[TheForge] Basis smithing exercises...

Sat Jul 3 15:58:05 EDT 2004

Thanks Murph. Maybe I'll learn how to work this machine in spit of myself.
Bob M.

>From: "Michael H. Murphy" <blacksmith at comcast.net>
>Reply-To: Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>To: "'Sponsored by ABANA'" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>Subject: RE: [TheForge] Basis smithing exercises...
>Date: Fri, 2 Jul 2004 18:17:58 -0400
>
>Bob,
>
>Several ways to do this:
>
>1.  Check your print setup to see if it has an option to "Fit to Page," or
>possibly something like zoom in or out.
>
>2.  Save the files onto your hard drive, then resize them with a graphics
>program.  Photo Shop, Paint Shop, Draw Plus, or any of about a zillion
>others.  Then print them out.
>
>3.  Save the files onto your hard drive, the insert them into a word
>processor like WordPerfect, size them you way you want, then print out the
>document.
>
>The files vary in size as high as 1250 x 2050 pixels, so trying to print
>them actual size is going to take a good-sized plotter.
>
>Murf
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:theforge-
> > bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Robert Morris
> > Sent: Friday, July 02, 2004 8:46 AM
> > To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
> > Subject: RE: [TheForge] Basis smithing exercises...
> >
> > Andy,
> > Is there another way that you can send these drawings? I tried to print
> > them
> > but I can only get about 1/4 of 1 page and it stops.
> > Thanks,
> > Bob M.
> >
> >
> > >From: Andy Vida <osan at netlabs.net>
> > >Reply-To: Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> > >To: "blacksmiths at yahoogroups.com" <blacksmiths at yahoogroups.com>,4g
> > ><theforge at mailman.qth.net>,"knife-list at kepler-eng.com"
> > ><knife-list at kepler-eng.com>,"artmetal at wugate.wustl.edu"
> > ><artmetal at wugate.wustl.edu>
> > >Subject: [TheForge] Basis smithing exercises...
> > >Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 10:02:45 -0700
> > >
> > >Pardon my burning brain, but I forgot which list this came up on, so
> > >I'm sending the link to everyone.  You many send all mail bombs to me
> > >in Vancouver WA.  You're welcome.
> > >
> > >OK, the four basic blacksmithing exercises are now at the following
> > >links:
> > >
> > >	http://netlabs.net/~osan/Documents/ex1.jpg
> > >	http://netlabs.net/~osan/Documents/ex2.jpg
> > >	http://netlabs.net/~osan/Documents/ex3.jpg
> > >	http://netlabs.net/~osan/Documents/ex4.jpg
> > >
> > >They look simple and in fact they are VERY simple.  But doing them
> > >correctly AND to dimension isn't nearly as easy as it may appear.
> > >
> > >Spend a few days doing nothing but these exercises and you will gain
> > >something in hammer control and your knowledge of volumes.  In order
> > >for the exercises to work, you MUST adopt an attitude of pushing the
> > >limits of your control, which in turn requires an adjustment of your
> > >standards (maybe).  Peter Ross had me up on the rack for an entire
> > >week, stretching me for all I was worth.  I came away from the class
> > >with a fundamentally altered perception of what I could do and what
> > >it meant to be a real blacksmith working to specifications.  If you
> > >are patient with yourself and the exercises, they may bring you to a
> > >place you never thought you'd come to, or even that it existed in
> > >terms of what is possible in precision with nothing more than hand,
> > >hammer, anvil and a pair of eyes.
> > >
> > >Do each step as if it was the ultimate goal.  That is, when you finish
> > >a step, all planes whould be flat and at the right angles; all edges
> > >should be dead straight, and the piece should look FINISHED.  Then
> > >move on to the next step and not before.  Peter Ross was emphatic on
> > >this point, saying that one's work cannot, except by mere chance, come
> > >out right unless you adhere to this principle.  It changed my smithing
> > >forever, and for the better, even though I say Peter ruined it for me
> > >forever.  Knowing what I was capable of, I no longer had the excuse to
> > >do sloppy and imprecise work.
> > >
> > >If you think these may be boring... well, I never find swinging a 
>hammer
> > >so.  But even so, when you start producing these objects such that they
> > >begin to look closer and closer to machine-made (to a degree), I think
> > >the sense of satisfaction will speak for itself.  Flatter planes and
> > >straighter lines than you perhaps thought possible... very satisfying
> > >to know they came from your own hand, that much I can and will promise
> > >you.
> > >
> > >I will also way that if your work doesn't improve and you are certain
> > >that your attitude and attention were correct, the result may call into
> > >question things such as your hammer, posture, anvil height.  Don't be
> > >afraid to change these if by chance things aren't improving.  Either
> > >that
> > >or you're already a perfect smith. :)
> > >
> > >Best wishes.
> > >
> > >	-Andy
> > >_______________________________________________
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> > >password:  anvil
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