Holidays seem to always be the busiest time of the year...

  Last Thursday I picked up 400 pounds of coal.  That should keep me going for about 6 months.  I also managed, through the goodwill of a friend, to locate some 3/8" x 1" bar stock.  I believe that this may be the ideal size for me to do the clock gears...  yee haw!!!

  Also was given some high quality tool steel.  Will put that to good use making some anvil tools.

Reinventing the wheel...

  Yesterday, I was at an SCA event teaching blacksmithing.  After I demonstrated making a boot scraper, I helped two people to produce forks.  One made a fork appropriate for a large fire while another made a feast fork.  Then, after I rested for a bit, I decided to try something that I hadn't tried for about six months.  That is, to make a basic "wheel" that would eventually become a clock gear.

  Now, the wheel is not like the wheel you would find on a buggy, that would be too easy...  (no offense to any wheelwrights...)  Most blacksmiths, if they are making a wheel, make it so that you bend the metal the "easy" way.  That is, the curve is made through the thin part of the steel.  For the clock gears, I need to bend it along the thick part of the material.  The stock I was working with was 1" x 1/4".  I, in a fairly short period of time, was able to bend a circle and weld it closed.  Now, since my skills aren't that great, it was not a perfect circle.  But, it was still more than close enough to make me happy.  I truly feel like I will be able to complete this project.  It may still be a few years off, but it is possible.

 

By the way, anybody know where I can get a cone mandrel?  Preferably with about a 12 bottom diameter? 

Punching holes sucks...  Well, actually...  Its not that bad.  Once I learned the trick of doing it, its quite easy.

Very good day on the forge today.  Things are definitely starting to click...  I started by making a square punch.  Next, I played around with trying different things.  The biggest thing I tried was a pot/pan hanger...  The hanger I am trying to make is modeled after one scene in Fellowship of the Ring.  It's on the back wall in Bag End when Bilbo and Galdalf are having tea.  Relatively simple...  However, this time of the year keeps me from staying out too late.  Had to come in as the day light began to fade.

  Been busy with work this week.  Have only had limited time on the forge.  I may head over to Orlando this weekend to pick up some more coal, 300 pounds usually lasts me about 4 months.  Hopefully will be able to get some time on Saturday to do some serious work.