Projects I've been working on the past few weeks but I've been to busy to share! There were a few not pictured as well. Refinished a makeup vanity for my niece and did a felted painting for my mom. Super stressful but oh my gosh the excitement from those who received their gifts was so worth it!

It's been a rough couple days emotionally so when they opened their gifts and had genuine excitement for what they saw, it about had me crying happy tears. It really was a great feeling.

Tomorrow (Friday) I'll be helping my oldest nephew forge his own sword. That's what he wanted so I'm gonna do my best. A first for me but I'm sure we'll pull through! Lol

I made a shovel for my dad. Started with a sawmill circular saw blade. Tough stuff! I didn't get a picture of it but here's a short clip of me testing it out. I also rammed it into the asphalt dirt a few times just to be extra sure, lol! The rag tied on the handle was too soak up the excess oil I had just treated it with.

My youngest niece wanted her initial to hang on her wall. I used temper colors for the coloring and then sealed with clear coat. 

One of my nephews wanted this intersecting double zero as a wall hanging. He sent me a picture and I recreated from that. Brass brush on the top layer, blue temper color on the base layer. 

My youngest nephew wanted a wooden ornament with his initial carved on one side to look like a bubble and then the definition of the word 'moment' on the other side. I had to practice a bit on that one because I haven't done any wood burning since 1995!

Then, not gift related. I had a few orders for the counter balancing stocking hangers. One customer sent me a picture of them in use which was wonderful to see 

Sounds like a productive Christmas! I love the shovel, and all the gifts.

 

Multiple finished things here.  A railroad spike hook rack, two shoehorns, a simple riveted hook rack, and an adjustable/telescoping bathside table made to the wife's desired design.  All but the RR Spike rack were Christmas gifts, as that was made to sell.

I need to admit that I'm a little nervous to share my forge work, I'm nowhere near as good as a lot of what has been shared in this ongoing thread.  I'm learning, gaining experience, reading, watching videos, teaching myself as I go.

Ah, your work looks fine. We all had to start from zero even if we were a 5th generation smith you still have to learn the basics and the best way to do that besides practice is to show your work, compare to others and talk. We mostly swap talking about what we did and most importantly share the mistakes. That way folk who pay attention don't have to make them to learn from them and go on to make new mistakes for the rest of us.

Make sense?

The only issues I see is hammer control and that's just practice. Sure the shoe horns could be smoother but those will work just fine as long as there's nothing rough to snag a sock they're just fine. 

I do suggest you leave the wall hooks straight below the rivet hole before turning the hook, they'll look and work better. Otherwise they look good, nice finial scroll and a smooth even bend. Darned good. Maybe put a little texture or shaping to the piece of strap stock that connects to the wall. Doesn't need to be fancy just a little something on the ends for interest sake.

The telescoping table came out very well, I'm NOT showing Deb!!

All in all a nice bit of work you've done, I've enjoyed looking and imagining where I'd put or use it. Well done, keep it up and keep us in the loop please.

Frosty The Lucky.

1 hour ago, ILoveSteel said:

I need to admit that I'm a little nervous to share my forge work

Dont be. The whole reason for joining this site and sharing your work is for improvement. I look back now at some of the stuff i have shown and say "well, this is absolute crap". But what i got out of it was the folks here who have been mashing metal since before the bronze age gave me an honest critique and advice on how to do better. An honest critique for me is most valuable, if i want a good job and a pat on the back i will show my mom. 

Frosty, Billy-

Thank you.  Encouragement from you guys means a lot.  I really really enjoy manipulating steel into shapes that Joe Q Public doesn't think about or comprehend how it's done, and it would hurt to have my work and passion ridiculed.  I don't see that on IDI (hence why shared) but we've all had mal-intended strangers on other internet interactions make us doubt humanity.  Once burned twice shy.

Hammer control I will take that to heart.  There's plenty of vids out there I could absorb and implement.  The horns were tested after wire wheel-ing off the scale, using various grit flapper disc to take off all rough/jagged edges, and BLO for the blackened finish (and wiping down with WD-40 to take off any stickiness/gummyness).  

The hooks were a straight-follow-the-directions from an Alec Steele how-to vid.  Longer lengths would make more sense, now that you mentioned that.  I did make a bending jig for the hooks, as my over-the-horn attempts were too inconsistent.  (And on said jig: need to weld on some square stock to the bottom of it so it can be a hardy-hole drop in).

I will share future hammerwork.  Experienced eyes and minds will help me to get better, which I absolutely want to be.  I appreciate it.

been awhile since I've been on. Made my finances engagement ring back in October I made a couple knives for Christmas presents. This was my first time working with leather so it's a little rough but solid. Also first time working with some 1095 steel and it didn't go too bad 

Code- nice work. That ring is stunning; I like the proportions.

those are some beautiful knives, by the way- been thinking of making one for myself. My Mrs gave me some awesome backpack/woodcraft gear for Christmas, so I think a small hatchet and a good knife is in my future.

I appreciate it ridgeway. Just trying to get as much practice in as i can. And can't go wrong with a knife hatchet combo I can't wait to see what you make 

Finished the shield!

Amazing JHCC!!  That's awesome!!

How much does it weigh and what kind of wood did you use?

Spruce, about 3/4” thick. I haven’t weighed it, but it’s not light. Fortunately, it’s display-only. 

Very cool John! Can only imagine the look on Michael's face when he sees it, but also (and more importantly) just what he will feel (the support and encouragement to heal). Well done Sir!

--Larry

Alec used to be a member here but decided to go commercial with his videos and We haven't seen him since. I've dropped in watched a few of his how tos but have a very different way of doing things.

I almost never use the horn for anything but a bottom fuller or truing up rings but that anvil is a Soderfors and has a round horn. I've never used a jig to make something as simple as a wall hook. I certainly don't try turning the hook on the horn.

I turn hooks and such on the face and start them over the edge though if it's a large ring I do it all on the face. Once the end it turned I lay it on the anvil curve up and tap the end and it curls. 

What I'm suggesting for a coat hook shape more resembles a fish hook with a straight shank and the hook with a finial scroll so it doesn't make holes in heavy coats. I usually put 2 counter sunk holes in the shank so the hook can't pivot sideways if the kid jerks his coat off. The countersunk holes swell the shank giving it some texture and letting it be known the hook was formed like modeling clay. It also lets the user attach it with countersunk screws less likely to snag a delicate garment. 

My typical wall hook had a twisted shank too but it was my hook. I made them at demos because I could turn them out in about 7 minutes from cutting the stock to finishing while maintaining a patter with the audience. People LOVE it when you twist square stock, it forms scale as soon as you take it out of the fire so it's darkish red with flakes but when you twist it the scale falls off in a red shower revealing an orange heart. 

The audience is there to be entertained and a little razzle dazzle is just part of the show.

A little brass brush highlight and request hooks, etc. I rarely ended a day with more than a couple hold out display hooks for the table. Making a set went faster because I didn't vary the hook or do a lot of talking. 

They sold like hotcakes.

It was all just practice at the anvil. 

I strongly suggest you develop the basics, draw, widen, upset, bend, twist before you worry about sales let alone making a buck.

You're doing fine, seriously just keep at it.

Frosty The Lucky.

Ok, that sheild looks amazing.  Now I'll have to find time to build one myself.   No idea when that'll be, but Holy cow! 

Ilovesteel, thanks for sharing.   The pieces look great.   The way to get a better control of your hammer work is repetition.  Not sure how many hooks or leaves you've made but they are great for tapers and hammer control, as well as learning to use your anvil.  I'm going through the hundred nail challenge now,  knocking a few out each time I'm in the shop.  Keep sharing,  you've got some good stuff going there. 

Putting yourself out there online in any way can be nerve racking, I really don't have anything on insta or youtube because I don't have time to edit videos, but I do live streams making various items.  People watching get to see my successes and failures in real time and you end up with regulars who cheer you on throughout the process.  There seems to be more positive support in that way and it's a lot like doing demos, except you have to get over that feeling like you're talking to yourself. 

Not in my shop, but it comes from inside my shop 

The numbers are installed. Protected by 2 layers of rustoleum satin clear coat. 

happy with the result.

23 hours ago, ILoveSteel said:

we've all had mal-intended strangers on other internet interactions make us doubt humanity.

Yes, yes we have. There seems to be a certain segment of people now a days who only get enjoyment by putting others down. But just as you said they are strangers. I give those types no emotion, no response, no thought what so ever. They have no bearing on my life, my well being, or my actions. They are not even an entity to me. 

To paraphrase: It is not the situation that defines you, it is how you react to the situation. - I can not for the life of me remember who said it. But i want to say Epictetus. (i am sure one of the more scholarly among us will correct me soon)

An honest critique or constructive criticism comes from the heart. It may be tough love but it is truth. It is the mentor's job to say "Not good enough" but with that comes the responsibility of explaining why, how to correct and improve so that you may become successful in your endeavors. 

I tried to find the first hook i ever made, oh boy was it bad, no luck. But i do have these on my wall. I keep them becuase they are useful in the shop, but also as a record of my progression. I can look at these and see how far i have progressed.

I like the shield a lot John but couldn't you have smiled a LITTLE for the pic? Or is it THAT heavy?

The numbers look GOOD Gewoon, I really like them. 

NEVER take what you hear online very seriously. ESPECIALLY the gratuitously negative. That is a red flag signal they have neither ability or talent for the craft, usually because they're pre-teens who should be mowing lawns or playing outside instead of sitting in front of a screen. 

10 years+/- of isolation has created a generation of people without social skills, they don't know how to present themselves, feel no consequences for bad behavior, can't read body language, IF they even know it exists. Sooner or later they'll have to go outside and find a job. Next time some YO YO says something that hurts, picture them taking that attitude and vocabulary to a job interview. Heck, do it now. . . Feel Better?

I used to hear similar a lot. "You're just LUCKY you  know so much." It used to get me down till the light came on. I didn't have to say, "Luck has NOTHING to do with it," many times and it stopped. Then there was, "You think you know so much."   "No, I don't THINK I do."

I was told by the field geologist, "I don't have a degree, I can't know anything." Wasn't long before I got called into the office for a talking too. Of course the field geo was sitting in for my dressing down. Told the supervisor the same thing. "I was told, clearly and succinctly that I don't have a degree I can't know anything. So, I don't, do NOT ask me.

Sorry, I didn't mean to get going but I took it too many years to just say something like. don't let it bother you. It does, I know. Billy's advice is good, wish I'd heard it when I was young.

Anymore I try REALLY hard not to get in arguments with the argumentative or idiots. One of my better responses is, "Let us know how that works please." The best is Silence. I may read a thing but if I don't comment? No skin off my nose. ANY problem with that is THEIRS. I have enough of my own I don't need their's

Frosty The Lucky.

That’s actually my “completely neutral” facial expression. I’ve had the frown lines since my twenties. 

In other news, I made a magnetic pick-up for cleaning the shop. 

Frosty, one of my favorite quotes (Arabic or Persian in origin), particularly regarding underserved criticism and negativity, is,  "The dogs bark but the caravan moves on."  

I can see it's a "neutral" pose, you'd look better if you relaxed it a little, you look too stiff. If you want to mess with lighting, try it from above on your left so your nose casts a gentle shadow on your cheek and a bit on your upper lip. It can be adjusted t suit your features and what you want to convey but I'd have to be there to be more specific.

I spent a few years taking photography and really enjoyed it. Hard to break old habits, I tend to compose every portrait I see in my head.

Does the knob on the magnetic pick up tool release the magnets?

I like it George, says it well. Thanks.

Frosty The Lucky.

Yes. There’s a length of threaded rod running up the length of conduit, from the magnet in the bottom box up to the golf ball knob. As it stands, the magnet is resting on the bottom of the box (which is made from sheet brass) and can pick up anything susceptible to a 20-ish pound magnetic pull. When you pull the knob, the magnet lifts off the bottom and up to the top of the box, releasing whatever you’ve picked up. 

Interestingly, its first use in the shop (cleaning up a dropped bin of small hardware) revealed that some of the washers were made of nonmagnetic stainless steel or something similar. Did a great job on the regular stuff, though. 

Nicely done John. I've seen pickup tools that the field turns on and off but they have magnets sort of sandwiched and half rotate when you pull the lever to turn the field on or off. Maybe reverses half the magnets neutralizing the pull but I don't know how that would work on ordinary ferrous material. Magnetic objects yes but . . . 

I was hoping you knew how that worked but of course you came up with something simpler.

Frosty The Lucky.

Based on this little beastie I spotted you-know-where.