Several additions to the new workshop! GCS Heavy Duty Benchtop Drill Press (14-inch, 12-speed), antique leg vise (to restore), Metabo 7-inch bench grinder, Drill Doctor drill bit sharpener, Columbian 3.5-inch swivel bench vise (to restore), and a drill gauge. Now I just need some benches and such to put them all on... The leg vise was a generous gift from Bob at the Bison Forge Company … [Read more...]
Video tour of my new workshop!
After weeks (months...) of hunting, I've finally found a shop for JDH Metalcraft in East Providence, RI. This short video offers a tour of the space where I'm setting up JDH Metalcraft for blacksmithing, welding, fabrication, and other metalwork. Caveat, having space isn't the same as having equipment. The video will explain more... PATREON SUPPORT: … [Read more...]
Wrought Iron Cthulhu Tentacle Bottle Opener
Here's a special variation of my tentacle bottle opener made from a special material. This particular opener is made from wrought iron sourced from Providence, RI. It came from a derelict building that was built sometime in the late 1920s (possibly very early 1930s). So, this iron would have been contemporary to the period in which H.P. Lovecraft wrote his more famous and tentacular Cthulhu … [Read more...]
Still Seeking New Shop Space
My time in my current shop space is coming quickly to a close. This means that I'll soon lose access to a power hammer. So, I'm doing tapers and tops for tentacle bottle openers until I run out of either time or round stock, whichever comes first. After that, things will move a bit slower on production. Maybe a lot slower. Anyway, for the next few days these are getting done at a good clip. The … [Read more...]
Forging Leaves for Exterior Project
I'm forging a number of leaves to go on an exterior build for author Christopher Golden in Massachusetts. I'm particularly happy with this one. To see how I'm forging these leaves, go to this page. Finished forged leaf (minus surface treatment). Final heat on this forged leaf. Preparing to hot cut the leaf stem. … [Read more...]
Forging a Leaf (blacksmithing tutorial)
Here's how I'm currently forging leaves. I'm still refining, but I'm pretty happy with the end results. Start with 1/2-inch round stock and forge to shape. I use both a power hammer and hand hammering. Forge in the center vein using a chisel. A curved- ended chisel works best. Use the peen end of a cross-peen hammer to create the texture on either side of the vein. Different peen … [Read more...]