[TheForge] Welcome

Wed Mar 19 10:31:00 2003

Jon,

Welcome to the list.  It sounds like you are on the same path that I took 10
years ago. Now my son is a journaman bladesmith in the ABS and just passed
the performance test for master. And I have been a full time blacksmith for
three years. So be carefull, this hot steel thing is addictive.

Bob Ehrenberger
Shelbyville, Mo

From: "jon.sloan" <[email protected]>
Organization: california state university, northridge
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [TheForge] test
Reply-To: [email protected]

First, thank you for being so friendly. I do not know how active I will be
on this list as I am a newbe at trying to burn myself on hot metal.  I hope
I can learn some stuff just by keeping tabs on your exchanges. I have been
draining brains on artmetal for a week or so and thought I would give them
a rest. I know many of you belong to both so you may have seen some of my
very novice questions over there.  My son (11) has taken an interest in
banging on steel after seeing a knifemaker in Quartzcite (Jim Sigg) so I
decided to pick up a small portable forge. Round with a hand crank on the
side which turns an air fan which blows air up through the center of the
"pan". On the bottom of page 16 in Jack Andrews book, "New Edge of the
Anvil" is a picture very close to what I picked up. I live just north of LA
towards the desert and had a bit of a problem finding a source of good
coal, but now I have 100 lbs and am ready to get started.  I have a good
anvil and a bench vise (or is that vice) plus a post vise and a few hammers
etc.  I do need tongs - I was hoping to make a couple as a first project.
We shall see. Sorry to carry on for so long.
Jon