I have the most important blacksmithing tool... a loving understanding supportive wife!!  Bozious

You do not put money into the forge unless you are making Mokume. 

- Glenn

Under making rasp and metal snakes

Holding the live rattle snake in your left hand, compare it to the work piece in your right hand; adjust till they resemble each other...  Thomas Powers

Wisdom is learning from others what I can apply on my own as mine...   Smart is figuring out on my own or from others how to apply and idea or concept through implementation (figuring it out)..   Both of these run side by side...  jlpservices

This is quite simply one of those "Shut Up and Take My Money" situations. Mike Thurston

I can only please one person a day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look good either.

If the metal gets too hot to hold, then turn it loose. Glenn

If the floor wants to examine your piece of work; it is EXTREMELY rude to interfere!

If a piece is heading toward the floor, LET IT, and then pick it up correctly with tongs or at the COLD end

Training yourself to NOT grab something dropping saves a lot of pain in the long run.  Thomas Powers

There is never enough time to do it right the first time but always enough time to do it part way 2 or 3 times. Go figure.  Glenn

Negative people are not paying rent so do not let them occupy space in your head. Glenn

The bottom of my quench trough hides my mistakes.  It's empty

Forget youtube as a research tool, you need a good working handle on things before you can sift out the useful information. Frosty

No matter how high today's prices are, they will be higher when you need that item next week. Glenn

On 1/31/2019 at 11:28 AM, Glenn said:

Forget youtube as a research tool, you need a good working handle on things before you can sift out the useful information. Frosty

I have said this many times, people look at me funny when I tell them that youtube can get them hurt. Course some people look at me funny anyway ;-)

Even my coworkers look at me funny!

Figure it out and then make a mental note, in ink. Glenn 

 

Be sure to copy the important mental notes to a physical notebook ASAP. Include enough information so someone else can decipher and understand your notes at a later date.

Ignorance is not stupidity unless you Try to remain ignorant. ~Daswulf

It is not what you pay, but the SERVICE you get for each dollar invested that you should consider.

From an advertisement for a tool in April 1909

Proper care must be taken....play safe or loose something. JPH

Blacksmith say:

If you can't hide it ... feature it!

Thanks,Marc,,       Be proud of your joinery!  Flaunt it, don't hide it.

When a musician hits a bad note, it goes away, but a blacksmith mistake, you are immortal!~  Anvil

I’m three weeks into my first ‘YouTube 10 minute Blacksmith project’.

"We earnestly strive to help new smiths to make new and improved mistakes rather than just repeating the old ones we have proven in so many times before!" ~ThomasPowers

When my hot steel hits the floor, I didn't drop it, just checking that gravity is still working.~Me