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johndharvey

Last night I taught a very fun "Introduction to Fo

Last night I taught a very fun "Introduction to Forged Leaves" course at @thesteelyard. I had four great students (including @thegraindoctor).
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#ArtistBlacksmith #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmiths #Blacksmith #Blacksmithing #JDHmetalcraft #handforged #handmade #madeinamerica #designermaker

My chopsticks "in action". This is the set that I

My chopsticks "in action". This is the set that I delivered to Heidi Jacobs of @whitehall_pottery. Not that chopsticks are precision machinery, but they appear to function as intended. The plate in the image was made by Heidi.

People wonder if they're heavy. Obviously, they're heavier than wooden or bamboo chopsticks, but not heavier than a sturdy fork or knife. I'm also asked occasionally if the metal hurts the teeth. If you've been putting metal forks in your mouth for your whole life, this won't be a different experience.

Fun fact ... metal chopsticks are standard in Korea.
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#ArtistBlacksmith #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmiths #Blacksmith #Blacksmithing #JDHmetalcraft #handforged #handmade #madeinamerica #designermaker

I'm teaching a one-night "Forged Leaves" course at

I'm teaching a one-night "Forged Leaves" course at @thesteelyard on Tuesday night. The problem, I realized a couple of weeks ago, is that I haven't been forging a lot of leaves lately.

So, in addition to forging chopsticks, I've been working on re-acquainting myself with these little guys. I made this leaf pendant today while also putting together some of the special tools for the class.

It's my first time teaching this subject matter. So, it's fair to say that I'm a bit nervous.
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#ArtistBlacksmith #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmiths #Blacksmith #Blacksmithing #JDHmetalcraft #handforged #handmade #madeinamerica #designermaker

Here we have a beautiful noodle bowl crafted by ce

Here we have a beautiful noodle bowl crafted by ceramics artist Heidi Jacobs (@whitehall_pottery) combined with a set of my stainless steel, hand-forged chopsticks.

I get a special thrill from seeing my work out and about in the world. But seeing something you've made partnered up with another maker's brilliant work is amazing. Thank you, Heidi, for these images. I hope you enjoy the chopsticks.
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#ArtistBlacksmith #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmiths #Blacksmith #Blacksmithing #JDHmetalcraft #handforged #handmade #madeinamerica #designermaker

Last night I forged four new blacksmiths. This was

Last night I forged four new blacksmiths. This was the end of my regularly occurring "Forge Your Own Bottle Opener" course for absolute beginners at The Steel Yard (@thesteelyard).
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#ArtistBlacksmith #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmiths #BlacksmithDesigner #BlacksmithDesign #Blacksmith #BlacksmithArt #Blacksmithing #BlacksmithLife #JDHMetalcraft

Finished yesterday. These hand-forged chopsticks w

Finished yesterday. These hand-forged chopsticks will go to @whitehall_pottery in Pittsburgh, PA.

#ArtistBlacksmith #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmiths #BlacksmithDesigner #BlacksmithDesign #Blacksmith #BlacksmithArt #Blacksmithing #BlacksmithLife #JDHMetalcraft

Hand-forged chopsticks in progress. #ArtistBlacks

Hand-forged chopsticks in progress.

#ArtistBlacksmith #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmiths #BlacksmithDesigner #BlacksmithDesign #Blacksmith #BlacksmithArt #Blacksmithing #BlacksmithLife #JDHMetalcraft

So in today's episode of "Hey, I'm not sure that's

So in today's episode of "Hey, I'm not sure that's how you use a die grinder...", I took 8 inches of 3/8-inch square stock and tapered it from the middle to points at both ends. Total length came out to 14 inches.

(This is a test for a penannular brooch, but I used larger-than-needed stock to make the experiment easier.)

After securing the piece in a post vice, I used a die grinder and a ball-ended bit to carve a groove down the "center" of all four flats. I put quotes on 'center' because I haven't done this before and my groove was about as straight as the Appalachian Trail. What's pictured here is my best stretch. Everything else was all over the place. I was fine with that; I actually hoped it would produce some interesting texture or effect.

Then I heated it up again and put in a simple reverse twist (one full turn each way).

I'm both happy and disappointed that the twist did a lot to obscure my erratic skills with a die grinder (I was sort of hoping for something more dramatic...).

Anyway, there will be more experiments with this method. I think it might be faster than using a guillotine tool on hot steel, but I'm unsure of that. I also think there are different methods I can try for more interesting results.

Anyway, it wasn't a waste of time. So... success.
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#BlacksmithArt #ArtistBlacksmith #Blacksmiths #Blacksmithing #BlacksmithLife #JDHMetalcraft #BlacksmithDesigner #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmith #BlacksmithDesign #BlacksmithTool #BlacksmithShop

Three out of the five twisting wrenches I made las

Three out of the five twisting wrenches I made last weekend were old Trimos. When I saw this big 2-foot Trimo at Exeter Scrap this morning, I figured it was fate. Also, it was a steal... $10.

Its rusty and pitted but the mechanism threads are intact. I already wire wheeled the surface rust and it's soaking in @evapo_rust to get at the hard-to-reach crevices.

It'll become a large twisting wrench to finish the set.
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#BlacksmithArt #ArtistBlacksmith #Blacksmiths #Blacksmithing #BlacksmithLife #JDHMetalcraft #BlacksmithDesigner #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmith #BlacksmithDesign

#BlacksmithTool #BlacksmithShop #twistingwrench #wrench #vintagetools #oldtools #trimowrench

I've come back to forging chopsticks. I'm going to

I've come back to forging chopsticks. I'm going to make a bunch of these while taking notes on the process, order of operations, materials, patinas (if any), etc. This way, it'll be less guesswork and trying to remember little details when I forge these. Standing over the anvil wondering about next steps (or forgetting next steps...) is time I can't afford to waste.

I'm actually thinking of marketing the chopsticks without any patinas just to make cleaning them a little less fussy for the customer. I'd appreciate any thoughts or comments regarding patinas on these. I like doing patinas, but I also like finishing pieces with less fuss and bother.

Anyway, there were two other sets where I tried two new(ish) twists. Neither of those worked out and have been tossed to the Scrap Bucket of Shame. So, I see some stainless steel pendants in the near future...
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#BlacksmithArt #ArtistBlacksmith #Blacksmiths #Blacksmithing #BlacksmithLife #JDHMetalcraft #BlacksmithDesigner #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmith #BlacksmithDesign

Pretty sure I can get another week out of this cup

Pretty sure I can get another week out of this cup brush...

Got a patina on this snakey little pendant. I'm no

Got a patina on this snakey little pendant. I'm not unhappy with it, but it's not quite what I wanted. More experiments on the horizon, but I'm done with this one.
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#BlacksmithArt #ArtistBlacksmith #Blacksmiths #Blacksmithing #BlacksmithLife #JDHMetalcraft #BlacksmithDesigner #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmith #BlacksmithDesign

It's shameful how long I've gone without a set of

It's shameful how long I've gone without a set of twisting wrenches in the shop.

So, I sorted that out today.
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#BlacksmithArt #ArtistBlacksmith #Blacksmiths #Blacksmithing #BlacksmithLife #JDHMetalcraft #BlacksmithDesigner #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmith #BlacksmithDesign
#BlacksmithTool #BlacksmithShop #BlacksmithForge #blacksmithtools

Here's a few of the penannular brooches that I del

Here's a few of the penannular brooches that I delivered to @danacameron65. I never get tired of seeing my forged work being used by friends and customers! I'm really happy that you like them, Dana.
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#BlacksmithArt #ArtistBlacksmith #Blacksmiths #Blacksmithing #BlacksmithLife #JDHMetalcraft #BlacksmithDesigner #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmith #BlacksmithDesign

Failures ... Over at the "Fools with Tools" (FWT)

Failures ... Over at the "Fools with Tools" (FWT) maker FB group, a member posted about holding onto failed pieces to remind you to do better. That's fine, but I've never really needed help being reminded that I could do better. That's sort of an 'every night' thing...

I do keep a "Scrap Bucket of Shame", though. Almost everything that goes wrong gets thrown in there. But I use it as a source of test pieces to experiment with textures, techniques, and patinas, etc., so I don't wreck something that's intended to be a "final draft".

I also occasionally dive into the shame bucket to see if there's something I can rescue. This practice goes back to when I was learning at @thesteelyard 'Open Studio' nights, and I'd go "quench bucket diving" for discarded bits of metal from previous blacksmithing classes. I practiced making lots of hooks, bottle openers, and other doo-dads without paying for metal.

So, tonight I decided to revisit that practice and I pulled out an early penannular brooch pin that went wrong. Without much fuss or bother, now it's a twisty little pendant. It's not exactly what I was shooting for, but I've never made one of these before. So, I'm calling it a success. Especially since it's a piece that pissed me off the first time around.

There's no patina on it yet. I'll do that this weekend. I might even sell it if someone likes it well enough.
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Technically, a parent shouldn't have favorites. B

Technically, a parent shouldn't have favorites.

But it's possible that I have favorites...
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#BlacksmithArt #ArtistBlacksmith #Blacksmiths #Blacksmithing #BlacksmithLife #JDHMetalcraft #BlacksmithDesigner #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmith #BlacksmithDesign

This batch of penannular brooches is done and dust

This batch of penannular brooches is done and dusted (and will be mailed out tomorrow).

Aside from learning how to make the brooches themselves, this provided a great opportunity to experiment with a bunch of fancy-pants patinas.

Some experiments (both with patinas and forging) went better than others. I'd say nearly as many as you see here wound up in the scrap bucket of shame.
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#BlacksmithArt #ArtistBlacksmith #Blacksmiths #Blacksmithing #BlacksmithLife #JDHMetalcraft #BlacksmithDesigner #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmith #BlacksmithDesign

The earlier texture experiment put to use on two p

The earlier texture experiment put to use on two penannular brooches.
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#BlacksmithArt #ArtistBlacksmith #Blacksmiths #Blacksmithing #BlacksmithLife #JDHMetalcraft #BlacksmithDesigner #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmith #BlacksmithDesign

A relatively successful experiment. - - - - - - -

A relatively successful experiment.
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#BlacksmithArt #ArtistBlacksmith #Blacksmiths #Blacksmithing #BlacksmithLife #JDHMetalcraft #BlacksmithDesigner #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmith #BlacksmithDesign

This was fun. - - - - - - - #BlacksmithArt #Artis

This was fun.
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#BlacksmithArt #ArtistBlacksmith #Blacksmiths #Blacksmithing #BlacksmithLife #JDHMetalcraft #BlacksmithDesigner #BlacksmithArtist #Blacksmith #BlacksmithDesign

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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.