jlpservicesinc Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 Demonstration today for the EAIA. I chose a carving hatchet as the demo piece. Took an item that normally takes 6hr forging and got this far in 3hr. Not as clean but not bad for working at someone else's shop with huge time crunch. I was totally surprised as it was a scheduled event but there wasn't even any welding flux. Luckily one of the other demonstrators had a new box in the truck. Funny thing was my first thought was as I was packing up my hammes and eye mandrel, " I should bring welding flux". I was then like.. Naugh, that's just being silly. Who doesn't have welding flux at the shop especially when they know I'm going to be making a hatchet from 1/2X2" stock in a folded body single sided welded tool steel edge.. LOL.. It's not pretty but once I lend some filing to it and just a tad more forge work. She'll be a beauty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 Always bring everything lol. Including the forge. Ugh. Never know. Probably why I bring too much stuff to demos. Nice work for a rush job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Das, this is the shop.. Yeah think they would not have welding flux? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Was the anvil uncomfortable to work at? Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 2" lower than I like.. the weird thing is there is no room. I'm nearly into the vise. That was more uncomfortable and the horn is on the other side than I like. I have found that most anvils if going by the knuckle height is about inseam length.. 34" is my inseam but I like my anvil to be about 31" give or take but this was sitting at 29". Luckily I've been forging enough that my back muscles and shoulder and neck muscles are in pretty good shape right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 It would have killed me holding that posture off and on for three hours. It does look incredibly crowded in there. Good work under adverse conditions is a mark of real expertise. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Crew Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Jlp I am fairly good at what i do and am able to adapt to changing conditions. The ability to do that is what allows me to make a living. You obviously have spent the time learning the trade and are well able to adjust to different equipment and a different shop and produce good products with less than ideal (or different than accustomed to equipment) Your ability to do that and your desire to train others is something that sets you apart. As a novice to blacksmithing I would love to spend some time soaking in the experience which you (and others) are willing to give to people that desire to learn more about your trade. Thanks for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFC Snuffy Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Not *in* the shop, per se, but I picked up some hickory 4x4s today with which I intend to make a stand for my swage block. Hopefully I'll make some progress on Tuesday (first day of my weekend). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Try to save enough for some hammer handles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBones Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 This is actually the past 2 days. Yesterday after a few phone calls i found a place locally that sells coal. Kentucky bituminous @ $215 ton. Happy as a pig in mud over that one. Got a handle put on my knife. I am no bladesmith. This is mostly something i just wanted to try. The handle aint real pretty nor fancy but over all i am happy with it. Comfy to hold and cuts well. And the other side. I also made a handful of brooches for a friend to take to ren fes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Blacksmith tested, Mouse approved. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheechWizard Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 san mai ive been working on, have to re-polish/vinegarize as i quenched it again do to an annoying line i got do to missing part of the edge in the first dunk seen in the third photo the brass isnt glued to anything yet just fitted a shoulder so i can still work out the little gaps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyBiker Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Finished up the cleaning on the swage block . Ready to put it back to work . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Finished the urn for my father’s ashes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Beautiful work. Where is the wood from? Is it reclaimed from something significant to your father? Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 It’s wormy spalted curly apple. No specific connection with my dad, but the kind of wood he loved when we used to be woodworkers together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheechWizard Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 that is xxxxxxx amazing jhcc. this thread has been inspiring me to do some ornamental things. unrelated but do any of you guys have experience with making forge welded sockets? i have an order for a chisel and im rather intimidated. i was thinking for stock id use a rr spike with a leaf spring bit but after peaning out the socket end quite a bit i dont feel like i have enough area to work a socket let alone forge weld it. im still struggling with drawing material width ways in general Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 22 hours ago, Old Crew said: Jlp I am fairly good at what i do and am able to adapt to changing conditions. The ability to do that is what allows me to make a living. Thanks and yes I do enjoy sharing for sure. Once the teaching facility is up and running I am hoping to do some long distance stuff too. My pleasure. I forge welded on a thin section to reinforce the eye. You can just see the weld seam. JHCC. Great job but I'm not quite sure how it works? I don't want to sound funky.. but is is like a bread box? I mean I don't see any opening to put the ashes in.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 The bottom is held on by screws. Turn upside-down, remove bottom, insert ashes, replace bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fowllife Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 Not today, I have been working on this table the last couple weeks in my spare time. My wife requested another one and once again gave me the artistic license to do what I wanted in terms of style. I have an idea in mind, so since I woke up early this morning I started on a couple bending forks before making breakfast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dece Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 First day at the forge in a bit over a month. Hadn't felt like doing anything since making some flowers for a friend's funeral but finally forced myself to do something. Made a new set of hold fasts, one for each anvil, and drive hooks to hang them up on. Not much done but at least it is something to get going again, and the first items I have been pleased with in a long time, although they could be a bit more uniform. Luckily they work great compared to the old ones I made when I started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolFisHunt Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 No shop time for me today, but my grandson was working on his hammer control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 Mr. G. Hunt, Looking good! Great job starting them young. Not bad form too. SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rojo Pedro Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 Me and my brother made a brand for his cutting boards. Works well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn II Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 Fowllife: very nice table! I too like to use bending jigs. After about the 3rd different set I had made for a different radius, I saw somewhere (probably on IFI) about this design. Weld your pins on opposing pieces of angle iron. You can place these in your vice jaws and slide them apart for a nearly infinite range of radii. My apologies for the hand drawn pic, but I'm not near my shop. If you use a good heavy angle, and have your vice properly secured, you can bend some pretty stout material. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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