John D. Harvey | Blacksmith

Artist blacksmith in Rhode Island

Blog

SHOP UPDATE! New GCS Drill Press, Post Vise, and other tools.

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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 (@bisonforgeco on Instagram). He also helped me get that drill press out of my car. If not for him, I’d be driving around with a drill press in the back indefinitely.

PATREON SUPPORT: https://www.patreon.com/jdhmetalcraft

SOCIAL MEDIA

INSTAGRAM: @johndharvey
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/jdhmetalcraft/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/jdharv/

Video tour of my new workshop!

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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: https://www.patreon.com/jdhmetalcraft

SOCIAL MEDIA

INSTAGRAM: @johndharvey
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/jdhmetalcraft/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/jdharv/

Wrought Iron Cthulhu Tentacle Bottle Opener

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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 mythos stories (“The Call of Cthulhu”, “At the Mountains of Madness”, “The Shadow over Innsmouth”, and The Shadow Out of Time”, etc.). So, considering the vintage and source of the metal, it’s got some heritage and history attached to it.

Also, this is the very first time that I’ve worked with wrought iron. It’s very different from mild steel and is in some ways a bit less forgiving. My first attempt failed badly. This second attempt turned out fine, but it took longer to etch than I expected. All that said, I’m happy with the grain exposed by the etch.

I have enough of this particular wrought iron to make two more of these. I already have plans for them… charity auctions.

[envira-gallery id=’1509′]

Still Seeking New Shop Space

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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 ‘after’ photo includes the production from a half night the night before as well last night’s full shift. Just in case you noticed the math doesn’t add up and wondering how I’m getting my starting stock to mate and make babies…

Tentacle bottle openers in progress.

Forging a Leaf (blacksmithing tutorial)

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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.
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.
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 sizes create different textures. Experiment!
Use the peen end of a cross-peen hammer to create the texture on either side of the vein. Different peen sizes create different textures. Experiment!
Secure the leaf in a post vice and use a chisel to create notches at the leaf edges. If the notches come out very sharp/jagged, take another heat and gently knock them down.
Secure the leaf in a post vice and use a chisel to create notches at the leaf edges. If the notches come out very sharp/jagged, take another heat and gently knock them down.
Place the leaf's center vein over a V channel on a swage block. Gently hammer a chisel into the center vein to form the leaf into a "V" shape.
Place the leaf’s center vein over a V channel on a swage block. Gently hammer a chisel into the center vein to form the leaf into a “V” shape.
Strike the back of the leaf on either side of the vein with an embossing hammer (ball peen also works) to create a bowl curve on both sides of the vein. Do this on a wooden stump to protect the texture on the other side of the leaf. A leather hammer is also useful to coax the edges into shape.
Strike the back of the leaf on either side of the vein with an embossing hammer (ball peen also works) to create a bowl curve on both sides of the vein. Do this on a wooden stump to protect the texture on the other side of the leaf. A leather hammer is also useful to coax the edges into shape.
7. Gently hammer the tip of the leaf into an upward curl. Because it looks nifty. Finish however you like. Cheers!
Gently hammer the tip of the leaf into an upward curl. Because it looks nifty. Finish however you like. Cheers!

A gallery of hand-forged chopsticks by artist blacksmith John D. Harvey

Finished these hand-forged chopsticks last night from 304 stainless steel. They’ll go to Heidi Jacobs of Whitehall Pottery in Pittsburgh, PA.

On December 19, 2020, I was a vendor/exhibitor at The Steel Yard’s “Holiday Art Market”, and it was really a great event held in very challenging times. All the pandemic precautions were in place: social distancing, mask wearing, hand sanitizer, and staggered entry of patrons to prevent crowding.