Sunday, December 25, 2011

Things from the fire

Here are a few of the things I've made over the last few weeks.  I couldn't post them before as they were made as gifts.

These are brackets for the sides of a utility trailer that my Brother-in-law restored for his dad.  I'll post pics of the trailer soon.

Napkin Rings

Letter Opener

Key Ring

Key Ring

Wall Mount Bottle Opener

Wall Mount Bottle Opener

Candle Holder

Candle Holder

Thursday, December 22, 2011

The Christening! (11/26/2011)

Firing up Widdershins for the first time...

 Gathering the necessary tools...

 Gathering the necessary tools... ;) 

  Gathering the necessary tools...

 Ready to start the fire...

 My friend Pat (who helped me get into smithing) and me, just before the lighting.

 Starting the fire.

 Adding fuel

 ...and more fuel

 ...and more.

 YEAH!

 Heating rebar to make my first tool (a coal rake).

 Making the rake.

 Making the rake.

 My daughter Kelso having a go while Pat's son Jake films.

 Pat helping me draw out some steel.

 My son Jordan giving it a go.

Jordan's GF Ariel taking a turn.

Welcome to Widdershins IronWorks!

Thanks for stopping by!  Here you'll find (as you might expect) pics and posts from and about my forge.  Where to start?  Well, how about at the beginning?  Here's how I built the forge...

 The table was made from an old garden cart I got from FreeCycle (great group on Yahoo!...check it out).  I built the base from treated lumber.
 Here you can see the hole for the firepot.
The firepot.  This is a brake rotor I kept from my old Subaru and a section of 2.25" steel pipe.  I ground the threads off the end of the pipe and cut/bent tabs to hold it in.

 Completed forge with wheels, pipes, blower, and control switch installed.
 Completed forge with wheels, pipes, blower, and control switch installed.
Completed forge with wheels, pipes, blower, and control switch installed.