For the obsessed newbies

[Joel OF]

For the obsessed self taught newbies who like me began with no knowledge of metalworking, engineering, welding...

Pictures from the day lesson I recently gave to my old bosses who owned the shop I used to work in when I began torturing some scrap in the brake drum. Making some traditional aesthetic fire pokers...

 

[Sk Bjorn]

You've come a long way  nice shop 

[SJS]

That is admirable.  To aquire the skills and the tools, to pursue the trade at that level, in such a short time, its quite remarkable. Thats a nice shop...

[beammeupscotty]

Someone had gone cuckoo for cocoa puffs.

[Joel OF]

Granted this is taking things to the extreme (as I've invested everything into blacksmithing and eat/sleep/dream it) but I've put these pictures up for the obsessed hobbyist newbies who wonder if it can become something more.
I don't have any natural talent, I just learned patience and the fundementals of how the material bends. I now give day lessons to supplement my income from commissions and repeat constantly in lessons
Metal moves the most where it's hottest or weakest.
What's not in contact with the anvil is as important as what is.
If it's not in the right spot don't hit it. Accuracy is most important as it'll take you longer to undo a mistake than to do it right from the start.

[John in Oly, WA]

It's good to have a healthy obsession! That is one very nice shop!

And congratulations on the progression of your obsession, and to future success.

[ThomasPowers]

one of mine: "Hit it where it's hot, not where it's not!---If it's not hot in the right place---put it back in the forge such that the right place is in the hot spot!"

[Sargos]

very nice

[Tubalcain2]

you just wanted to show off your awesome shop.  super nice set up.

[whack-a-mole!]

I am just getting started - still in the "learning from others" stage!

[WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith]

31 minutes ago, whack-a-mole! said:

I am just getting started - still in the "learning from others" stage!

Whack, you never get beyond that stage.

Joel, first thing that I noticed, and it is a good thing, your left handed.  Left handed people tend to be artistic.

[John in Oly, WA]

Yes indeed! I am one that will always be in the "learning from others" stage.

But I'm loving this obsession, even though I haven't done anything but build tools so far. I've got to get done with that, or take a pause in that - probably will always build tools - and get back to firing up the forge and shaping hot metal.

[Joel OF]

17 hours ago, WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith said:

Joel, first thing that I noticed, and it is a good thing, your left handed.  Left handed people tend to be artistic.

Haha, nope, right handed. Being self taught means you do what's comfortable. I have the bick facing the other way because if I need to get right to the tip for something delicate I haven't got to strike across myself or walk round the other side, I just side step till I'm in the right spot.

 

On 13/02/2017 at 5:25 PM, Tubalcain2 said:

you just wanted to show off your awesome shop.  super nice set up.

My workshop is aesthetically pretty but it's a pain in the backside. The layout is pretty much dictated by where I can safely put things on the super uneven floor. It's an old sheep shed so aside from the V sloped floor for the pee to channel away there's random steps & umpteen scuffs so moving anything by trolley or jack is "interesting".

[WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith]

Haha, nope, right handed

Well, the grey headed fellow in the third picture is holding the hammer in his left hand.  Must not be you.

[JHCC]

7 hours ago, Joel OF said:

It's an old sheep shed so aside from the V sloped floor for the pee to channel away there's random steps & umpteen scuffs so moving anything by trolley or jack is "interesting".

All the time I've spent in old sheep barns was the two summers in college I spent hacking out a foot of compacted manure and straw because my boss couldn't be bothered to muck out the barn in winter.

You definitely got the better deal.