No such thing as scrap metal...

  Started work on the key today.  Most blacksmiths will almost never throw away a piece of metal of any real size.  Well, when I went to make the key I used a piece that I had experimented on with the clock probably about a year ago.  The key still needs some cutting and filing but I'm happy with the progress.  These pictures show how I split the metal in order to make the handle.

Update...

  I did something I usually don't do and that is work after sundown.  I had too much of the smithing bug tonight.  Anyway, did a little more work on the lock.  It still needs some work before I start preping it for adding parts to it but wanted to save that until I could see better.  Here is an updated photo.  The center has been widened and a bend put on one edge.  Notice the "L" bend on the one edge of the middle.  This is used to help place the key and is a partial lock picking prevention.

Rain delay...

  Just got back in town and I was anxious to get back on the forge.  Due to rain, I was not able to get started until mid afternoon and I was only able to work about an hour and a half before rain chased me back in.  Still, I was able to get a significan start on the lock plate for the chest.  The rods out to either side will engage in eyes on hinges to form part of the lock.  I was working on the right side when the rain hit.  The center piece is the heart of the lock.  The 3 wards that I made will eventually be riveted on to it.  It is also where the key will engage when complete.



This is a line drawing of a typical viking lock to give an idea of what it will look like...



The piece that I am working on is the one with the little hole that the key tip is resting inside of.

Possible future projects...

  Here are some photos I took for potential projects.  Unfortunately because I could not use a flash or a tripod, there is some fuzziness to the photos.  The first one is a frame for a folding chair.  I did a similar chair before but out of wood.  Until I saw this, I did not realize that metal versions of this style existed.  Obviously the seat is missing from the chair.  It was probably cloth or leather.  A brazier is just to the right of the chair.



This next one is neat candle sconce.  The text says "Ave Maria G"



This next image is one of many candlelabras.  I would try to make it a little more upright...  :)



  I am still doing the clock and it is still my primary goal.  But as I work on these projects, I am learning valuable skills and techniques I need to do the clock.  After I finish the viking chest, I think I'm going to do a little more work on the clock frame.  I have to say, everything with the blacksmithing has been a very rewarding experience.  I really feel like I am crossing that threshold from randomly bending things to becoming a true blacksmith.

  Finally, something on the more inspirational side.  The office building that I worked in this week is located just 2 miles from ground zero in New York.  Several of my students were actually working in the building adjacent to the towers when they were hit.  The picture below is from the classroom looking towards ground zero.  On the right side of the photo you can just make out the Statue of Liberty.  In the center of picture you can see one of the skyscrapers being rebuilt.  One of my students said this is the replacement for one of the adjacent office buildings taken out by the resulting fires.  I believe he said it was 7 World Trade Center.

suprised even myself...

  Last night I was in the chatroom on the www.anvilfire.com website.  Over the past two years I have frequently gone there when I've had any questions.  Last night it was because I was bored(although happy because I had scored tickets to David Letterman).  Well, one guy was bragging about using round stock and hammering it flat to make swords.  Not authentic but just to have the look.  Well, I told him that its not advisable to hammer round stock that way because it can cause seperation and weakness in the metal, especially in the center.  Another guy was asking about welding and I gave him about half a dozen tips on how to weld.  After a little small talk one of the guys thanked me for the tips and said it was nice to get some advice from a real blacksmith...  lol...  excuse me?

More blacksmithing coolness...

  Found myself at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.  They had some good wrought iron stuff as well but nearly as much as the Cloisters.  Still, probably the best museum I've been in since the British Museum.  The Greek and Egyptian areas were great but unfortunately the Roman exhibit was closed for renovations.

Unicorn?  What unicorn?

  So, I'm in New York this week and my first stop was the Cloisters.  If you are not familiar with the Cloisters, it is a decent collection of medieval items.  The most famous of which is the collection of the Unicorn Tapestries.  Well, when I got there, my attention was focused squarely on the wrought iron stuff on display.  A humorous incident happend in the tapestry room.  I was so intently studying and photographing some iron items by a fireplace that one of the guards jokingly asked me if I had noticed the tapestries on the wall...



  Well, there were a lot of iron work items in the museum.  Unfortunately, a large number of them had no description or a very minimal description.  I particularly liked the metal folding chair and the brazier.  Lots of candlelabras as well.  I think I may do some candlelabras after the chest.  They should be much quicker than the chest.