[TheForge] To Nathan the new guy

[Peter Fels & Phoebe Palmer]

You are just saying that cause you usta do it without editing.


On Sep 1, 2014, at 11:02 PM, jerry Frost wrote:

Aw pshaw. I'm mostly just relating what I've heard or been shown. I used to
write pretty well but since the accident I get lost in details and lose the
point or even the story entirely. I'll start and the next thing I know I've
written several pages of ramblyness. That post did come out pretty well,
better than most of what I write anymore but there are so many intros to
blacksmiting that are so much better folk would do better to buy theirs.
Mark Asprey for one, Or the New Edge of the Anvil, or one of my favorites
"The Complete Modern Blacksmith," By Alexander Wygers, a terrific boot
strapping book. In fact, buy THIS book Nathan, Wygers lays out how to build
a complete blacksmith's shop from found junk, a couple field expedient
blacksmith shops and you can build darned near anything from just about
nothing.

I think I better serve to pipe up on the fora and lists with specific
answers, suggestions, ideas, etc. A book is beyond me I'm afraid. Heck, I've
been working on a short story for a good 8 months or better and been stuck
almost the whole time. 

Thanks Pete I appreciate the thought.

Jer
-----Original Message-----
From: TheForge [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Peter
Fels & Phoebe Palmer
Sent: Monday, September 1, 2014 1:27 PM
To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] To Nathan the new guy

Hey Jerry:
Did you ever think of writing an intro to BS book?
You really can write!

On Sep 1, 2014, at 1:50 PM, jerry Frost wrote:

Welcome to the active branches NATHAN. RR rail makes a dandy anvil,
especially stood on end, I've used them for decades even after finding a top
shelf London pattern anvil. The only part of an anvil that's working for you
is the couple sq/in directly under the hammer. Sure the weight increased
it's resistance to acceleration which is good but not as necessary as folk
think. Another really handy thing about rail on end is all the cool things
you can use the flange and web for. A little grinding and you can turn the
flange into hardies, butchers, fullers, acorn and round dies, etc.. Really
handy shapes for sure. If you need a long flat face for straightening it's
actually easier to sight down the flange and do it vertically. Strike the
work gently with the hammer or better yet a wood mallet against the flange
while you look down it to see what's what.

Turning curves is easy. The fact is most beginners can't keep the work
straight without repeated corrections. Any part of the steel that isn't
supported by the anvil will bend not mash (forge). Turning say a scroll on
the flat face is as simple as lifting the held end and striking behind the
end resting on the anvil slip it a little farther for the next blow and
strike behind the contact point. Once you have the curve started strike the
outside of the curve backing it on the anvil and develop it how you wish. 

A similar technique is to extend the end off the edge of the anvil as Pete
describes and start the bend. Well before it hits 90* you can turn it curve
up on the anvil face and start working the outside of the curve.

I know that sounds more confusing than helpful but once you see how it works
it's pretty much exactly as I described. Experiment with soft wire using
your leg for the anvil, you don't need a fire, anvil or hammers to model and
rehearse the processes and techniques. Yeah, all this stuff takes practice.
but I'll let you in on THE secret of blacksmithing. Ready? Shhhhh, don't
tell anybody now, "A little knowledge and a LOT of practice." That's it, no
fooling. There are only a handful of basic techniques and the most complex
marvelous and amazing forgings are built up from pieces worked with the
basics.

How you apply the basic techniques will change in application but they're
the same technique you just hold your tongue on the other side.

Jer

-----Original Message-----
From: TheForge [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Nathan
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2014 10:01 AM
To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] To Nathan the new guy

Thank you for all who have responded to my inquiry.  I live in central
Wisconsin, so if you know of connections down this way, I would love to
know.  As far as the railroad ties go, how to you do curves?  I will
definitely have to look into proper mechanics when starting out as to save
my back and joints. 

Nathan