Forging a memory

Just did something fun this evening.

I made some modifications to my forge hood to make it draw better, and after that, I had to do some forging. you know, gotta make sure the forge hood works better. ;)
But by that time, it was getting dark, and my shop doesn't have any electric lighting in it since we had to take it down when we put up the ceiling insulation.

So I worked by the firelight of the forge, and when it got REALLY dark, I lit a candle and set it on the far side of my anvil.  It was a humble reminder of how this craft hasn't changed much over the course of time, and of my humble beginnings in my small log blacksmith shop.

Made a nice leaf key fob/ necklace pendant too, but more importantly, I forged a memory that will last a life time.

Hammer pics

Here are just a few photo's of the hammers Dave Custer, and I made yesterday. Video coming soon!!!!!!!!!!!!! So stay tuned!!!!!

This is what 13 hours of hard work looks like!!!!

Dave, looking over the day's (and night's) work

Hammer waiting to be tempered.

TEMPERING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Making more hammers

Well I made it over to Fiery Furnace Forge Blacksmith shop, in Columbia Ky, where my good friend Dave Custer lives.
After work at my part time job in town, I headed over here so that we could forge more "Brian Brazeal" style rounding hammers, and hot cuts.
After eating a WONDERFUL supper made by his Mom, we headed down to the shop, hoping to make 2 hammers before 10:00 pm. We got off to a good start on one, but about 45 minutes into the hammer, the drift got stuck in the eye of the hammer after forging the "cheeks". After 40 minutes of trial, error and a LOT of hammering, we finally got the drift out!!!!!! So unfortunately we only got one hammer made by 10, so  that means a LOT more forging tomorrow.
Hopefully that won't happen again!!!!!

The loss of an old friend

Well yall, last week was a sad week here on the farm, as the large maple tree in our front yard was severly damaged by straight line winds. The damage was so bad that we had to have it cut down. :(   We are guessing that it was about 350 + years old.
 I did how ever manage to save 3 pieces, 2 for large butcher blocks, and the main trunk for a large work bench for my shop.
  We were also able to cut all the limbs up for firewood, so that it wasn't a total loss, it made about 8 ricks (4 cords) of fire wood. More than enough to last the rest of this winter, and a good start for next winters wood supply.
 Today, Dad and I moved some of the other large chunk of wood that were to big for firewood, and to awkward to use for workbenches (or any thing else for that matter). To do this, we used our New Holland TT60A (figured we better move those chunks before we sell the tractor, since we are getting a smaller one), and let me tell you, the last chunk was a real CHUNK!!!!!!! We guessed it weighed around 4,000 lbs, and in moving it, Dad almost rolled the tractor over, but I jumped over on the wheel that was rising, and he was able to lower the front end loader at about the same time, so all ended well.
Here are some photo's of cutting the tree down and moving the CHUNK.

The CHUNK!!!!!

The welds on that hook is holding all the weight of that CHUNK. So I guess I am a good welder.

Tractor for sale

We are selling our New Holland TT60A 4x4 tractor with front end loader.

Here is a video of it running

And here is our craigslist add http://bgky.craigslist.org/grd/3606314605.html

Let me know if yall are interested, contact info is on the craigslist add.

Snow Photo's

Last night we got about 1.5 inches of snow, so this mornin, I could stop myself from going out and taking some photo's around the farm.

Hammer and Forge

Hey yall,

Just wanted to share some photo's of a forge I just finished fabricating, and a hammer that Dave and I forged, with a handle that I custom fitted for it.

Side view showing the tong rack.

Instead of making a clinker breaker, I installed a cast iron grate.

when I first got back from Dave's, I invested in a new tool for the wood working shop, a RIGID belt sander. It has saved me a LOT of time and effort, in making the handles for the hammers.

Here are some photo's of the hammers we made, with a handle I made using the belt sander.

I currently have the forge and hammer seen in this blog post for sale on my ebay store. If you are interested, or know some one who maybe interested in purchasing one, or both of them, just email me at kyblacksmith@gmail.com

Been gone, but not on vacation.

Hey yall,

Well last Tuesday morning I hit the road for Columbia, Ky, where my good friend Dave Custer's blacksmith shop is located.

 The plan was for me to come over to his shop, and forge as many "Brian Brazeal" style rounding hammers as we could, so that we can sell them on my eBay store. Also we were able to get some coal out of an old school basement (it's where Dave gets his coal), and get some steel for some forges that I plan on making for my eBay store.

So here are some photo's of our weeks work. I don't have many photo's of us working on the hammers, but a lot of video that I have to edit.

Tempering one of the hammers.

Hardening one of the hammers

A hammer tempering, and in the background is Dave putting a ruff polish on another hammer

Well that's all the photo's I have of us making the hammers, but here are some photo's of us getting some coal.

Dave sitting on top of  large pile of coal.

We hauled out the coal via 2 5 gallon buckets at a time.

Here are the old coal boilers that used to heat the school. 

All in all, we got about 3,600 Lbs of coal, so that gave Dave and I a good coal supply that should last us for a good while.

In 4 day's we were able to make 6 hammers, get steel, and do a full day of "coal mining", so a good day's rest was welcome this Saturday.

Many thanks to Dave and his family for having me over, and as always it was a pleasure to work with Dave.

Working on the house

Well we got a good bit done on the on the house this week end. We got the all the floor joist's in the center room laid, and also got some of the subfloor laid. Enough talk, it's time for photo's.

Dad and Junebug

The floor joist's are down!!!!

Those metal bands are called "Bridging" it keeps the floor joists from twisting.

Nailing down the subfloor.

Taking the shortcut down.

A good day's work.