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

One thing I consider at architectural salvage stores is that the houses or buildings that the materials come from are either demolished or remodeled, and forever lost to time.

 

We’ve got a warehouse like that near by! I should go check it out and maybe keep some history alive. The thing to do would be to find out where things came from and try to research the building a bit.

 

Small housewarming gift for a co-worker. Set in a chunk of milled live edge walnut with Danish oil finish.

I ended up with some splatter on this one. I think the tip was too far away from the work as the vise grips was right in the wrong place. The letters are meant to be quirky.

 

fishingpol did you have a pile of old nails, are they new ones or did you make them?

 

New box.

 

Time for a hardware store run I guess! My wife really likes those pieces! I think I’m going to go with a Mary Poppins theme one........

 

That is very cool, Jon!

 

should be able to crank that out by lunch time!

 

Nice work Jon, looks great! You co-worker had to of appreciated that!

 

Going to need some more hands!!!!

 

Well, she was leaving the company and ended up taking some personal days, so I missed her today. I will mail it to her.

 

That's a shame that you weren't able to give it to her in person. It's always worth it to see the expression and gratitude on there face when they are handed a work of art such as what you created!

 

I have always had in interest in blacksmithing but no real avenue to get started learning. A local forge offers a 6 week intro course somehow my lovely wife heard about this and enrolled me for a Xmas present. Tonight is the first class I’m pretty pumped. Not really sure what to expect.

 

Expect to get bit by the bug.

Most likely you will work on accuracy with hammer strikes, tapering, fire management, heat color of the steel and hopefully make something scroll-ish looking. Let us know how it goes and have fun.

 

Awesome Christmas gift right there!! You’ll love it and will be building stuff at home to forge with in no time!! Like fishingpol said let us know how it goes!!

 

If you like heating and beating you're already hooked! I guess if you're wife enrolled you in the class she must already be prepared for you to start buying and anvils, forge and other tools! Also take some pictures if you can!

 

It was certainly an excellent Xmas gift.

First project is a fire poker, how appropriate. I was handed a length of 5/8 round mild steel and was told to make it square. The instructor got me started and said go to it. I heated and hammered, things got a bit wonky but I learned the metal can be moved back if needed. I think I was too concerned about making it perfect right off.
It was quite enjoyable pounding on the metal watching it take shape. Unfortunately next class isn’t for a week.

 

I wouldn’t say totally unfortunate...... that’s a whole week of searching for your own tools!!

 

My uncle has my grandfathers anvil and forge in storeage I’m hoping if I show some interest he will let me use them instead of letting them collect dust.

 

Now your talking!!!! Family heirloom forging!!!!!