"Backyard Blacksmithing" pounding iron on the forge this evening!

I’m just getting started into all this and I thought the leaves were neat. I also figured they were good practice for proper hammer handling and learning places to work on the anvil. The two I’ve made so far were just for wall hanging or set them on a table I guess.

 

Did I hear someone mention secret Santa was starting?

 

I pick up chisels at the scrap yard or yard sales for pretty cheap money.

I do most of the hot cuts on the table between the face and horn. The table is typically wrought and saves marking the face from errant strikes or chisel marks.

If you think you are going to make a lot of hot cuts, you can make a sacrificial steel plate to rest on top of the anvil. Either a saddle shape to fit over the top, or flat plate with a stub of square tube welded on the bottom to go in the hardie hole to keep it from moving. Unless you are using a hold down, then it won't work.

 

Same here! Moving things in and out is getting old fast! There may or may not be a shop build already in the works here....

 

This isn't forging but I did use my hammers, anvil and other tools to make this pig weathervane for my brothers 50th birthday.

I ran out of time and wasn't able to finish the opposite half of it, so I made a presentation frame so he could have a gift to open. He likes to bbq pork ribs and his young son always wanted a weathervane. The front of the pointer is shaped like a bbq fork. Joining the two halves is meticulous detail work and soldering. I hope to finish this up in the next few weeks.

 

That is a fine piece of art fishingpol

 

Yep ^^^

Very cool

 

Pigs don't fly, but this one will spin! Nice job.

 

That pig looks awesome! You did a great job! It looks pretty time consuming.

 

Nice gate!! You should whip up a monster spider web, complete with spider of course for Halloween. You can’t forget a big old Christmas tree too! You could figure out some wire clips for them to hang lights!!

 

Some around this morning. Formed up a set of scroll tongs from a set of kit blanks, also made a small leaf my Mom wanted. Thinking I might draw out the points on the tongs a touch more so I can get even smaller scrollwork done

 

Good work. I use a pair of long needle nose pliers for small scrolling. Metal heated to bright orange twist easily without distorting the pliers.

Making scrolling tongs is good practice too.

 

Hi fishingpol , I love the pig weathervane. Lots of character in the pig and the fork is whimsical (well maybe not for the pig). I love that 3D effect that you will finish with! I am curious, is all your hammering/shaping done on the anvil or do you have an English leather or some other sort of backer? I hammer on the end of a Fir fire round which gives a little displacement with each blow. If I can find any pictures, I'll make another post. Very nice work!

 

I know this is a Blacksmith and forging thread so I ask your indulgence in my post. What little actual forging I have done has been done with a rosebud clamped in a vise and shaped on a cheap Harbor Fright anvil (expensive heat). I also have an anvil I made from a railroad rail. Point is, no forge and no real anvil. I have a small home shop and a cnc plasma cutter so that places me outside of the true artisan class that a real Smith would be in. I have always wanted to do real forging like you folks! I am on the lookout for a small forge and real anvil. Like fishingpol I have done a lot of hammering and shaping even if the pieces I do were first cut by modern means. I do have to draw them first so there is some art there. I hot shape on the anvils? of course but cold profile on a fire round pedestal that I made (another use for firewood). The end grain gives a bit with each blow to provide a dent in the metal. Lots of pounding makes for tingling wrists! I have done a lot of fish and have a picture or two. As well some other stuff. 1) The rise, 2) Spawning colors, 3) Iron Pine cone, 4) Shaping pedestal

 

Wow! That is some really nice work!!!! I was trying to think of how I could make a salmon out of a wheel stud off a concrete mixer my brother gave me. He’s a salmon nut as well as a concrete guy!
If you go back a couple pages in the thread I posted the pictures of the little forge I made. Might be something to try since acetylene gets pricy as you know!

 

metalcuttr I don't think anyone will take issues with your work in this thread.

While not forged, you still have some very impressive work.

Technology changes, and I (as well as yourself, I believe) am always in appreciation of those that do it "old school".


Blacksmithing is something I've never had the opportunity to learn, but have always had an interest in.

It's very impressive to watch someone take raw materials, a lot of heat, sweat equity, sometimes blood, and make a leaf, knife, spoon.. etc.

That is the reason that there are artisans, it can take an entire lifetime to truly master one of the disciplines.

Very few can master more than one.
Our lifespan is not accommodating enough for that.

 

I read through your post on the forge build. Very informative! I kind motivates me to make one myself. Maybe the next project! Nice work!