Some weekend blacksmithing

Good stuff there Scotty, right up my alley. I saw a forged corn cob drier at an antique market a few weeks ago I should have picked up as it was a great piece. Good job getting the old metal back in order.

This Friday or Saturday if the weather is good, will be my last forging day outside for the year until the spring. There maybe a Secret Santa project worked up and probably a few pieces to sell. I just can't get enough of forging. To me, it is a whole new craft with so much to learn and practice. I am always learning something or a technique as I go. I just did my first few forge welds a few weeks ago.

 

I love watching someone working at the forge. You did a very good job with the repair.

Years ago a blacksmith at Fort Langley heritage park made a very long poker with ornamental twisting and hooked end. He commented that it was too long for an effective poker. When I said that I had the perfect wood burning appliance that needed a long poker, he gave it to me. We still use it in the wood boiler.

 

Seems like 8 hrs can fly by when blacksmithing, seems good for ones mind...

 

Maybe I've found a new hobby!

 

Nice work Scotty. A cool thing to know how to do!

 

Looks good brother! Man Id love to be able to learn that stuff. We went to a local Renaissance fair last year and I got stuck watching the blacksmith for an hour I would have stayed longer but I decided it was time to let other people watch and learn. I would love to set up a forge and give it a go maybe one day but Ill have to get some other projects and hobbies done first.

 

Looks like a lot of thinking ahead , getting the shape that you want, before committing to your bends.. Especially the S hooks... All looks great! Every hit of the hammer on the iron anvil must instill some good memories.. How cool your hearing the same sounds that others heard over a 100 years ago... The funny thing I always noticed about blacksmithing, it's usually very quiet in between working, not much talking.. Like a very mind involved art... like your soul is right into what your doing... Even though all that metal is so cold and still at the end , it still gives off a lot of energy in its own way... Very cool stuff indeed! How nice to put your hands on something that was once handle and built over a 100 years ago and bring it back to life...that has to be a very rewarding feeling.... beyond words. I suppose that's what keeps one involved in blacksmithing...

 

Those authentic pieces bring a lot to the hearth area. Good job utilizing the old metal for the new hanging rack. It is amazing all the styles and shapes of utensils by different smiths. Your utensils have some beautiful lines to them.

Charlie is correct that there is so much planning going on beforehand and during the process to realize the final piece.

 

Now I know why there is not much conversation.. You have a vision of what you want to happen and then it's almost like once you get started there's not time wasted as you have to keep things hot and keep the ball rolling... Like you just jumped on a roller coaster and can't get off until the end , when your done! You can't be thinking about anything else, that's why I'll bet it's actually relaxing in it's own way and addictive... Bet your mind is always thinking of cool stuff you could do, and thinking what special tools would you forge up so it would make things possible... Sounds like blacksmithing can create a beautiful mind over time..

 

Scotty, I just found this thread and am amazed and impressed by your work, and the respect you have for your ancestors. Nothing like keeping our family of generations gone by in our memory.

 

Awesome