O'connell Posted June 26, 2016 Share Posted June 26, 2016 Hello smiths, I have been learning a lot from this site so I figured I should join and contribute. I have always been into metal working but just recently (spring 2015) started smithing in Barkerville. It's basically a small gold rush town turned into a museum. Worked part time last year and full time this season, so I am getting lots of practice now. I have had some instruction from three smiths that I know, but want to learn as much as I can. I have fallen in love with blacksmithing and am building my own 1800's shop on my property here in Wells. I have most of what I need except a forge. I have included a few pics from last summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O'connell Posted June 26, 2016 Author Share Posted June 26, 2016 On 6/26/2016 at 10:46 AM, O'connell said: These pics were taken by Dean Dunson. A photographer from Marcola, Oregon. He was nice enough to email these to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soupyjones Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 Welcome to the forums. There are quite a few of us from B.C. and the North western states on here. Good luck building your shop. Lots of information in the forges section to make a good forge that should fit your needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 Good Morning O'Connel Lots of people looking for Coal Forges. If you are in Victoria I may be able to find one for you. Lots of information in this Forum for making your own. I was in the Barkerville Shop a couple years ago, is the Little Giant/Jardine still resting on it's side, on the floor? Check out Vancouver Island Blacksmith's Association www.viblacksmiths.com Next Canadian National Blacksmith Conference is set for July 3-6, 2017. Just outside Vancouver in Cloverdale. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O'connell Posted June 14, 2017 Author Share Posted June 14, 2017 Thanks swedefiddle. I am building my own forge with rock and brick. A smith friend of mine brought me a large flat piece of rock for the top. He even cut it into a square for me. What a guy. The Little Giant hammer was upright when I started working here, but it was sunken into the ground a good 6 inches. I got it out of the dirt and my boss helped me move it closer to the front of the shop, and on wooden 4x4's set in the ground. I am putting the foot pedal and clutch rod back on, and then hopefully a shaft and pully coming out through the wall from the back room, with a belt hooked up to the hammer. Just for show, but it will look great. The hammer can no longer be used due to a huge crack. I've done a few things to get the shop looking right. I put the swage back on it's square block that the anvil was on. Put a large log down in the ground for the anvil. I raised it up an inch. I made some u-nails to hold the anvil down solidly. Just making everything more efficient and easier on my body. A couple more pics from last season. The second one was taken by Mia Cirotto and is my favorite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O'connell Posted June 14, 2017 Author Share Posted June 14, 2017 Thanks for the welcome Soupyjones. It's amazing how many visitors I meet in Barkerville that are into or are getting into blacksmithing. All different ages too. A lot from BC. I'm looking forward to starting on my forge this summer. I have small and medium sized hand blowers, but will build a big set of bellows eventually. I love the rhythmic motion of them. Also, I can't figure out how to get rid of the double picture post at the start of this thread. Sorry for that folks. It has been taken care of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O'connell Posted June 15, 2017 Author Share Posted June 15, 2017 Here's a dark picture of the Little Giant in it's new resting place. This is just after I closed for the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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