[TheForge] 3D printers - vice grips

[Eric Klaus]

Mike... not legend on the Vice Grips ... originally from Dewitt Nebraska,
30 miles from my hometown ... their 75th anniversary cookbook cover from
1999 has a picture of Mr. William Petersen at his anvil ...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-VISE-GRIP-COOKBOOK-75-th-ANNIVERSARY-A-MATTER-OF-PRIDE/391126582072?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D30003%26meid%3D0ade60bc1019406ea7fb251fd46cf344%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D39111991916
5

I always hold up a pair at kids demonstrations while I'm talking about how
blacksmiths were the innovators and inventors of whatever time period they
were living in.
Eric

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>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sun, 03 May 2015 08:51:52 -0500
> From: CGRAF <adveniam at att.net>
> To: "terry l. ridder" <terrylr at blauedonau.com>,         Blacksmithing List
>         Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] 3D printers
> Message-ID: <554627F8.3060306 at att.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
>
>
>
> On 5/3/2015 5:50 AM, terry l. ridder wrote:
> >
> > Do 3D printers have a place in blacksmithing and metalworking?
>
>
> In a "classic" shop no.
>
> In a shop following the actual tradition yes.
>
> There was a time when this same discussion could have been had as the
> iron anvil replaced the rock, or the power hammer replaced the anvil for
> many tasks.
>
> Blacksmiths have traditionally been on the forefront of innovation.
> The work in just plain too hard not to take advantage of anything one
> can come up with.
>
> Legend has it that it was a blacksmith who dreamt up the vise grip.
>
> My my grew up next to a blacksmith shop.
> The first salesman that stopped by selling an oxy-acetylene rig was not
> allowed to leave until he had sold the smith his sample.
>
> I am thinking that rapid prototypes and even finished items would be
> right in step with the spirit.  It may not be "old -timey" enough for
> some, and not how I choose to spend my time, but that means nothing in
> the grand scheme.
>
> As you know my time at the fire is strictly recreational so I do not
> need efficiency in order to make money. For me it is all about the process.
>
> On the other hand if I was providing one of a kind agricultural or
> machine parts , for a profit, somewhere off in the hinterlands, I'd have
> a generator  and a 3D printer.
>
> Blacksmiths made the tools both for city and more importantly for the
> frontier in this country. I think they just put one in the space
> station, right on the frontiers edge.
>
> Mike Graf
>