What did you do in the shop today?

[JHCC]

7 hours ago, Chimaera said:

How much was that?

$21.99 + tax. 

Finally got around to a project that’s been nagging the back of my mind for a few months: adding a swivel caster to the front of my grinder cart. This cart has fixed wheels at the back, and I wanted something that would make it easier to move around and eliminate the difficulty of lifting and balancing its weight. The solution is a caster mounted on a hinged piece of bed rail; a post swings down and wedges the rail in place. (This post shares a pivot point with the foot pedal I added to release the belt tension on my 2x90 grinder.)

 Also cut down a big spud wrench to make a long, tapered round drift. 

And did some more work on the details of the nautilus repoussé piece. 

(One thing I’ve learned from this practice piece is to leave more material on the margins!!)

[Chimaera]

Nautilus is looking great! Did a bit more work on this one… bone still needs some more degreasing. Also need advise for the transition. I’m thinking this will be more decorative than functional, and the vibe I’m going for is “sacrificial dagger”. I think I might torch the bone. Considering a sinew wrap, but not sure.

[M.J.Lampert]

On 8/14/2023 at 5:29 PM, jlpservicesinc said:

Thanks Frosty..  That is a good one..  does it work on bee stings too? 

Jennifer I know this is old but if you take a slice off a fresh onion and rub the juice from that into a bee or wasp sting  that reduces the pain and swelling quite well

M.J.Lampert

[jlpservicesinc]

M.J.    I never knew that.. Wow..  Thank you. 
 

[arkie]

On 9/25/2023 at 6:22 PM, Frosty said:

I THINK the practice piece John is talking about is the tennis ball punch holder, Arkie.

John eluded to the piece in later posts....

[JHCC]

That seems to have escaped Frosty initially, but he’s all caught up. 

Finished the nautilus:

Which left a rather cool impression in the pitch:

[Brian Hibbert]

That turned out beautifully.  May I ask what you will do with it?  

 

If you don't have a plan for it (since you claim that's just a practice piece) I'd suggest a frame (or shadowbox) to hang it on the wall.  Even as practice that's a piece of art.

[JHCC]

It's joining the growing collection of practice pieces in my office at work!

[Brian Hibbert]

Good! It should be on display.

 

[JHCC]

(The Tryzub piece was purchased by a Ukrainian friend.)

[alexandr]

I spent half a day sanding the handrails.  All that's left is to paint.

[Jim86]

You all are making some great stuff.

Alexandr thats a pretty impressive handrail!

I just finished a simple hot cut i made from leaf spring, then had to grind it down a bit as the hardy hole is smaller than my other anvil. Made a few coil spring punches too.

[swedefiddle]

Good Morning, Jim

Greetings from the left coast of Canada.

I have made very similar 'Hot Cut'. I have found there is more support if you weld a slightly longer shank on the backside, this lets the base of the 'Hot Cut' sit square on the top of the Anvil. The weld is not in shear or compression.

Enjoy your day!!

Neil

[Jim86]

G'day Neil, thanks for the tip, I think I know what you mean, I did think about it not sitting square on the anvil  but I'm only usually cutting 12mm stock. 

Thanks, you too mate.

Jim.

[JHCC]

Started another repoussé practice piece:

The flower itself is about 1-3/4” across.

[Rojo Pedro]

First part of an up coming sculpture thanks to Johns inspiration. Turned out pretty good but it is looking to the side and not quite what i wanted

[jlpservicesinc]

Fitchburg Forge In competition. 

Super fun. Something different. 

I really should practice the items. 

Last arrow head I made was 30 years ago and never made a meat fork nor this design of fat lamp. 

[George N. M.]

Jennifer, not many folk these days cook meat by boiling big hunks in a pot/cauldron and need a meat hook of this design to get the meat out.  Are you or someone else planning to use it in this manner or is it a period recreation?

GNM

[jlpservicesinc]

George, the judge picks the items to be forged, the time allowed, and the specifics. 

The Judge was Beth Holmberg..  She is into Vikings and early British, Icelandic, and Scandinavian lore. Fun really because she researches the items and gives history on them with location. 

Only a few items I've made there since going.. ((This was my 3rd time I think.. (covid time off)) have been useful with potential sales. 


 

2023-division_sessions-3.pdf

[Rojo Pedro]

Sorry wrong thread. Is what i did in the shop

[mod note: moved it for you]

[Scott NC]

  Eye like it very much Rojo, and the flower looks great, John.   I am on the lookout for a used bowling ball.  

[jlpservicesinc]

Fired up the fat lamp.

[Goods]

JLP, I don’t know how the judges felt about your  work, but I’m impressed. (As always!)

Rojo, that’s pretty cool. Will it be part of a bigger piece? Or is it going to be a semi-profile relief?

Over the past couple seasons, I’ve made a lot of progress to having inventory for my next demo on the 21st an 22nd. Nothing finished yet (which makes me nervous), but a few items close:

Five tomahawks in various stages:

2 filed and ready for heat treatment, one rough ground ready for filing, two just annealed ready for grinding.

I also got some material drawn out into blanks:

Forklift tine for hatchets. I plan on 5 or 6 total of 3 sizes. Then 52100 for blacksmith knives, should be enough for 5. This is if time and luck holds out.

If I can make good progress on these, I should get some smaller items together also… (Again, time and luck! And I have to get more coal!)

Keep it fun,

David 

[Chimaera]

Made a redneck electro etcher. Not variable or anything, but it does a good job (forgot to get pictures of any of the test pieces). Thinking it probably shouldn't be too dangerous, but we'll see. Need to order some good stencils now.

[Hefty]

I've been trying to develop my skills and expand my range of sellable items so over the weekend I made these:

I have made leaf keyrings before but thought I'd try one again for practise. I'm really happy with the corkscrew but it was my second attempt after I accidentally burned off half of the screw on the first one, on what I had intended to be my last heat!!  I've gotten too used to using gas and got distracted for just that little bit too long.

I still have to find a wine under cork that I can test it on. Most wines in Australia are now under screw caps, not sure about in other places? The pitch of the screw might still be a little tight, but time and good wine will tell!

Cheers,

Jono.