when tack welding it to a piece of strap bent in a u that holds the pieces aligned and then grinding off the weld comes in handy...  Interesting to note that some of the old books mention riveting pieces together before welding them...

Small scale...but technically not blacksmithing. 

Made a hat band buckle out of a block of brass. Just a drill, and files. Don't ask me how long it took. Just worked on it here and there when I was bored.

 

C-1, impressive just the same. Thanks for posting it. 

Nice buckle C-1, always something to be gained while in the "file zone". For me it's always been patience. Al

Yup that's a nice buckle. Something to do and you get something out of it that you can be proud of. 

I know of the "file zone" Al. Some people hate it but it's like meditation for me. 

Thanks, y'all. I can totally realate to the "file zone". I actually think filing is often more therapeutic than forging. ..for me, at least. I hadn't worked with brass much, so I was kinda suprised that it wasn't easier to file. Super easy to sand, though. 

Oh yeah, I guess that would be a drill, files, and sand paper.

Reverse side:

did these little key chains today. forged from 1/2x1/8" flat. the brass leaf is from 3/8" round, and the other one that is stainless is from a piece a little thicker than 1/4" round. 

                                                                                                                                                    Littleblacksmith 

Nice work LBS. Here's some lapel or hat pins I made several years ago. The leaf was all forged, the door knocker and latch were mostly file work. Al

Bob Valentine often brings this set to meets, the little board the latches are atatched to comes out of the box so you can see the functioning hardware on the back side.  Whole thing fits in the palm of your hand, forged and file work.  

Thought I would try a couple of miniature ram's heads for today's demo. They made quite good little keyrings. The three on the right are from 6mm square bar and the other two are 8mm. They were popular with visitors and I think I'll do more, but make the 8mm a standard. Fun stuff.

Judson, thanks for sharing the pic of Bob Valentine' work. The little rams head are very nice, Aus. I don't think I've ever demoed anything smaller than a snail out of 1/4", I'll have to practice and try some of these. Al 

Thanks Al. I found them more difficult than a normal-sized ram's head. You have to be very careful not to burn those little horns off. I didn't mention the one that finished up in the bottom of the quench bucket with one horn and a bent nose.

  Anytime anyone burns something up at our forge meetings it winds up nailed to the wall, as a example to beginners that we all do that. I've always said any smith that said they've never burned anything up will lie about other things also. Al