Hello from Belgium

[Benoit]

Hi!

A few years ago i started to feel the need to do more than sitting in front of a screen 8h/day, which is hard to avoid being a software developer.

I've been interested in blacksmithing for a long time but i thought it would be too dangerous and too hard to start with so i've chosen woodworking instead, it was second on my list...

Well that's a way to find that it may be also quite dangerous and not easy at all. But after a little bit more than 1 year i have no regret as i found that i'm able to persevere doing something i was not used to: working with my hands. I was a little bit afraid that repetitions and long period of training would lower my interest but i'm happy that it is not the case.

So, despite i'm far (very far) from being good at woodworking, it is time to try to learn blacksmithing. Now that the forgebq and the anvil stand are ready, i'm about to start what seems to be the classic beginner 100 leaf key rings with the hope that i'l be able one day to forge what currently interests me the most: axes.

[Al Stephens]

Benoit, Welcome! We all started small, I still have my first "S" hook. I have alway found repletion is the key to both speed and getting better. Examine  your 1st one to the 10th one. If you don't see improvement, try and find out why.  Good Luck!  Al

[Hans Richter]

Hallo Benoit, welcome, goede middag, bonjour, glad to have you here. There at least 4 other Belgium blacksmith brothers (more or less active) here. Sooner or later the brothers will ask you to read the treat ‘Read this first’.

Let me know in witch area you are busy, maybe we can have chat or hammer in.

Cheers, Hans