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I Forge Iron

Portable Blacksmith shop


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Been at this a long time.. This is my 4th trailer setup in 30 years.. I hope it will be the last I will build..  

Took and old horse trailer and made it a full 8ft wide and 8ft tall inside and 10ft long inside.  it is still a work in progress as I had to have it done for a demo day so was only able to get it done enough to use.. Will finish it this week or the next.. 

The anvil will be on a stand that rests solidly on the ground and will winch up for transport.. Currently using the stand from my other trailer which is light pipe bolted to the underframe.. STill to much bounce.. 

It has awnings on all 4 sides with 2 on each side, 1 in the front to let bar stock to pass through and the back will have 1 large one on the top. All these to control cross flowing winds, will have a roof much like a sugar shack with windows so they can be opened for ventilation.. Undecided if I should put clear glass or not as the sun shining in when it's 90F out is a big problem.. 

Yesterday was it's first voyage and it passed with flying colors.. Out in the middle of a field 85F and it was or felt like it was 10F cooler inside..  White color to reflect as much sun as possible but also to brighten the inside with reflected light.. 

Has jacks' at all four corners..     

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  • 2 months later...

Sorry I have been lax on getting back to here.. I've been struggling with drawer making for the work bench and it takes 16 pieces of metal to make one drawer not including 2 runners.. 

Anyhow, I got 2 done as of today and have 4 more to make.. Here are a few teasers till it's completed.. 

I have engineered, designed, cut and fabricated every piece of this thing..  It took on a life of it's own but is the ultimate demo trailer.. 

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Not sure how many I can add at once but here you go.. 

The roof vents open. the blower is mounted to the work bench and is height adjustable. 

The edging for the work bench is removable so I can pass steel out the back side of the trailer instead of towards the audience.. 

The anvil stand passes through the floor and rests solidly on the ground.. 

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Wow you have put a lot of thought and effort into this.   As a transportable smithy it looks fantastic. For use in demo situations I have a few concerns.

Isn't the audiences view limited and obstructed? Yes they can see your working in there but not really see what/how your working?

it would be more difficult for the audience to be engaged as there is physical barriers closing you off from them.  Being on the ground in front with a simple rope barrier has an appeal and less of a psychological effect than walls even partially open.  I mention this as I used to design and build trade show/exhibition stands for a living and may have a different perspective.

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57 minutes ago, FlyingXS said:

Wow you have put a lot of thought and effort into this.   As a transportable smithy it looks fantastic. For use in demo situations I have a few concerns.

Isn't the audiences view limited and obstructed? Yes they can see your working in there but not really see what/how your working?

it would be more difficult for the audience to be engaged as there is physical barriers closing you off from them.  Being on the ground in front with a simple rope barrier has an appeal and less of a psychological effect than walls even partially open.  I mention this as I used to design and build trade show/exhibition stands for a living and may have a different perspective.

Thanks,

Ah, you certainly are in tune with audience flow..   The total idea is to limit people going where they are not supposed to..  

When I demo I build or make the same exact stuff I would make in the shop.. If you have ever cut a bar or had a hammer head fly off or any thing at all or a piece of welding flux head into the crowd.. You will see why.. 

The trailer was actually designed more to be freindly to me as well as the audience..  After doing this for over 30 years you start to understand how and why certain things happen..  One of them is heat exhaustion, another is breathing soot, cinder and dust and smoke when it's 90F+ on the demo days..  The trailer is designed so I can control how the wind approaches the forge and stack and is the reason the stack has a large shape at the bottom.. 

When I designed it I made the side walls at the spectator side the correct height to catch 90%+ of the weld flux and scale at or around eye ball height for children since the splatter heads out at a descending arc from the anvil face..  As you know the people watching are more likely to be hit with hot slag or flux than the smith is.. Last demo some was watching the smith next door and the smith was doing some welding.. the guy was maybe 10ft from the smith when the smith hit the hot metal the guy jumped back and started rubbing his eye.. YUP..he got slagged.. Could have been very serious.. 

I don't want people right on top of me.. I actually put the display table about 10ft from the trailer and then put ropes up to keep people back.. 

So, the design has a lot to do with how to protect the on lookers first and foremost but also how to make me the most comfortable.. 

As for being able to see..  The only areas I care they see are the immediate work area and this was taken into consideration when designing the doors..  There is a perfect view of the anvil and forge and vise when both doors are open.. If its windy I can close all side doors but the main viewing door and this totally controls the wind and still allows full view of the anvil and big vise if standing in front..  I'll post video of the view into the trailer at some point.. 

 

If you look at the first full side picture you can see the top of the anvil, the vises, work bench, blower and forge..  If you are one of those equipment junkies who revels at the equipment than it wouldn't be your gig.. But it makes for conversation as I'm always happy to have someone comer around and inside to look.. :)   Just not while I'm hammering unless they are a striker, helper or in full PPG.. 

 

It's pretty amazing.. :)

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On top of a demoing summer, you have been busy.  Quite the trailer shop.  Your fab skills are to be commended.  No I'm not suggesting you are a welder!

I applaud your efforts & It looks like you have thought it out well (You will never change a thing, smiths never do).  :)  The anvil stand & vise mount are just awesome!

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One other thing.. I failed to mention..  This is a public demo rig..  vs  a hammer in, or blacksmith meet.. 

 

21 hours ago, aessinus said:

On top of a demoing summer, you have been busy.  Quite the trailer shop.  Your fab skills are to be commended.  No I'm not suggesting you are a welder!

I applaud your efforts & It looks like you have thought it out well (You will never change a thing, smiths never do).  :)  The anvil stand & vise mount are just awesome!

Yes, thanks.. It's been crazy busy.. This trailer has eaten the summer up in full fashion.. I haven't been swimming once this summer..  I started the trailer back in early May, 5/14 to be exact. Been so long now it's all blended together.. 

 

Today I made great progress on the drawers and got the finial coat of paint on the roof.. At least I hope it's the finial coat.. Sadly I wasn't able to do it earlier in the day as it was still wet and humid.. So I waited to this afternoon.. Now we are supposed to get rain tonight and the paint was still tacky I hr ago..  

Thanks.. It has been one of those projects where I was going to just do this and it morphed into what you have seen.. I figured it would be a down and dirty trailer build and it took on a life of its own.. 

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I'm glad you don't over think things like some of the guys here. Darlin. :rolleyes:

I don't do many demos, certainly not enough to justify building a trailer special for the purpose. I think the only thing you've forgotten are bleachers. No joke an elevated spot for kids to see what's going on from a safe distance and a place for their parents to take a break might be a real plus.

I rarely weld at demos and if I do I turn around so I'm between any flux spray and spectators. It's been a long time since I used enough flux to make a properly showy spray, I hardly get a pop now. Non the less I don't take the chance.

I find the audience likes twists, they can see directly how heat softens the steel and the transformation in real time and slowly enough to grasp it entirely. Folk seem to like seeing just a plain old simple twist more than a pineapple, cable, cube twist or other fancy twists.

No I'm not signing off without saying just what one FINE demo trailer I think that is. Your years of experience, thought, planning and a summer's worth of work show in every detail. I do think you should paint the stack like brick or stone masonry though for the cool factor.

Thanks for sharing, I'd be setting it in parking lots up just to show off.

Frosty The Lucky.

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9 hours ago, aessinus said:

That is really a slick rig, more impressive as a one-person build.   You should be proud.  Hope your paint dried before the rain.

Thanks.. It's taken forever..  It was an inspirational build as it certainly was not as I initially intended..  I had planned on a simply fender swap.. Ma, look at me go.. LOL.. . 

No on the paint.. the whole roofs paint got ruined.. I'll be able to coat it again it just means more time.. But as the saying goes.. Paint runs don't rust so maybe I'll just have to look at it as another paint run.. Though I am on coat number 8 I think.. :)

I did the side and inside yesterday and it looks great..  Had enough time to dry before we got more rain..  Was plenty hot so really speeds up the oil based paint.. 

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21 hours ago, Frosty said:

I'm glad you don't over think things like some of the guys here. Darlin. :rolleyes:

I don't do many demos, certainly not enough to justify building a trailer special for the purpose. I think the only thing you've forgotten are bleachers. No joke an elevated spot for kids to see what's going on from a safe distance and a place for their parents to take a break might be a real plus.

I rarely weld at demos and if I do I turn around so I'm between any flux spray and spectators. It's been a long time since I used enough flux to make a properly showy spray, I hardly get a pop now. Non the less I don't take the chance.

I find the audience likes twists, they can see directly how heat softens the steel and the transformation in real time and slowly enough to grasp it entirely. Folk seem to like seeing just a plain old simple twist more than a pineapple, cable, cube twist or other fancy twists.

No I'm not signing off without saying just what one FINE demo trailer I think that is. Your years of experience, thought, planning and a summer's worth of work show in every detail. I do think you should paint the stack like brick or stone masonry though for the cool factor.

Thanks for sharing, I'd be setting it in parking lots up just to show off.

Frosty The Lucky.

Oh, you..  the bleachers.. Well It did cross my mind.. :)           I did get down on my knees  and adjusted the height of the side wall as I built it so the little ones can still see me working..  At one of the shows they did give me a set of bleachers..  it was pretty nice.. 

Once i get it all done inside and it's cleaned up I'll run through all the neat little things  and take some shots from the outside of me working.. 

Your right about twists they do love them. They always ask about a blacksmith's twist or basket handle..   I've found unless the person has a real interest in blacksmithing  you get about 1 to 2 minutes about max..  Sometimes if a person watches awhile 3minutes or so.. I'll tell them if they want to come back in X time frame I'll be that much further ahead.. or if they would like to see the finish product to come back at X..     I have had a lot of return people..   

Last show I had one guy who came back 5 times  and then came back to see the finished item just before he headed home.. Said he couldn't leave without seeing it..  I said where are all your friends..  " At the car".. he replied.. I also gave a lesson on forge welding to the head teacher of a VOC school who had like 22 kids there with gas forges and anvils.. Pretty cool and I gave a lesson to a young guy from Washington on plate armor making.. 

As for the stack..  The original plan was to have the trailer vinyl wrapped in a stone blacksmithing looking thing..   but after working on it and feeling the difference between Primed metal and the white color the white won out and it won't be getting a vinyl wrap.. 

 

As for the stack.. It's going to get a  JLP in classic lettering on 4 sides like the old chimneys of the day in silver paint..  " if you really want to see it with bricks on it, You are welcome to come and paint but you have to promise to paint it all" I will supply you with paint, brushes and a meal or 2.. 

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Interesting, I've found if a spectator stops they'll watch for about 5 minutes and if I can get them invested in a project up to 15 minutes. That's a HIGH length of time though, 5-7 is a high average. Most folk slow down or stop briefly and move on. Kids flock. Since I stopped hauling my shop forge and use a brick pile forge I get a LOT more interest. Spectators can wrap their heads around a: propane tank, reg, gauge, hose, some plumbing and a stack of bricks as something they might actually try. I'm a long time fabricator so the shop forge I built is WAY more than anybody is likely to need, I've been using it more than 15 years and use maybe %50 on occasion. Anyway, a beast like my shop forge would cost a couple grand to have built and the farrier's propane forges are a few hundred. Most folk really just want to give it a try nor invest in a career.

I set up under an awning off the pickup's bed. It gives me a handy place to lay steel, tools, etc. and keeps anyone from walking up behind me. I have a steel table between the anvil and audience, the vise blocks my right flank and I can motion folk back if they try. We don't get swamped, it's usually a small steady flow. Easy demo.

What I discovered makes a good demo is bringing a beginning student and giving a lesson. You have to keep an eagle eye on them so they don't put a spectator in danger but it really helps tune their attention to safety.  It also has the student explaining what and why they're doing what they're doing, nothing will teach you faster than teaching someone else. Seriously I've seen 2-3 lesson's worth of progress in an afternoon at a demo. It also really gets the audience involved watching some doing things they're never done.

I'd LOVE the opportunity to help someone like your VOC teacher at a demo or heck anywhere. What a sweet day that must've been.

Next(?) time I'm down your way I'll take you up on painting the chimney, bricks are easy, a LOT easier than a person might think. There's a trick you know. B)

Frosty The Lucky.

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5 hours ago, Frosty said:

Interesting, I've found if a spectator stops they'll watch for about 5 minutes and if I can get them invested in a project up to 15 minutes. That's a HIGH length of time though, 5-7 is a high average. Most folk slow down or stop briefly and move on. Kids flock. Since I stopped hauling my shop forge and use a brick pile forge I get a LOT more interest. Spectators can wrap their heads around a: propane tank, reg, gauge, hose, some plumbing and a stack of bricks as something they might actually try. I'm a long time fabricator so the shop forge I built is WAY more than anybody is likely to need, I've been using it more than 15 years and use maybe %50 on occasion. Anyway, a beast like my shop forge would cost a couple grand to have built and the farrier's propane forges are a few hundred. Most folk really just want to give it a try nor invest in a career.

I set up under an awning off the pickup's bed. It gives me a handy place to lay steel, tools, etc. and keeps anyone from walking up behind me. I have a steel table between the anvil and audience, the vise blocks my right flank and I can motion folk back if they try. We don't get swamped, it's usually a small steady flow. Easy demo.

What I discovered makes a good demo is bringing a beginning student and giving a lesson. You have to keep an eagle eye on them so they don't put a spectator in danger but it really helps tune their attention to safety.  It also has the student explaining what and why they're doing what they're doing, nothing will teach you faster than teaching someone else. Seriously I've seen 2-3 lesson's worth of progress in an afternoon at a demo. It also really gets the audience involved watching some doing things they're never done.

I'd LOVE the opportunity to help someone like your VOC teacher at a demo or heck anywhere. What a sweet day that must've been.

Next(?) time I'm down your way I'll take you up on painting the chimney, bricks are easy, a LOT easier than a person might think. There's a trick you know. B)

Frosty The Lucky.

Sounds like you are a great Demo'r.. God bless you..  First few years I think I was a better public demo'r but that changed.. 

Now.. 

I'm not a great general public demo'r..   I pick something to make and then set about doing it just like I'm in the shop and at the same pace..  I'll answer questions when asked but don't do a verbal repose as I work.. Not much of a talker.. More a doer.. Besides that when I was younger I was extremely shy and you could say even withdrawn.. took, a lot of years of doing public speaking, teaching and such to get more comfortable.  First demo was in 1988 at 20 years old.. 

So my skill set now is adjusted for the action taking place. Teaching is a different thing totally vs demoing depending on the goal/action at hand..  I also find that demoing for other metal workers is so much different than demoing for the general public...The level of conversation is at the trade level which if far more appealing to me..  .  Also since I'm not much of a talker just after a few hours I can't talk since my throat isn't used to all the exercise so I'm usually hoarse. 

I used to do about 8 to 10 demo's , 3 and 4 day venues a year back when I was trying to promote business..  I used to find them exhaustive and the same questions over and over again..  " do you ever get burnt" was the favorite and still is.. and the trailers weren't up to the quality of this one.. 

Now it's different because I do the demo's for fun but only still know one speed..  "Strike when the iron is hot""   So the only time I slow down my pace is when teaching and I'd never risk having a student demo at a general public event..   To many things can go wrong and if at a trade event people know the dangers vs in public.. 

Back in the early 90's I had a situation where I had cut off a nail like object.. It was about 3" long and it flew 10ft straight as an arrow, straight into someones leg right at knee level..(back before I had a trailer so all the equipment was on the ground) Stuck in really well for about 1 second as everybody looked in disbelief and fell out. It was at black heat so it cauterized the wound right off.. But then the guy reached down and picked up the hot metal and burnt his fingers..  That whole episode could have been the end of everything I had worked for.. Luckily I knew the guy/kid  and he didn't really care or at least that's what he said..  The next year he showed me his scar on his knee proudly..    The night before my best buddy and crazy striking dude ( he could hit a rate about 200bpm) with a 10lbs hammer he was standing back in the crowd and i had forge welded something.. Next thing you know he ended up with flux in the eye and he was about 20ft away.. Was about 9pm so it was dark out.. He had no idea what happened.. took to the ambulance for an eye washing..  (he never struck for me again) 

 I took both accidents very seriously..

Since then I've done 100's of demo's and have never had something fly off into the crowd or someone unintentionally get hit with anything I have been working with on accident.. :) 

 

Also after the first few years I built my first demo trailer which started the process of moving people back from the line of fire..  and each trailer has moved the people back a little further..  As long as they can see and we can talk I'm happy with the armor the trailer affords.. 

Anyhow, I offer 2 levels of demo's..  Public (which is general public, fairs, town days. field days an such) and   teaching..  Really I prefer the teaching vs public but now I don't do demo's for the business they create.. I do them for the fun of it and also to make stuff I normally wouldn't make because I'm to busy otherwise..  

 

 Sadly about 20 years ago I stopped forging stuff to just forge stuff  to only forging stuff when it's a paying job or something I need to make for other projects.. Demo's now give me opportunities to make stuff and promote the business but in a I don't care attitude..  I don't blacksmith because I have to, to pay the bills like before when I was doing it professionally 24/7..   I do it because it's part of me and really, really enjoy it..  Took me a long time to come back from being burnt out took off nearly 10 years as I had writers block and no vision..

Anyhow I love to watch people demo and your demo sounds like you put on one heck of a show..  I'd love to see it in action.. Maybe inspire me to do something different..  So do you have any coming up? 

My last one of the season is Sept 24th here in Town..  Be the first demo where the trailer should be completely finished.. 

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3 hours ago, notownkid said:

Very nice looking, a lot of work but you have something you want now.  One question, have you weighted this thing loaded?  Make sure your brakes work esp. the break away control.   

Thanks.. I haven't weighed it.. I will figure it out one of these days since I can just add up  all the steel I purchased and guestimate on the trailer as stripped.. 

I can tell you the trailer I started with had a GVRW of 7000lbs..  I'm no where close..  the equipment is maybe 1000lbs..  230lbs for vise, 175lbs anvil, stand maybe 275lbs, forge even though now it's lighter than it was..  That stack 100lbs, the roof flange 40lbs.. 

I basically tore the trailer down to nothing and added everything back..

It hauls excellently..  

 

Here's what I started with.. You can see where I was just going to replace the fenders and make it a full 8ft wide.. Then I started looking at it and decided 8ft tall would be nice also.. 

In pic #4 you can see the old demo trailer over in the corner. 

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Here is the progression of demos and trailers..  the first pic is 89(the sun was a major problem) next 92 with a roof that did little good except at noon time, then 95 first trailer  this one as designed only lasted about a year, and I then put metal on the roof and this lasted another 2 years,  then 2nd trailer (3rd edition) in 2000 which I made longer one and reinforced the frame even more  I basically tried to use stuff from the previous version especially the roof so the roof doesn't cover the front of the trailer..  

If funny looking back now As I had made that forge and hood way back in 93 and I thought I made it about 12-13 years ago

 

I did a complete rehab of the last trailer 9/25/14 because my feet were falling through the floor and i started doing demos again.. It sat idle about 7 years except for occasional use. 

And last few were of the last demo I did.. 

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1 hour ago, WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith.c said:

I saw this one at Quad State a couple of years ago.   It was really nice right down to the stained glass windows.  Sorry, I don't know why this picture is rotated.  It is not on my Pictures folder.  I also don't know why the type is like this. 

I love the carriage but is there any equipment inside or just for advertisement? 

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About the brick painting tricks. If they're to be new brick buy flat brick red paint and paint the stack or whatever and let it dry thoroughly. Now using a 1/4" wide paint brush and mortar colored paint paint the joints between bricks. Fast and easy.

Old brick is harder and might take a little cardboard mask. Mix a weathered brick color paint and let it dry. Then using the mask and flat: white, black or mold colored spray paint just mist the areas you want discolored. Then paint the joints and lightly spray with age colors if desired.

If you're doing aged brick it really helps to make sample sketches with crayons or colored pencils/pens to get a feel for the discolor patterns you like. Stipple the age colors.

It's similar doing this with concrete, lay and smooth the wall, walk etc. then trowel a 1/4" layer of brick rec mortar mix over it. come back with a joint knife and cut down to the concrete color and joint tip it.

JP: I'm a natural at demos I like talking and am generally pretty likable. I don't blow smoke up folks butts and actively try to dispell the whole myth aspect of blacksmithing. It's just knowledge and practice, no magic. I treat demos like theater and rather than stick to my shop techniques I use more theatrical methods. For instance rather than just change from pein to face on my hammer I give it a spin in my hand and stop it when the correct face is down. No, I don't twirl it like a baton I spin it in my hand and I cheat, the pein edge of the handle is rounded the face is flatter so I can feel which way it's pointed without looking. I have a few hammers that are equally balanced so it's hard to tell by the feel of it as it spins.

I do little flashy thing to entertain the audience.  Folk pay closer attention, learn more and remember what they see if they're having fun and laughing. I've gotten applause on more than one occasion for dropping something. I raise my arms and say Ta DAH! and take a bow as I pick it up. It's always good for a laugh and folk can identify with someone who doesn't take themselves too seriously.

I talk, describe what why and how I'm doing every step, answer questions, tell stories and jokes.

Why do you do demos if you don't have fun?

Frosty The Lucky.

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