Alex Bealer Blacksmith Association

See the pics here.

http://www.possumholler.net/FirstForgings/

(How do I upload pics to this site? Or am I not allowed?)

Well...I finally built a stand for my anvil. Then I got my Zoeller burner in my Balloon Time forge and got it going.

Earlier I broke every law known to man and went down to the tracks and picked up some spikes.

Now...what do I do with all these new toys?

I wanted to see what this Zoeller burner was made of so I heated the head of one of the spikes and wailed away on it till it was gone. Basically I just drew it out till it was the same shape as the shaft. Then I drew the whole thing out till it was about twice as long as a regular railroad spike.

That was fun!

On the next spike I left the head and just drew out the shaft.

OK. Now I'm getting cocky. I need a hot cut hardie tool. My little 98 lb weakling anvil has a 1/2 inch hardie hole.

(Is it hardie or hardy?)

I took this huge bolt that I picked up off the tracks and shaped the end to fit in the hardie hole. Then I heated the whole bolt, quenched the end I just shaped and stuck it in the hole and wailed on it to upset a shoulder to sit on the anvil. I was scared it would get stuck in the hole but it didn't. I still need to cut off and shape the top of the hardie tool but I'm well on my way to making my first tool.

Not bad for the first time I have ever laid hammer to hot iron. Anyway...I guess I'm off and running.