Weekend update...

  What a fun weekend.  I did an SCA event this weekend and once again I dragged out the blacksmithing stuff.  I arrived Friday evening and unloaded all of the equipment because I didn't want to do it in the morning.  Well, after I was set up, I went ahead and started smithing.  I worked from about 7:30pm until 11pm.  I then got up fairly early on Saturday and spent all day working.  Made another pair of tongs, finished some gifts for the Royals, split a hunk of tool steel (it was too big for the tools I needed) which was a bit more work than I wanted to do but a lot of people were fascinated with the process, worked some on a new chisel made from the previously mentioned steel, made a spearhead and generally just tinkered.  By the time Saturday night rolled around I was exhausted when I loaded up the truck.  I was barely able to stay awake for dinner.  I'm glad I loaded up Saturday because by Sunday I was very sore but felt good...
  I also realized that the chest I mentioned in a previous post is a very good project.  Since it is a period blacksmith tool chest, will be a great way to make my smithing area at events and demos look more medieval.
  Finally, just watched a new series on History Channel called "The Master".  It is about master craftsmen in history.  Two episodes showed a lot of good smithing.  One was a master armor maker and another was for Samurai swords.  Unlike most specials of these types, these specials focused on the actual methods of production.

  I will see about getting some pics of the actual chest I want to build online.

 

Last Sunday I decided to make some more tongs.  After having the good success on Saturday, decided to do some more on Sunday.  I took a look at my tongs and decided it would be a good thing for me to remake most of them.  So, I started to make a new set of bolt tongs.  Bolt tongs are used to hold (surprise, surprise) bolts, think of 2 to 3" carriage bolts.  I did not finish this pair of tongs but they are already looking better than a pair I made about a year ago.

Lucky...

  I managed to make a pretty full day on the forge today.  It started with making some gifts for next weekend.  That went okay but not as well as I would have liked.  Then I moved onto some various projects.  One of the projects that I am going to try to work in is a reproduction of 9th century viking tool chest.  The tool chest includes wrought hinges and a lock and key.  I will also be doing the woodworking for the chest.  I'm considering making some items that were also found in the chest.  Doing this as a diversion from the clock.  If I only work on the clock, it would get frustrating.
  Anyway, after screwing up several things in a row, I took a break in the afternoon which ended up turning into a nap.  Around 5:00 I decided to go drag everything back inside.  However, I had not completely shut down the forge and it was still hot so I decided to go ahead and make a pair of tongs.  I'm glad I did...
  This pair of tongs is a very basic pair.  I made them in less than 3 hours and I am extremely pleased with how they came out.  I've made many sets of tongs before but this is the first set that I made that looks as good as the tongs I see being sold online or in better blacksmith shops.  This was one of those times that everything was clicking right.  Even the tong hinge is nice and tight(meaning that there is no side to side play in the hinge)
  As an aside, it was a great time to work.  When I went out, it was almost completely dark.  I worked by the light of the forge and a few lights in the garage.  I live in an area that is partially surrounded by wetlands.  It was a clear, moonless night.  The stars were out bright and clear.  I spotted an owl on several occasions and I could here the hawks calling out to each other.  The temperature was just right.  And to top it off, my lady is making a run to the store right now to get dinner!  :)  Life is good...