Well forging metal is more efficent method if one have good forge, trust me removing 1/2 " by big grinder is not easy.

I first foged stuff like hald thicknes forged it then grinded .

And when you remove stock you remove material, but whne you forge it it become stronger you squish material and that metal cubes that small like atom are in it squished together then cut of and grinded.

 

I  forged until i saw that it will ben quite a bit then i stop, and i had problem it wanted to twist on me, and when i was like half work done i used grinder.

Cheaper is grinding,  (if we compare fuel consumption) i stil have grinding disk on grinder, but i used lots of charcoal to heat and beat steel.

 

I learned one lesson sometimes method that look faster is not, i tought grinding is using power ,and it wil be easy  luckly i started by forging couple of heats .

 

 

Well forging metal is more efficent method if one have good forge, trust me removing 1/2 " by big grinder is not easy.

I first foged stuff like hald thicknes forged it then grinded .

And when you remove stock you remove material, but whne you forge it it become stronger you squish material and that metal cubes that small like atom are in it squished together then cut of and grinded.

 

I  forged until i saw that it will ben quite a bit then i stop, and i had problem it wanted to twist on me, and when i was like half work done i used grinder.

Cheaper is grinding,  (if we compare fuel consumption) i stil have grinding disk on grinder, but i used lots of charcoal to heat and beat steel.

 

I learned one lesson sometimes method that look faster is not, i tought grinding is using power ,and it wil be easy  luckly i started by forging couple of heats .

 

 

Well forging metal is more efficent method if one have good forge, trust me removing 1/2 " by big grinder is not easy.

I first foged stuff like hald thicknes forged it then grinded .

And when you remove stock you remove material, but whne you forge it it become stronger you squish material and that metal cubes that small like atom are in it squished together then cut of and grinded.

 

I  forged until i saw that it will ben quite a bit then i stop, and i had problem it wanted to twist on me, and when i was like half work done i used grinder.

Cheaper is grinding,  (if we compare fuel consumption) i stil have grinding disk on grinder, but i used lots of charcoal to heat and beat steel.

 

I learned one lesson sometimes method that look faster is not, i tought grinding is using power ,and it wil be easy  luckly i started by forging couple of heats .

 

 

Natkova, you could reduce the eye diameter by cutting a section out of it and reforging the rest back closed. 

There is an old saying that goes something like this.

For a good blade you must win, first forge thick then grind thin.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.~ Semper Paratus

Making the latest skull out of 1" square into a cane. Thanks John for sharing the picture and encouraging the idea. Steel seems too heavy so I drilled and threaded the skull and wood and added epoxy to hold them together. I am at a crossroads now wether I want to torch spiral the wood or dremel a pattern in it then stain it. 

That looks great, Das. I agree that the shaft needs something (the plain blonde wood is insufficiently grim), but I'd suggest keeping it as simple as possible to avoid detracting from the skull. Maybe using a dremel to create a texture rather than a pattern?

Natkova, the important question is "does it work"? 

Das, that is quite the whallopin' stick you got there. If you have a fire place that you use slather it in lard and stick it up in the chimney until spring. That is, from what i understand, the traditional way that a shillelagh was made. 

Thanks John. I cave a couple ideas what I could do. 

Billy I had thought it seems a bit like a shillelaugh. Think I'll pass on that method of treatment though. 

Made a lot of parts for a couple of projects.

Closeup:

Das, skulls lend themselves to all manner of things.  Depending on size, they can be gear shift knobs, turn indicator knobs, Radio knobs, Toppers for walking sticks ....  And you are doing a bang up job making them. 

Now you have me wanting to try to make some.   Mabe a full set for the dashboard on a hot rod.

Jennifer, quit hurting your self!!

I was at an open shop tonight.  Had to pick up my new blower a buddy picked up at quad state for me.  I'm continuing to play with freidrich's crosses and had my buddy if he had ever seen one made from square tube.  Only one Smith there had tried it and liked how it had turned out.   So I tried 2 versions.   One flat cut and one cut on the diagnol.  I like them.   They have potential.  Now I wonder what it would look like to cut a solid piece on the diagnol for one...

Hmmmm, that looks like it has lots of potential Chad. They'd be well worth playing with to see what develops.

Frosty The Lucky.

If you make the arms a good bit longer on the flat-cut version, you could do a C-channel scroll on the ends, like this:

That's true.  This is going to be fun to explore once craft fair season is over.   I'm also going to do one out of round tube as well. 

I can see potential for rose or flower petals - the bottom left photo makes it look like it would also adapt well for holly leaves.

I don’t much like the copper back either. I had wanted it to be thinner, but got off on one of the rivet holes. I tried four times to put the copper on and have it be no wider than that one misplaced hole, but it didn't make a difference. Just peening the rivets messed up the line. I would have abandoned the idea of a copper back, but the holes were there and couldn’t be undone. 

For skulls, I think Thak Ironworks is best  

https://youtu.be/ZE_5mcF4p6c?si=30_BoXcC_Gje55s2

Another tap handle:

Finished another project as well, but I couldn’t get a good photo. I’ll try to post some tomorrow after installation. 

Had a Hammer In/Blacksmith Day yesterday.  It was a blast with 17 of us at up demoing at the Richfield Historical Park about 45 minutes north east of me.   It's set up as a blacksmiths only craft fair and it was a constant flow of people.   One 12 year old girl stopped by and she had several pieces of roughly blacksmithed jewelry on... that she had started making herself after I made her a leaf ring at last years event.   Of course I had to spend an hour teaching her how I make leaves and helping her make one.   This young lady went to every last Smith there,  talked asked, questions, watched, helped, and learned.  Watch out in the future for Iron Rose forge, she's going to be great.  Now today I have another young blacksmithing fan who's going to be at my demonstration today that is going to get a lesson.  First time he showed up at a demo of mine he walked up, set up a bag chair and spent hours watching and asking questions,  and he knew what he was talking about.  I need to get more experience and just start setting up classes.  It's too fun getting people started. 

I see what you mean Donal, maybe could have tried just filling the holes with the peined copper.  Still a very nice looking knife. 

Another cool tap handle John. 

Chad that sounds like a great time. It's very rewarding sparking interest in the trade and teaching people. 

From this 

 

Made 

 

 

This 

 

 

 

For coworker at work, they gave me old axe welded with leaf spring from truck and want to have edge in it well I did my best about it. And cut myself a little while I was filing it after quench and tempering.

Looks a lot better natkova. I'd a have been worried about the weld but it looks like it held. 

Thanks took me hour and half to make 

Goodness John, how many tap handles are you commissioned for? Do you name them? They're getting better every time. 

Frosty The Lucky.

I’ve got one left to make, for a round dozen. It’s to be in the same design as the one on the far right:

I just installed the other project, so here are some photos. This is a chain to go across the base of the stairs at yarn shop, for when the plant shop upstairs is closed:

I thought a plant theme would be appropriate:

 Our subtenant is over the moon happy, so we’ll call that a success. 

Really nice leaf chain John. 

About a month ago i herniated a disk in my back. For 2 weeks i could not even walk the pain ran from my lower back all the way to my left knee. I have just now been able to sleep in the bed again and not on the couch with a heating pad. I was in sheer agony for a while and would not wish that pain on my worst enemy. Anyway finally got some shop time this weekend. Made a couple logger heads for hot coco this fall with Halloween coming up and all, no pics of those. Also made this shelf for my daughters home brews. She made a blueberry, cherry, pomegranate mead that is outstanding.  The shelves are not screwed down yet is why it looks a bit cooked in the photo. 

And yes i know my porch needs re-stained and to be a bit more careful and not spray the house when doing it.