Blacksmithing or Ornamental Iron Work

[gbsmithy08]

MY Blacksmithing/Ornamental/Fab Work

So I finally got back into some original iron work before there was fancy Mig or Tig welders. Back when it all started from just a coal fire and air. Here is a couple of things I did last weekend with my coal forge. The first one started out as a piece of 3/4 square stock 12" long and I drawn it out to 22" with hammer and anvil. It is a Steak turner for the BBQ. The other one is a old horse shoe made into a Horse hoof pick for the wife. The steak turner took about 4 hrs to make to hammer it all the way out. The horse hoof pick took about an hr.

 

[BigRed390]

Gorgeous work! Keep us updated when you finish your next project!

 

[NASTYZEN]

Very nice!
Let's see some pics of your forge.

 

[Amitygravel]

Welcome to the Garage Journal GB! Nice work and yes we need pictures of the Forge and workshop !

 

[gbsmithy08]

THANX everyone. Well here is a couple pics of the the infamous blacksmith shop for now. The big pipe on a stand is my Propane forge that my Grandfather and I built. Then the other little round one with the hand crank blower on it is my coal forge. I have a LMF 175 lb anvil, tongs, 4" blacksmith vise, and numerous hand tools that I built or have purchased over the years. Its an Awesome hobby.

 

[kei8mas]

gbsmity08 where do you get your coal at?

 

[gbsmithy08]

gbsmity08 where do you get your coal at?

The last stuff I got from John MClellan from Granite bay,Ca. HE got it from Kentucky by train. I get it for $25 for a 50 lb sack. I belong to CBA which is California Blacksmith Association. Thats where my contacts are.

 

[gbsmithy08]

So here is a table I started on today. The top plate is 1/2"x4'x4' plate and the legs are 4" wide flange i beams that were already bent in a 90 degree. So I liked them that way so I made them into the legs you see now. Will be adding more things as I go.

 

[Captain-Matt]

Now that table, that I like. Surely that'd be more under fabrication that smithing though?
Unless you plan to add forged pieces of course, although I can't see how that would work with the I-beam style.

Liking your work in the first post, outdoor forge looks fun, no regular rain I take it?

 

[gbsmithy08]

Now that table, that I like. Surely that'd be more under fabrication that smithing though?
Unless you plan to add forged pieces of course, although I can't see how that would work with the I-beam style.

Liking your work in the first post, outdoor forge looks fun, no regular rain I take it?

Ya its gonna have some forging on it since its not your normal fab table. Gonna get into more ornamental fencing and gates. So gotta have a nice table for laying them out.
And ya good ole sunny Cali is awesome for working outside.
Thanx For the reply.

 

[gbsmithy08]

So Here is a bench that I had made for my grandparents a while back.
Made it out of .065 wallx1"x2" tubing and the "R" is out of StainlessSteel.

 

[nkachur]

Very cool.

At some point this is a hobby I would love to learn.

keep posting your projects.

 

[5lima30]

Nice work! What kind of anvil is that?

 

[gbsmithy08]

Nice work! What kind of anvil is that?

Its a LMF Laurel Machine Foundry anvil. Its a 175 lb. Nice little anvil.

 

[gbsmithy08]

Here is another cutout I did this last wknd. Its out of 1/8" steel. Done with my plasma cutter by hand.

 

[NASTYZEN]

THANX everyone. Well here is a couple pics of the the infamous blacksmith shop for now. The big pipe on a stand is my Propane forge that my Grandfather and I built. Then the other little round one with the hand crank blower on it is my coal forge. I have a LMF 175 lb anvil, tongs, 4" blacksmith vise, and numerous hand tools that I built or have purchased over the years. Its an Awesome hobby.

Cool,all you need right there.
How do the neighbors appreciate your hobby? That must be some noisy!
I like your bent I beam table, make sure you put some felt under there. Wouldn't want to scratch the Missus's floor.

 

[gbsmithy08]

Cool,all you need right there.
How do the neighbors appreciate your hobby? That must be some noisy!
I like your bent I beam table, make sure you put some felt under there. Wouldn't want to scratch the Missus's floor.

Thanx Nastyzen. The table is for my outside metal work. So wasnt sure if you were kiddin or not. I did tell the wife that I would like to have it in the house though. Couldnt break it or scratch it.
The neighbors I have are awesome. I make them stuff first to keep them happy. The grinding on metal is the worst part. the rest of it they say they cant even hear it if they are in the house.

 

[gbsmithy08]

So here is one more project I completed this last wknd for my son thats in 4H. I have 3 more to do thats for different animals. It is about 32"x32" and out of SS. I got it from the winery that I work at. It is an old grape gondola that got smashed up, so they donated to the 4H club.

 

[sberry]

I like the table, fast to build too. couldn't get much easier.

 

[fergus]

Cool projects and set up. Does that mean you are in Granite Bay as well? I'm over in Winters, not too far away.

 

[gbsmithy08]

Cool projects and set up. Does that mean you are in Granite Bay as well? I'm over in Winters, not too far away.

Nope over off the 101 above Ukiah,Ca.

 

[gbsmithy08]

I like the table, fast to build too. couldn't get much easier.

Thanx. Its a work in progress. Adding some square tubing underneath for a vise,grinder and a couple other attachments. It was something different than your basic square table.

 

[gbsmithy08]

Here is a one more of the projects I finished over the wknd for my son's 4H.
I also finished the first one by adding plywood that I painted black so the lettering would show up better.

 

[zacker01]

thats some really nice work. im slowly getting into so black smithing... got a couple blacksmith vises, and in the middle of making a small gas forge and rr track anvil... I HATE being on a budget...lol

 

[gbsmithy08]

So here is an update on my new welding table and the editions I have added to it so far. Also a couple of other things I have done over the past couple of weeks as well.
I made the aluminum ladder out of conduit and aluminum strut for my Toy hauler trailer to get up to the top bed easier. Its a 5 foot ladder.
The cutout out I did for my next door neighbors son and wife. I heat colored it with a oxy/acetylene torch. The one picture of the vise being upside down is because that is where I will store the vise when I need the whole top of my table. They grinder is on the same setup as the vise on receiver stock so I can remove it when need be.

 

[zacker01]

nice..i like the vise and grinder set up! is the vise sturdy mounted like that? id imagine it is but with a little play in it due to being held by the pin. like the weding gun "Holster" too..lol good idea! the table looks like its a pretty cool design also!

 

[zacker01]

So here is a table I started on today. The top plate is 1/2"x4'x4' plate and the legs are 4" wide flange i beams that were already bent in a 90 degree. So I liked them that way so I made them into the legs you see now. Will be adding more things as I go.

thats an awesome table..lol did you find those legs or have them bent for you? looks really cool!!

 

[gbsmithy08]

Thanx. The legs and top 1/2" plate was given to me by a friend of ours. The legs are 4" wide flange I beams that my friend got from his job site.
The vise does have a little play in it but works for what I need and I can move it to different spots if need be since it is non-adjustable.

 

[zacker01]

Very cool... wish I could score some "Donations" like that.. lol I maybe could have had the construction business not all but dried up here. almost everyone I know who worked as a welder or fitter on big jobs in the New Haven area has either retired, moved or is sitting on the bench in the Union hall!!!

 

[gbsmithy08]

So I finished my wheels for my table so I can move it if need be. The table is able to be raised now by using a bar installed in the center piece of tubing and pushed downward then it is held in that position by a receiver hitch pin.
Then the Sun I cut out with a plasma, out of Stainless steel then heat colored. This is on the side of our house now. It measures about 23" diameter.

 

[zacker01]

thats an awesome idea for the wheels... Id hate to have to try and drag that table around without them...lol The sun came out great... looks cool the way its colored. I forget where, it was on either Ebay or Craigs list, I saw someone selling a table with a 4 Inch thick steel top....lol what the heck would you do with that? i guess you could weld a horn on one end and use it as a giant anvil/table/anchor...lol

 

[zacker01]

lol... here it is.. http://cnj.craigslist.org/tls/3203453718.html

 

[bluebolt]

lol... here it is.. http://cnj.craigslist.org/tls/3203453718.html

Wow that table weighs over 1500 pounds!

 

[gbsmithy08]

Thanx. The 4" thick table would be nice to have as a layout table. Something that thick is probably really flat so for layout it would be great. To bad its back east I wouldnt mind having it.

 

[zacker01]

Thanx. The 4" thick table would be nice to have as a layout table. Something that thick is probably really flat so for layout it would be great. To bad its back east I wouldnt mind having it.

have it sent to you by trucker. lol
I hope who ever buys that thing has a fork lift on hand...

 

[gbsmithy08]

One of my Blacksmithing tools is a Swedge block which is 4" thick but its only 12"x 12" and has a bunch of different size holes in it. Its used for twisting and manipulating hot iron. I need to make a table for it so its up off the ground as where it is used now.

 

[zacker01]

A 4" thick table top would work fine! lol too bad that table didnt have holes in it already... and welded posts for scroll work imagine the possibilities... one table that is an anvil, has all the different sized holes, square and round, different sized posts to go in them for bending, a huge horn, a nice flat area..Sweet!
Hey ill give him the scrap value for it...lol

 

[gbsmithy08]

So here is one more project completed from this last wknd. It is a pot and pan holder out of steel and stainless steel.

 

[zacker01]

very nice! good idea too, To take up the space between the cabinets!

 

[awdblazer]

i would love to get into this one day and build me a set of railings for the front of my house