there are also days and events where this is what I bring http://s48.photobucket.com/user/nicrom/media/IMG_5376_zps3c780abf.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1 http://s48.photobucket.com/user/nicrom/media/IMG_5443_zpseaed914b.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Greetings Dabb, Sounds like this is your first hammer in... Don't make it so obvious that your put your name on every tool... Blacksmiths never make off with others tools. It kind of shows the others that you are the new kid on the block... No matter how many tools you take it seems like you should have brought just one more..LOL .. You will do just fine .. You should have seen my first... The old pickup was a draggin.. The best advice I can give is have fun and learn as much as you can... Good luck Forge on and make beautiful things Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Happy New Year, Glenn is correct!!! Your notebook/scrapbook/scribler/sketchbook is the most important, next to your digital McCamera. When your rememory gets a little slow, it is worth GOLD to look at your notes. How did they do that??? Which part did they do first (other than the toilet). Etc. Etc. You can't take enough NOTES!! and Sketches!! I find that by drawing out the progress, you will understand which part you missed and then can ask, while the person is there to ask!!! Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dabbsterinn Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 Greetings Dabb, Sounds like this is your first hammer in... Don't make it so obvious that your put your name on every tool... Blacksmiths never make off with others tools. It kind of shows the others that you are the new kid on the block... No matter how many tools you take it seems like you should have brought just one more..LOL .. You will do just fine .. You should have seen my first... The old pickup was a draggin.. The best advice I can give is have fun and learn as much as you can... Good luck Forge on and make beautiful things Jim 3rd hammer in actually, and i labelled them just so i don't accidentally take someone else's tools and accidents do happen, and I actually know most of the smiths there and they all know that im relatively new to this, so that doesn't bother me, and i've worked with them a few times in other events Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Greetings again Dab, I guess I'm just jealous ... I wish I was going with you .. I would carry your tool bag... Have a great time... Forge on and make beautiful things Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyO Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Don't make it so obvious that your put your name on every tool... Blacksmiths never make off with others tools. It kind of shows the others that you are the new kid on the block... Not to be argumentative, but I'd suggest changing the above to, "Blacksmiths never intentionally make off with others' tools. Marking your tools is always a good idea, as if one happens to end up at a new home, it can find it's way back. Unless you have plenty of extra spare time and materials to replace lost tools, marking them is a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Sudden storm blowing up at a demo/or just late end of the day, fast shutdown with everybodys tools having been shared around all day, folks not knowing who's is who's as they dump stuff in buckets. Can happen very easily without malice. I like Patrick's method: his tool colour is *hot* *pink*; other smiths don't even borrow his tools! (and at 6'4"? with a beautiful wife and a handful of kids nobody casts aspersions on his masculinity either!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the iron dwarf Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 have a lot of tools in the trunk of your car but just take in what you think you will need Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dabbsterinn Posted January 5, 2014 Author Share Posted January 5, 2014 have a lot of tools in the trunk of your car but just take in what you think you will need would if I had a car, that's the problem with being a 16 year old blacksmith, fortunately, it's a local hammer-in, so i'll just be dropped off there and picked up when im done, I will keep this in mind though when I get a car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Sounds like fun, I love just getting together with the guys. Not having a preplanned demonstration makes taking pictures even more important. If it were preplanned you'd know what was being done so you wouldn't be surprised by good or bad things happening. It really sucks to see something you never thought of done and not have a way to document it. A camera is also even better for those, "Don't do it THAT way" moments, a pic or two may even be good for a little blackmail. <grin> I figure if I don't have WAY too much with me I didn't bring enough. You probably have enough tools, take some stock and any ideas you have that may need a little help, say a striker or ideas. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 As it is your first event. play it cool, just take a notebook and camera. Enjoy the experience. Oh yes, take some cash as there will most likely be something you want to follow you back home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dabbsterinn Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 take some stock and any ideas you have that may need a little help, say a striker or ideas. Frosty The Lucky. good idea, but the smithy, which actually is a part of the museum here as far as I know, supplies us with stocks of all sizes and lengths, if you're willing enough to dig through the heap off things, abandoned projects and scrap there seeing how we're not really that many smiths here, we all know each other somewhat, so if we'd need a striker, we'd just ask someone who doesn't seem like he's doing anything and in need of something to do, and I'm also very active in seeking advice there, and all of the smiths I've met have gladly shared plenty of information, thanks for the ideas though As it is your first event. play it cool, just take a notebook and camera. Enjoy the experience. Oh yes, take some cash as there will most likely be something you want to follow you back home. I've already stated a few times earlier that this is my 3rd or 4th hammer-in there, thanks for the concern though, i'll take a notebook and my phone seeing how my camera is almost prehistoric (digitally seen) and a notebook already is in the kit, I have a hard time putting my thoughts into words so it helps to be able to scribble something up, drawing is also really relaxing for me if things don't go as they should good idea with the money though, still having problems with getting my Thorshammer looking as good as i want it to, so i might resort to buying one, also nice supporting the smithing community, I know first hand that nothing empties one's wallet faster than a good looking tool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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