Aug 20, 2018
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Getting started advice by Kirk Sullens
Beginners, something that you're going to have to come to grips with is that blacksmithing costs money.
You can pound a bit of rod with a rock and all, but most of you aspire to make NICE blades, or gates, or whatever. That is going to cost money, either out of your pocket or in the equivalent personal time spent, which is also worth money.
If you can't afford a new phone, or new game console, then how can you afford blacksmithing? Do you want to make something, or do you just want to hit steel and not care how it ends?
Before you plead poverty, stop and think for half a minute! Do you really think you're the first to approach blacksmithing with empty pockets? If you want to do well as a smith, you're going to have to invest both your time and your money to do so. Stop looking for the cheapest way, and start looking for the most cost effective way!
Quench Safety
I like that Alec Steele posts his mistakes as well as successes but this is just crazy. It would be nice if he discussed what went wrong and why.
Obviously his quench tank was over filled and the displacement from the giant sword was not considered. It's also important to remember that oil expands rapidly as it heats it becomes less viscous and thinner as well so as it starts to flow like water it gets everywhere taking the fire with it. Glad he's ok but damn that was dumb.
Resonance
A first time blacksmithing student said to me today. That he thought that there were 3 reactions to the sounds of hammer striking metal and anvil. You hat the sound, you like the sound or the sound resonates through you.
Art show fun.
A lady walked through the art show I was at Saturday with her daughter. The daughter pointed out the ornaments I had for sale.
The lady said, " I'm not having a tree this year."
I replied, and pointed at the small tree sitting on my table. "what's wrong with you? I'm Jewish and even I have a tree."
She was not amused but the daughter was cracking up.