[TheForge] Traditional Smithing, and buzz boxes

[marilyn traber 011221]

Well, as usual, Roy tried to aggravate, but this time didn't seem to 
get much started ;-)

When I first read his post, I was thinking that yes, you could use 
electric welding as a smith, but not as a traditional smith, and then 
it occurred to me- why not? After all, the word traditional implies that 
something was done in the past, but does not specify how far in the 
past. Certainly, for some folks, the last century, the 20th, would qualify ;-)

Smithing, as I see it, is simply the set of skills required to make metal do 
what you want it to do, whether you take an anvil, a hammer, and a forge 
to shape it, or you use flux rods, and a gas torch, to shape little figurines, 
or whatever. Granted, my interests are primarily in the traditions prior to 1600,
but that doesn't mean I can't learn from modern techniques. Anything I learn 
about shaping metal will have a use eventually, although please forgive me if
I'm not terribly interested in rebuilding Little Giant power hammers ;-)

OTOH, medieval smiths had their own wind, water, and/ or muscle driven 
power hammers,and some basic principles do apply.

Now me, as I said, I tend to go with traditional (pre-1600) smithing, so, at 
least in public, I would tend to tie something in place rather than use super glue.
But that doesn't mean super glue might not find a use in my shop.

And, along those lines, I have a question for those of you who do use various 
buzz boxes.

I do light smithing- if I can't get pissed at it and pitch it through the window, 
I don't need to be doing it in the first place. What type and brand of box would 
you guys reccommend, which would deal with stuff under 1 inch thick 
adequately, and be reliable, reasonably inexpensive, and easy to use.and 
transport at need? Expense is of less concern than the other characteristics.

Phlip





Never a horse that cain't be rode, 
And never a rider who cain't be throwed.