Title says it. Who else around here does some smithing. I've been fooling around with it for a few years now with a year long pause in the middle of that. Life gets in the way sometimes.
But since my wife took ill last May, I don't get out of the house much aside from work. So I got back to hitting hot steel & found that I like it more than ever. Turns out that beating red hot metal into something is great therapy for me. Much calmer now.

Managed my first forge weld over the weekend. Something which has eluded me for a while. So I'm happy. Now to practice more & improve at it. Needs to make more tongs as well. Never have enough tongs....

It's something I always wanted to try but never had the chance to.

Tinker, who frequents our FB page is a member and a master smith. Otto who also frequents the FB page makes knives and other things as well. Been on my list of things to do as well, but the whole get around to it thing has been lacking.

I think it would be fun to learn how to make true Damascus-type watered steel, or, better still, true Samurai swords.

Dad was a tool & die maker so we all grew up around tools and metal work, but not smithing.

shinzen wrote: Tue Oct 23, 2018 8:14 am Tinker, who frequents our FB page is a member and a master smith. Otto who also frequents the FB page makes knives and other things as well. Been on my list of things to do as well, but the whole get around to it thing has been lacking.

I'm one of those rare individuals who has not & never will use the book of face. Never have understood the fascination so many have with Facebook. Sometimes I think my wife is married to it instead of me.

I'm hoping to be able to devote more time to improving my skill with the smithing. We've got a detached garage that's just been packed with crap & junk since we bought the place. I've convinced my better half to let me turn it into a smithy. No I've just got to clean it out, move the tools I've already got into it, build a bigger forge, acquire more tools (I'd like a power hammer in my stocking Santa please), and make more knives. I don't like making knives I find it boring, but the guys at work are funding my little pet hobby by buying them. Gotta love hillbillies, they've never got enough knives.
I like the ornamental iron type work. Just not exactly good at it. YET...

I’ve done a bit. Currently getting a new work space built so I can get a forge working again.
Have you looked into the American Blacksmithing Association? They have state chapters. They’re usually way more focused on traditional smithing than knives if that’s what interests you.

gator68 wrote: Tue Oct 23, 2018 1:23 pm I’ve done a bit. Currently getting a new work space built so I can get a forge working again.
Have you looked into the American Blacksmithing Association? They have state chapters. They’re usually way more focused on traditional smithing than knives if that’s what interests you.

I've looked into B.A.M. which is the Blacksmith association of Missouri. I just haven't made the time. Always some excuse or another on my part.

First of all, I hope your wife feels better soon.
Blacksmithing is one of those things that I have wanted to try. The only way I will do it is if a friend or neighbor is into it and let's me use their equipment. I'm glad you are enjoying it.

mattgunguy wrote:

gator68 wrote: Tue Oct 23, 2018 1:23 pm I’ve done a bit. Currently getting a new work space built so I can get a forge working again.
Have you looked into the American Blacksmithing Association? They have state chapters. They’re usually way more focused on traditional smithing than knives if that’s what interests you.

I've looked into B.A.M. which is the Blacksmith association of Missouri. I just haven't made the time. Always some excuse or another on my part.

Way back before kids I was doing some classes through the California branch. Well worth the time. They also hold hammer-ins which are fun.

Brain says, yes let's go forging...bum shoulder says, not so much. I have long arms and terrible shoulder sockets, which does not lend to swinging a 2lb hammer repeatedly.

That said, I can't get enough of the show Forged in Fire.

The quenching is pretty cool.

Bucolic wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2018 12:06 pm The quenching is pretty cool.

It's all about:

Hiker wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2018 9:05 am First of all, I hope your wife feels better soon.
Blacksmithing is one of those things that I have wanted to try. The only way I will do it is if a friend or neighbor is into it and let's me use their equipment. I'm glad you are enjoying it.

Appreciate the well wish for my wife, but its not real likely that she will get better soon. If ever.

I grew up with stories of my great granddad who was a smith in Waxahachie Texas way back when. Alway was fascinated by it. Probably is what led me to be a welder by trade. Between trucking and metal work, I've done nothing else for a living. Hopefully I can turn this into a living at some point. Because it sure doesn't feel like work when I'm at it.

A quick and dirty wall hook for a guy at work.

Cool! Here’s a hook I made — now used in our kitchen.