Not too often blacksmiths get in the news...

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/30/army.farrier/index.html

First decent blacksmithing in a few weeks...

  Over the holiday weekend I was able to set up the forge for the first time in several weeks.  This was at an SCA event and I spent most of the first day just doing minor stuff and teaching a little.  The big thing that I wanted was to try a quatrefoil.  I tried one on Saturday but because I was teaching and working with others at the same time, it didn't turn out so good.

  On Sunday I tried the quatrefoil again and it came out pretty good.  I wasn't worried about the decorative elements of the quatrefoil, just the structure.  It involves multiple welds including a somewhat difficult final weld.  I am thinking about doing a spanish style window covering as a project.  I wouldn't have to learn too much new to do it but it would allow me to focus on the artistic side of the blacksmithing.

  Below is one page of an article I found on http://www.newenglandblacksmiths.org/tipsandtricks.htm.  This is part of the article that I used to make the quatrefoil.  The quatrefoil is the clover shaped item in the frame.



  Also, the gentleman who helped me get started in blacksmithing was nice enough to give me a large bag of charcoal.  I've never smithed with charcoal before so it should be an interesting experience.

 

Loading up the truck...

  The back has finally recovered.  I was able to do yard work today without a problem.  Tomorrow, loading up the smithing stuff for an SCA event.  I have several things I would like to play around with this weekend but haven't decided which ones to do yet.  List of projects include...

Portable holes for an SCA group...  I have to get started on these soon, may do some of them this weekend.
New punches and chisels.  When I was doing the chest, I was constantly reshaping my punch for what I needed.  This took some time.  It would be better to have a variety of punches and chisels so I wouldn't have to do that.
Brazier.  I was originally going to make a larger one.  I think I will start with a small one to see how it comes out.
Hardie tools (cutters that fit anvil).  I would like to make one but I don't think I have the right tool stock for that right now.
Draw knife.  I want to start making my own tool handles in a period way so I would like to make a draw knife to do that.

anyway, other projects bouncing around in my head but its bed time.

Nothing to blog about...

  Just a quick update.  Still some residual back pain so haven't been out on the forge.  That's okay because work has suddenly become very busy.  In a little over a week, I get to go to a large blacksmithing convention in Grapevine, TX (near Dallas.)  Hopefully, this bachache will be gone soon.

Interesting...

  Watching the show "Worst Jobs in History" hosted by Tony Robinson (Baldric of Black Adder).  One of the jobs they just showed was something that I was interested in trying sometime.  They were showing the historical method of creating charcoal.  Charcoal, to give a more precise definition, is wood that has had moisture cooked out of it without actually burning the wood.  Charcoal burns much hotter and cleaner than wood.  Charcoal was the primary fuel for blacksmiths until fairly recent history.
  For economic reasons, most smiths today use either coal (which converts to coke in the forge) or propane.  I would like to try charcoal someday just to say that I have tried it.  A pet project somewhere down the road would actually be to make some charcoal.
  The process is fairly simple but it takes about 100 hours of constant attention.  Wood is stacked on end in a circle.  The circle is about 10-20 feet in diameter and about 5 feet high.  This pile of wood is covered with sod.  The center of the pile is lit on fire and allowed to slowly burn.  Very high degree of care must be taken to not allow the fire through the sod.  When a hole breaks through on the sod, it is immediately covered to keep the fire from getting enough air.  At the end of the process, there is a big pile of charcoal in the center.
  Another job on the show was guys that looked for bog iron.  Bog iron is a source of iron ore that can be smelted to extract the iron.  The way it is found is that you wade through a bog.  You take a thin, long stick and poke into the bog.  When you hit something, you dig and pull out a grapefruit sized lump of the bog iron.

Glad it didn't happen last week...

  I fired up the forge for the first time since finishing the chest(other than a quick demo I did on Saturday.)  Work has kept me busy and I expect to have very little free time next week.  Anyway, I was just messing around on the forge and threw out my back.  I have a spot which routinely has some problems but its a little worse than normal.  I actually had difficulty cleaning up because my back was so bad.

  I think I will take somewhat of a break to give my back a chance to rest.  Besides, like I said, I expect to be very busy because of work this week.  I think the next thing that I want to do is make a stand for my swage block.  The swage block (pronounced swedge) is a big hunk of metal with different shapes in it.  It is used to shape metal into things like spoons...  I've had to use the swage on the ground.  My bad back today reminded me that its not a good way to work.

RIP Paw Paw Wilson...  I didn't really know you but you were always helpful.

Tic, tic, tic...

  So, I've been mulling over in my head what project to do next.  I have a few small projects that I need to take care of.  I need to make 20 to 30 portable holes.  Fairly simple other than the number required.  I also need to make a brazier (an iron container for campfires.)

  Well, I think I may push for the clock again.  I know that I still have a lot to learn but the chest taught me that if I try something enough times, I can get it.  I may have to end up making parts 3, 4 or more times but I figure its one of the best ways that I learn.  I am not real good about trying simple stuff over and over.  I prefer to just jump into the fire and learn.

  So this weekend I am going to look at the few frame pieces I made last year.  If they are acceptable, I may keep them.  I'm expecting that after the experience with the chest that my expectations of quality have been elevated.