KiltedWonder Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 I am new to the craft. I have been using my cousin's equipment for a few months (after his bugging me for years to come try my hand). Found that smacking hot metal is fun. I am still working on building my own forging area in my garage. Twelve years of neglect at cleaning and organizing means it is taking time. I work full time as an IT specialist. I have a wife and little girl so forge time and time to get mine ready is sometimes hard to come by. Plans are to have mine up and ready before things cool off here. I love reading up on the info presented here this forum is a wealth of information. I also have plans to join a local blacksmith organization as soon as funds and time allows. I really want to gain from others XP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 For Pennsylvania blacksmiths - click here. Mark your calendar for October 21st (Third Saturday) Andrew Molinaro’s - Stroudsburg, PA and December 9th (Second Saturday) Gallery Meeting, Paradise, PA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Welcome to the addiction. I imagine Thommas will be along , he herds bits for a living as well. I rased girls, they make beter hands thand boys. Once you start making things for the missus she likes, she will help you make time. Always beter to spend grumpy time on a hoby than tearing down your relationships anyway. That way quality time is truly quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Welcome aboard, glad to have you. You're an IT and go by Kilted . . . Kilted IT? Do you REALLY dress game when you go hunting? Oh GREAT, you're a newbie straight line! I AM in sooooo much trouble. Please forgive me but I really do have trouble keeping these thoughts to myself where they belong. I sure hope you have a sense of humor, if not please feel free to give me some . . .. stuff, I deserve it more than not. Blacksmithing really is addictive and we'll cheerfully help. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiltedWonder Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 4 hours ago, Glenn said: For Pennsylvania blacksmiths - click here. Mark your calendar for October 21st (Third Saturday) Andrew Molinaro’s - Stroudsburg, PA and December 9th (Second Saturday) Gallery Meeting, Paradise, PA Planned on Joining Central MD Blacksmith Guild as Carroll County Farm Museum is close to home and my cousin is already a member. Can't hurt to member up in both. 4 hours ago, Charles R. Stevens said: Welcome to the addiction. I imagine Thommas will be along , he herds bits for a living as well. I rased girls, they make beter hands thand boys. Once you start making things for the missus she likes, she will help you make time. Always beter to spend grumpy time on a hoby than tearing down your relationships anyway. That way quality time is truly quality. Have a bit of RR track for my daughter to use if she so desires. Here's to hoping I produce things the missus likes, besides time away from me. 3 hours ago, Frosty said: Welcome aboard, glad to have you. You're an IT and go by Kilted . . . Kilted IT? Do you REALLY dress game when you go hunting? Oh GREAT, you're a newbie straight line! I AM in sooooo much trouble. Please forgive me but I really do have trouble keeping these thoughts to myself where they belong. I sure hope you have a sense of humor, if not please feel free to give me some . . .. stuff, I deserve it more than not. Blacksmithing really is addictive and we'll cheerfully help. Frosty The Lucky. I am IT. Well might be missing the first two letters. I made the attempt to dress the last deer I shot. My pants did not fit him and I looked ridiculous with out pants. Not to mention certain bits getting a bit... I wanna say Frosty, but I'll just go with cold. I'm so green I blend in with the forest. You may decide where my sense of humor is concerned. And yes, I will need all the cheerful help I can get. Enablers for my new addiction welcomed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Welcome aboard from southwestern Pa. Enablers? Haha. Oh, there is an ocean of information here and it's always raining more. While you charter the sea there's lots of great people here to help you on your course when you need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 My fist recomindation is to mount the peice of rail vertically, you now have a1 1/2x3" striking serface and most of the mass under the hammer. If you want to get fancy you can modify it some. Mount it closed fist hung at the users side high. The forge should be the same hight (see you haven't even got started and you need another forge! When you get more skill you will move the anvil down to first knuckle high (so you got some breathing space on the growing kid thing) note some knife makers forge setting down... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 I was on a business trip last week and so very sporadic access. BTAIM IT is rather like blacksmithing; so wide a career that folks could be working on stuff the other one has never heard of... Me I'm writing bash scripts to validate that large rack mount systems were made correctly at the factory with over 30 years of UNIX/LINUX systems, (well some system 5, sun os, solaris,...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiltedWonder Posted August 28, 2017 Author Share Posted August 28, 2017 Thomas, Mostly hardware wonk here with networking peppered in. Have done a bunch of launches here at current position and looking to transition to IT project management. Very basic programming knowledge here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Ohhh, you're gonna fit right in here, I'm always looking for a worthy opponent when punishment is in play. We gotta be careful though the forum is getting more PC. Even then it's a great place to hang out. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 He's an IT guy -- PC shouldn't be a problem. If Apple products are an issue, he can consult @Everything Mac. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 have you read "The Hardware Hacker" by Andrew "bunnie" Huang? (published this year and an interesting view on how hardware is done in China...I've been suggesting it to the hardware part of the group to explain some things they have run into...) (See; I don't only read 1000 year old tomes or PhD theses!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiltedWonder Posted September 27, 2017 Author Share Posted September 27, 2017 Thomas Did not read that yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 Welcome from south-central Pennsylvania Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4elements Posted September 28, 2017 Share Posted September 28, 2017 Another read you might like, just for fun and in keeping with your user name is "How McPherson Held the Floor", a poem by Robert Service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 28, 2017 Share Posted September 28, 2017 How about RWS' "The Haggis Of Private Mcphee" ? with the opening line: "Hae ye heard whit ma auld mither's postit tae me?" hmm almost looks like a post by some of us here.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4elements Posted September 28, 2017 Share Posted September 28, 2017 I'll have to get a picture of me in my kilt to post, but its definitely not something I would wear around hot metal. also I wish I hadn't misplaced my book of Service's poems. Lots of fun stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmall Posted September 28, 2017 Share Posted September 28, 2017 So we can't say "at your Service" until you find the book. Better hurry....... and welcome by the way......even though kilt wearing may make a UNIX out of you (sorry couldn't resist) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4elements Posted September 28, 2017 Share Posted September 28, 2017 I was going to say something but realized it wasn't oblique enough to stay within the rules. Something about a UNIXcorn, nevermind. I did memorize The Cremation of Sam McGee, which was always a hit with Boy scouts at winter camps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 28, 2017 Share Posted September 28, 2017 FarmAll you can only say "At your Service" if your name is Rocky Rococo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiltedWonder Posted September 29, 2017 Author Share Posted September 29, 2017 Welcome from south-central Pennsylvania David, York, more specifically Spring Grove here Kilts are not forging attire and it would be a shame to burn a hole in the clan tartan. Thank you for the welcome one and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted September 29, 2017 Share Posted September 29, 2017 David, York, more specifically Spring Grove here........ Ah yes. About 20 minutes away. Spring Grove... also known as Papertown. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4elements Posted September 29, 2017 Share Posted September 29, 2017 I took a selfie this morning wearing my kilt. While it certainly isn't blacksmithing attire, there is a connection. This Great Kilt is 3yds of tartan which cost at the time US$60 per yd. I had just started smithing but didn't have extra cash for the purchase so I made 2 Sgian Dubh (a small knife usually worn in the hose) and traded them to a kilt shop. I made them distinguished by chasing knot work designs in the annealed blades and brazing over the cuts. After hardening I ground away the excess brass leaving only the inlaid designs. I'm sorry I no longer have pictures of the knives to show. someday I'll do more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted September 29, 2017 Share Posted September 29, 2017 Nice legs! ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 4-Elem, Tartan is what clan? (dress or hunting?), Thanks, SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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