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On a similar note, i have some leather sleaves (not gloves, just sleaves) that i use when grinding and welding sometimes. I put one on today and wondered for a split second why my hand had so many fingers and then why it ran off on it's own accord! Then my brain caught up and i realised there...

I occasionally have them in the workshop (not for a few years though. Maybe i shall buy one tonight). I stick them into the tempering oven and they come out well, but are much better in the gas forge for extra crispy pastry! Away from modcons, i have boiled the puddings on fires fine. In some...

I'm with you on this Toddy. All of the tools on there are food related. It's normally listed as an ear or cosmetics spoon, but why anybody keep their toothbrush and lipstick in the kitchen cutlery drawer? Given the range of fiddly and odd foods rich Romans enjoyed, a scoop for marrow/shell...

There are folks here in the UK that make them too ;-) Not something I would want to make though I have to confess. Steve Wagstaff (the Roman Trader) makes a lovely one and is always under-priced. I think Todd (tods workshop/tods knives/tods stuff) makes them too

For me my phone is used for people to get hold of me (mostly that means customers wanting stuff or delivery drivers trying to find me!) and occasionally ordering things over the phone if it is likely to be easier than online. Otherwise my phone is a camera, calculator and clock. I could have...

we started get some proper drizzle today, it's barely stopped since before dawn. The grass in the neighbouring field was brown and parched on Monday, but is already perking up (though the sheep are making short work of it)

In my part of Devon we had drizzle from the small hours until maybe 10am. The ground was wet and there were puddles forming, so some moisture should seep down. Since then though the day has just been warm and overcast. More rain is predicted tomorrow, but we shall see. Edit. 3:30pm and it's...

i use those pop up garages from Machine Mart (https://www.machinemart.co.uk/c/sheds/) as sheds around my woods. Pretty cheap for what they are and I've not had much damage due to weather (ie wind or sun) even after being up in the woods for 7(?) years in some cases They can be put up on your...

Interersting. I've never seen a billhook with that shape but there are a few sickles that are. Shearing hooks used by thatchers being the nearest in size, style and weight. Maybe they were made or modified for a thatcher?

i can't help with the name on it (I'm not much of a geek when it comes to makers' marks on tools) but the bend to the blade is damage rather than design. Most likely it was run over by a tractor or something, a thing that I have done and I'm sure many others have! :D If you are on Facebook then...

No problem there . I've made sure to pack plenty

There you go. The arrival of a bunch of campers brings the rain!

It's nearly time to load the van and head off to damp dark Wales. Since i'm running a workshop that requires me to bring lots of kit, i'll not be bringing much excess random stuff (don't worry, the forge, grinder and sharpening gear are all still coming!). So i just wanted to ask if anybody has...

I'm looking forward to seeing old friends too. Even you John!

Most certainly mate :) and I wouldn't be surprised if it does choose packdown day to tipdown!

I guess I'll have to make sure there is space in my van for plenty of charcoal then! :D Just as well I emptied the kiln today I can't believe it will stay dry in Wales for that long

Not for what we have planned i'm afraid. We need saws for this ;) I'm not going to teach people to forge things from files, virgin steel is the way to go! Thanks for the offer though

More enclosed moist conditions. I don't use the things myself (i'm either being historical so it's proper flint and steel, or i just want fire so have a lighter) but the ones i've had kicking about in plastic tackle boxes, rucksack pockets, cooksets, etc have all corroded. Mostly just blooms...

That's a terrible idea. Ferro rods notoriously corrode in damp conditions, so sticking it inside an ali tube in the UK is asking for it to rot in no time! Plus you are paying $40 for the aluminium tube plus a ferro rod that can't be replaced when it goes

All sounds like i was right then, tougher than they look our little red friends! I fully expected people to say broken tips and maybe corkscrews, so that's good too. I did break the back spring in one when i was a kid and still thought beating a knife through a bit of wood was a clever thing...