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  1. VaughnT

    Crafty Christmas Presents

    Right now, I'm working on two different kinds of candle holders. Not sure how they'll look once all is said and done, but I'm hopeful that at least one pair will turn out halfway awesome!
  2. VaughnT

    Traveling Work Station....

    I like how easy it is to knock apart and store for traveling. Having a vise when you're off at a demo, especially something that looks as good as this, would certainly be handy. Anyone have an idea what he's doing with the hole saw?
  3. VaughnT

    Traveling Work Station....

    Part Viking-Age awesomeness and part Steampunk, I just can't get enough of Thijs Van der Manakker's portable chest/bench/vise...... Thijs is a master blacksmith and always posting photos of some of the great things he's making. You can see more pictures here...
  4. VaughnT

    Rosettes

    Seems all the pictures have gone the way of the dodo, so an update seems like a good idea...... The backer plates have been welded to the hinge knuckles and the rosettes are firmly in place. I chipped the paint a bit when screwing the bolts home, so that'll have to be touched up when the...
  5. VaughnT

    Out with the old in with a new table

    Excellent piece of craftsmanship. It looks like it's been around for ages and I'll be the family enjoys the warmth it radiates.
  6. VaughnT

    Steampunk Tool Chest

    Pinterest is my bane. It's so easy to get addicted as you search for ideas. No matter what you're looking for, they've got hundreds of examples, adding more every day. I can burn up some serious hours on that site!! :O
  7. VaughnT

    Another Tray

    I like those. I've been looking for some similar bins to help organize my ironwork when I make a bunch of one thing.
  8. VaughnT

    Steampunk Tool Chest

    Amen. I'm currently designing a new apron for just that reason. Anyone can buy a cheap-o bit of leather, but it looks like a cheap-o bit of leather and speaks volumes. Of course, keeping up with all those little details can be a pain. I've saved your pics to my files so I can refer to them...
  9. VaughnT

    Steampunk Tool Chest

    Beautiful work. I've been looking to do something similar so I can dress up my blacksmithing display when do public shows. Customers really pick up on the small details and it's those little things that can really set your operation apart from the herd! Kudos on a job well done!
  10. VaughnT

    Rosettes

    Thank you.
  11. VaughnT

    Rosettes

    All finished except to weld on the grease-able knuckles and about a hundred other little things... Decorating the bolt heads was a must since you can't very well have some shiny store-bought jive sitting on top of the rosettes. That'd just be too garish! And since I was there, I...
  12. VaughnT

    Rosettes

    Thanks. I wasn't going to dress the heads of the lag bolts until I put them with the rosettes and saw how awful the combo was. No way I could leave them looking all mass-produced and shiny!
  13. VaughnT

    Rosettes

    Thank you, gents. The doors are coming along as well as could be expected. There always seems to be some neat new design idea that just has to be incorporated... and that means a setback as the whole thing is redesigned! :D These are the rosettes I started with, but when things got changed...
  14. VaughnT

    Rosettes

    I love forging iron into new and interesting shapes. My big project right now, and for as long as I care to remember, has been a set of shop doors for the smithy. As you can imagine, it would be a serious issue if I went down to the local store to buy some mass-produced jive. So...
  15. VaughnT

    Axe Work 101-ish

    If my back would let me, I'd give it a go! Maybe I'd rough it out with the chainsaw first, but.... :D
  16. VaughnT

    Axe Work 101-ish

    This guy's got some great videos. I've never had the chance to work an axe to this degree, but I sure wish I could. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti_Tbz9FvpA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw3Ae90BhSI
  17. VaughnT

    What tube for a small forge tuyere?

    Here's a pretty good video on the side-blast forge design and usage. Josh certainly knows his way around a fire and anvil! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypahcig1KQw
  18. VaughnT

    Basic Question on Horn

    Standard run-of-the-mill cow horn is easy to come by if you have an internet handy. They are shipped without the bony core, so all you have it the actual horn outer layer that's very easy to work. To soften the horn, all you have to do is warm it up and it will become nicely pliable. The...
  19. VaughnT

    hand gouge for spoons

    Well, that's about as handy an idea as I've ever seen. I especially like how you tapered the tang. What type of heat-treat did you do for the bed frame metal? I've heard the stuff is pretty tough, but I've never had the chance to work with any. Now I've got to find a bed frame and make some...
  20. VaughnT

    Anvil Restoration

    You're lucky. That's a cast steel anvil and is all one piece. The dead-flat surface you're going for isn't necessary for blacksmithing and there really wasn't anything terribly wrong with the surface you started with. Keeping it cool with water wasn't necessary as your grinding wouldn't raise...