FIRST DAY BACK

5 weeks off  for the Christmas break, itching to be back at the anvil, what could go wrong?

During the Christmas break i lasted a couple of weeks before my feet started to itch. You cannot begin to imagine the turmoil that not having made something could bring.

Solution?

Make something;

Outcome;

A single bed.

So what could go wrong? Well for starters i was on a high, the bed was a complete success, the design and execution I'm more than happy with.

Float into college with a head full of ideas for some simple fixtures and fittings for the spare room, still riding high till the first couple of heats.

My ideas are OK, just not the execution. The bloody Material does not want to play ball, a head full of the recurring frustration that is evident on most visits to the workshop, a couple attempts at slightly different brackets to add to the bed, all should be well.

All i am trying to say is the session did not work out as planned- another recurring theme at the anvil!!!

PESTLE AND MORTAR

HAND CARVED PESTLE AND MORTAR!

A present i made for my sister, very pleased with final product!!!

Off cut of rough sawn Teak rescued from the missus's Dad who was going to use it as a lump of firewood. Handle, carved Teak. Mortar finished with Walnut oil, Pestle, carved Teak with forged handle made from 20mm sq mild steel, twisted with scroll end and hidden tang. Forged handle heated and finished with olive oil, whilst hot.

20mm sq mild steel salvaged from the casualty scrap bin at college.

A great little achievement considering all components were destined for the Garbage. 

MY FIRST SNAIL

AH BLESS, HOW CUTE!

Jokes aside, after the trip to Finch Foundry, back in November for St Clemence day(patron saint of Blacksmiths), where an annual Snail race is held, i thought i would attempt one myself.
For me this was a major stepping stone, it may not be perfect, but it sure looks good!
After watching the professional Smiths during the race, this attempt was made from memory.

The object of the snail race is to make a snail that will stay upright, resemble a snail, making it in the fastest possible time. All entries are not judged on looks, so they would not be polished like this one.
If memory serves this one probably took about 25 minutes to make then a couple of minutes on the polishing machine.

The eventual winner of the race at Finch completed in 8 minutes. Now i realise that 8 minutes is probably not attainable, seeing how my second attempt three weeks later was a complete disaster. But maybe i can practice over the coming year and get down to a respectable time.

NEW YEAR GOALS

I have never been one for the New Years resolution, but this year i have set myself a couple of goals for the coming year. First and foremost is to continue the learning process at Plymouth college of Art. With one course starting next week and hopefully a place on the hot metals in March, i will at the very least continue with college to June. My first goal in the coming weeks is to attempt and complete a fire weld, a task not yet attempted, which could prove to be headache, but you never know it could also be fun!

Later in the year if Forging Fawks is to be run again, i would like to at least finish and complete my entry into the competition, even if i come last. Last years entry was started way to late, as i spent most of the morning talking,snapping photos and generally hiding! It was only my fellow student Harry's call of help that let me overcome my fears of ridicule and attempt an entry. Last years theme was something to wear, so i made a belt, only for the pin holding the buckle to fall out at the last minute. But no the pin couldn't fall on the floor it had to land in the bloody water trough, much to the amusement of judge for the day Bex Simon who happened to be watching!

I would also like to enter the St Clemence day snail race at Finch Foundry. Last November we made the journey to Sticklpath, Okehampton for the day. A good fun day out at the last remaining water powered forge in the country, here is the link -www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-finchfoundry
The winner of the Snail race completed a snail from start to finish in 8 minutes, i have already had a go at college(photo will follow), i was no where near 8 minutes but the snail looks good and now lives with the salad in the kitchen, well the mantle above the fire!

These little goals are not a tall order and are very achievable, if i can also continue with my interest in wood, which incidentally has had a great start to the new year with a single bed being made over the last week. The bed was a success and not a screw anywhere near. A lot of joints, Mortice and Tenons, Mortice joints and Dowels were used. When completely finished, i will do a whole post on the making of the bed, as it is for the spare room that is currently being redecorated, and i also decided over Christmas that all of the furniture and fittings would be handmade.

This has already caused alarm amongst friends, who only buy high street shite made in Massive Chinese factories. Why they ask don't you just buy a bed, buy a curtain pole, buy some hooks, buy a bedside cabinet. Why i say, don't you just Feck off and leave me be. Why i say; Why because i can!!

Which also brings me to, a little project i have had on my mind for a while. Born out of the misses's moaning for myself not wanting to throw way odds and sods, this and that and bits of useful material. All this stuff has a use and can be remade or recycled. My idea is to come up with a name for the project, lets say project 52 for sake of an argument and reuse and remake 52 items over the coming year. Now i will cheat a little as i have already started at the end of the last year and remade a couple of items. This could be an interesting little project including items small and large, as long as they are say remade as a functional piece.

We will see and time will tell!!!

SPARKS

Took this picture last week for my header. Looking at the picture made me think of the spark test you can do to determine metal composition. The description for Mild steel being; The leaf is smaller and gives rise to a number of sparks. Some streaks are shorter. (description source unknown)

THE KING OF CRAFTS MAKES HIS/HER OWN TOOLS

A big thank you to Mark Aspery for letting me use this passage from his excellent book THE SKILLS OF A BLACKSMITH VOLUME 1 - MASTERING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BLACKSMITHING.

THE KING OF CRAFTS MAKES HIS/HER OWN TOOLS

Camelot had been finished for a month or so, the concrete curing to perfection,King Arthur decided to throw a feast to honour all the craftsmen that had helped construct the palace.

As the craftsmen entered the great hall, they were instructed to seat themselves in a manner where those that had most to do with the construction sit nearest the King and those that had least to do with it sit furthest away. In that way honour could be given in an equitable fashion.

Arthur was renown for his wisdom and council throughout the Kingdom. Part way through the main course Arthur looked about the room. He stood after the main meal and walked about the tables.

He approached the craftsman nearest to him and asked what was his occupation? The man replied,"Why sire, I am your tailor!"

          Arthur asked what he had constructed. The tailor replied "Those fine robes that you're wearing sire, the tapestry that hangs on the wall. I made those!" Arthur congratulated him on his fine workmanship and moved to the next person.

He asked the same question. The man replied "I am, a goldsmith sire, That platter that you eat from, the goblet that you drink from, I made both of those. I even made the fine gold thread in the tapestry."

Arthur again offered his congratulations and moved on.

The next in line was the silversmith. His reply to Arthur's question was to point out the cutlery at the King's table and the fine candle sticks adorning the Kings table.

And so Arthur made his way down the table. Stone mason, Carpenter and so on until he reached the blacksmith sitting at the far end of the room.

He asked the Blacksmith what he had contributed to the palace. The Blacksmith replied that he had made the hinges for the door, but not a lot else. Seeming satisfied with his meetings, Arthur returned to his seat.

After the fine dessert, Arthur again stood and walked around the table.

He approached the Tailor.

Arthur asked "Tell me, your scissors,your needles, where do you get those from?" The tailor replied "Sire I go to the blacksmith!"

Arthur asked the question of the goldsmith "your hammer and stakes, where do you get those from?"  The goldsmith replied "sire I have the blacksmith make them"

Arthur got the same response all the way along the table until he reached the blacksmith. Arthur asked the question of the blacksmith and the smith replied "Sire, I make my own tools, and those of others. That is my trade."

          Arthur exclaimed

"SMITH!  BY YOUR  HAMMER AND HAND ALL CRAFTS DO STAND! YOU SHOULD BE SEATED AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE"

 Arthur bade the blacksmith to move to the top of the table. He asked the tailor to swap seats as he thought the smith had been done an injustice. The smith was very embarrassed as he had just come from the forge and was still wearing his apron.The tailor was livid.

So intent was the tailor to exact some sort of revenge That he snuck beneath the table with his scissors and when he reached the Blacksmith, he cut a fringe on the blacksmith's apron.

After the meal the smith noticed his apron and understood what had happened. He continued to wear the apron for work at the forge and always exclaimed delight when someone would ask him the story behind the fringe.

"Why" he would say " The tailor gave me this recognition of my services to the crafts" That is why, to this day, a blacksmith should have a fringe cut on the bottom of his/her apron. 

And make his/her own tools.

 

EVOLUTION

These three key rings are a good measure of progress made within the first 6 weeks back in the summer. The middle keyring was made at home using Mapp gas and 6mm square bar. The keyring to the far right was my last project at the end of the first 6 weeks. At the time i was more than happy with the outcome, as taking the first keyring as a measure of progress, i was certainly evolving!!

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT - VERY FIRST FORGING ATTEMPT, 4 WEEKS INTO FIRST COURSE AND FINALLY END OF FIRST COURSE