TWISTEDWILLOW Posted August 21, 2022 Share Posted August 21, 2022 Howdy everyone! with fall coming on soon and the holiday season following soon after, I thought since we ain’t had a challenge in awhile that it’d be fun to start a new one! everyone’s invited to participate!!! from beginners to hobbyists to professional smiths to…. yes even our resident curmudgeons! the challenge will be to make letter opener! For openin all those holiday cards that will be pouring in yalls mail boxes in a few months! the required material! will be anything you choose! And any size you choose! new stock, old stock, copper, brass, mild, wrought, titanium, high carbon, stone, glass, wood, bone, or ? the only limitations are first it will actually have to be able to open a letter! second it will have to have at least some kinda forged metal content even if you choose to make the bulk of it from a non metal material Third This goes without sayin, you gotta take pictures an post em! it can be any theme or design the deadline for the challenge will be October 31 Halloween! so that gives everyone over two months from now to complete their projects! alright I think that covers just about everything ready set Go! Happy forging! Everyone make sure to stay safe and have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Howdy neighbor, I just signed back in and saw this. Sounds like a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted August 23, 2022 Author Share Posted August 23, 2022 Well Howdy to you too Neighbor! I’m glad to see ya back on the forum! I hope we get lots of participation! I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 I will make one today, and try and figure out how to post pictures on this sight again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Good to see you aboard again Brian, been a long time. Posting pics has changed since you posted but it's not too hard. If you have trouble give a shout someone will be happy to talk you through it. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Thanks Frosty, I just posted a picture on another thread, but I am not sure exactly how I did it. It was out of my photos. I will make something new and try it with a new photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Your hammer making tongs! I love those tongs even though I haven't made a hammer in a long time. You selected the "choose file" button at the bottom of the message window and picked one out of a file on your computer. Yes? That's my preferred method, all you need to do is watch file size when you post and it shows in the window before you post. I'll be looking forward to seeing your letter opener and reading what you have to say until then. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 You're on Billy. Although I may have an advantage over other folks. The reason being in my 38 years of hammering hot steel I've made more letter openers than I could count. However most of them started out as a knife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott NC Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 I amost said I would throw my hat in the ring until I read that....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted August 23, 2022 Author Share Posted August 23, 2022 53 minutes ago, Irondragon ForgeClay Works said: You're on Billy. Although I may have an advantage over other folks Lol Randy I can’t wait to see what you come up with! Do ya think Debi might feel up to hammering something out too? Scott, oh come on! Join in! I wanna see your letter opener idea too! ive got three or four ideas for different ones myself, I think I’ll make a few designs an pick what looks best for mine, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott NC Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 I have an idea. The holidays bring a lot of motifs to mind. This might be one I can participate in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Put a blade on Frankenbucket and park it next to the mail box? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott NC Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 I was trying to be nice and envisioning a holoday blade for opening letters and cards. Maybe I should make a Boris Karloff one????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 FrankenClause wouldn't be in the holiday spirit? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted August 23, 2022 Author Share Posted August 23, 2022 Scott, a holiday themed letter opener sounds cool! Jerry, what kinda opener are you thinkin bout doin? Brian, those both look awesome! I really like the one with the ball on the end, what did ya make that from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 They were both made from 5/8" coil spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 I have the horse head bottle opener I made at the class you did up here on the wood stove. Everybody looks at the wood stove so I display things on it. I don't know Billy, I'll think of something. I have time, I can keep you wondering and still beat the deadline. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Brian, those look good enough to open letters And cut open packages. Probably marketable to mention cutting tape on boxes as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Good to hear Frosty. I really enjoyed that time in Alaska and I know Lyle did too. Daswulf, letter openers are definitely marketable. I used to make them regularly. Like Billy said, the holidays are coming up soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted August 24, 2022 Author Share Posted August 24, 2022 Aric, you gonna join in on the fun? You always got neat stuff your workin on, I bet ya could come up with some awesome letter openers! Jerry, just don’t move slower the molasses in Alaskas January! The deadline is the end of October! Lol Brian, thanks for gettin things kicked off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted August 24, 2022 Share Posted August 24, 2022 Oh yeah, I'll join in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 24, 2022 Share Posted August 24, 2022 Don't worry Billy there aren't any moles in Alaska so their butts are safe from the cold. It's mighty nice of you to be concerned. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted August 24, 2022 Author Share Posted August 24, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBones Posted August 24, 2022 Share Posted August 24, 2022 Been working on a design in my head past few days. Working OT so wont get to the forge till the weekend. But i am in. I never really thought letter openers marketable what with all the digital, social media, and texting now a days who uses a letter opener anymore. Then it hit me, i do and my wife both. I generally refer to mine as a pocket knife but my wife keeps one of those new fangled plastic ones on her end table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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