Any blacksmiths out there?

[JJ650]

I wouldn't mind trying my hand at it either. Our forging shop has all sorts of nice alloys and stainless sitting in scrap bins that would be perfect to hammer out into knives or just to mess with.

 

[darkxshade]

BTW, Smith is a very common last name for black people so yes there are plenty of black smiths out there

 

[Cheesemoo]

You mean a straight peen hammer, cross peen hammers are to be found in most hardware stores.

Nope, a cross peen hammer. none of the local hardware stores have one. The best I could find was that Sears.com has them so I will check with the local store today.

how did you find a class. I'm intrigued.

My wife teaches at the local university and they have the extra classes that are not "offical university" classes. she saw it in the list and signed me up for it becasue I have been talking about it for awhile now, just never could find anyone to share their knowledge.

I took a class at my high school. Hammered a piece of iron from the forge incorrectly and a small fragment flew out into my knee. Great times (seriously).

I am really hoping this does not happen to me. If It does I will be sure to post pics.

just do what I do - hold it over the nearest cliff waiting for a roadrunner to zip by

That also made me actually lol, I figured I would get the WoW comments but I didnt even think of the roadrunner.

 

[lxskllr]

You can make a forge out of a brake drum from a truck. I've seen it in books, but I'm sure you can find something online.

 

[alkemyst]

how did you find a class. I'm intrigued.

Many places have a Blacksmithing group. If you go to Old West shows or a Yesteryear Village that has one, he can usually give you info.

I had a flyer for one here last year I wanted to go to...it was 40 mins out of my way though.

 

[IronWing]

Isn't IronWing a blacksmith?

Nope, but my wife is.

Her website

Sources for blacksmith supplies:

Valley Farrier Supply
Centaur Forge

Also, hit the farm auctions. Lots of blacksmithing tools hiding in the old barns.

 

[zerocool84]

Nope, but my wife is.

Her website

Sources for blacksmith supplies:

Valley Farrier Supply
Centaur Forge

Also, hit the farm auctions. Lots of blacksmithing tools hiding in the old barns.

This looks slightly erotic

 

[Squisher]

Nope, but my wife is.

Her website

Sources for blacksmith supplies:

Valley Farrier Supply
Centaur Forge

Also, hit the farm auctions. Lots of blacksmithing tools hiding in the old barns.

How did I not know this? Working in a industrial forge environment for 18 years I kinda find blacksmithing interesting.

 

[Cheesemoo]

You can make a forge out of a brake drum from a truck. I've seen it in books, but I'm sure you can find something online.

Sounds cool, might be a good way to build my first forge. I wil have to look into it.

Nope, but my wife is.

Her website

Sources for blacksmith supplies:

Valley Farrier Supply
Centaur Forge

Also, hit the farm auctions. Lots of blacksmithing tools hiding in the old barns.

Thanks for sharing the info. I will have to try and find somefarm auctions.
Your wifes work is nice. I really like the Jellyfish bell.


As for my hammer, Sears had just what I needed for the class. I can't wait to make something on my anvil that hasn't seen something made on it for so many years.

 

[Bateluer]

Intriguing, sounds it might be a fun thing to try out.

 

[Cheesemoo]

Well this is not much but its my first go at it. 2" inside diameter loop and a twist with a brass finish on the twist.



It was great, we had a traditional coal forge and a propane forge. Can't wait for this weeks class.

 

[BoomerD]

I enjoyed the smithing portion of my high school metal shop classes. I always got in trouble for making stuff that wasn't permitted...throwing stars, odd and unusual knives, etc.

Working construction, that smithing experience came in very useful from time to time when something had to be fabricated in the field.
Oxy-acetylene torch with a large rosebud tip provides plenty of heat to get steel malleable enough to work with a 4 lb. sledge.
Nothing quite as fancy as IronWing's woman does, but functional enough for the work we were doing.

 

[Cheesemoo]

I think I am going to try and make all the hinges and hardare to replace in my storage room.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

My aunt and uncle live in Montana and have a blacksmith as one of their neighbors. One of the summers I went on vacation to visit them, I spent a day with this guy working in his forge. It was badass.

Created a grill fork (don't recall the real name, but the 2 prong thing), and 2 ornamental type things which were given away as presents. The blacksmith created one of each and I created the other, then he gave me all of it. It was a great experience, and highly recommend it to anybody interested in that type work to actually do it. I would love to get this stuff to do work as a hobby (along with wood working stuff).