Blacksmiths, Beekeepers and Tractors Go Well Together

My good friend Michael and I took a day trip to visit famed blacksmith Nol Putnam recently.  Nol is a great guy to hang out with and a wealth of wisdom about blacksmithing.  It is a great pleasure to spend time with him.

Even though we had fun together, we actually did have a purpose (hard to believe, I know!) -- to pick up some huge stumps that are very good for anvil stands because of the rebound they provide.  When we heard about them, we couldn't pass them up.  Add in Nol's tractor that they used to load the stumps into Michael's truck, and we were some happy guys..... 

The plan from here is that Michael (who is a beekeeper on top of his day job and is turning into a blacksmith, as well) is going to saw the stumps down to make two properly-sized anvil stands.  Or, something like that.

My wife says it's a good thing Mike and I don't live closer together.  Can you imagine the "trouble" we would get into?!  :-)

Tips for an 18th Century Surveyor's Tripod

Here is a picture of some tripod tips I had a friend make for a customer who is an 18th century re-enactor friend.  He is very skilled in his role as a revolutionary era surveyor and I was happy to participate in his project to rebuild the tripod that will support his period compass.

These tips are about 3" long and 3/4" round(ish).  Notice the ends are actually round but more like square with rounded corners, but they will do the trip to support the tripod.

Also in the shot is the hanger bolts that will be used to tap the tips so they can be threaded into the bottom of the tripod legs.  They have half machine thread, and half wood screw thread.

Definitely a nice team effort to solve an interesting problem!

In the Forge: Repairing a Door Latch

I recently repaired a door latch for the American Horticultural Society.  It was a bit intimidating to work on something that Colonial Williamsburg originally made, but years of usage had made the latch to not fit properly. 

It now works great!

Some of My Work

A very nice note I received from a customer showing where he hung the cross I made him as a gift for Father's Day from his son last year.  It is tremendously gratifying to hear from someone who has my piece in a special place and that it holds special meaning for them.  It makes what I do special as well.