Welcome to ArtMetal, Ivan! I'm sure you'll find it enjoyable here; you can't tell online whether or not we have any teeth at all, spell check makes us all seem literate and, so far at least, no one seems inclined to push religion here. We're pretty much focused on metalworking here, in other words.

I'm familiar with the hermit syndrome, as I live in the Virgin Islands and I'm the only blacksmith in the Territory. I live in a rural area and stick pretty close to home most of the time, and if it weren't for this site and the 'net in general, I'd be a certified hermit. Probably a certified lunatic, too. (grin) And thanks for mentioning the Social Security - I need to go down and apply for mine, because I could sure use the money right now.

Feel free to post your website information, Ivan. The guidelines are to stop people from spamming with links to commercial websites, but a link to your own personal site is fine by us. If you cross over some line you weren't aware of, you'll get an email from me letting you know, but we don't have people shot for small transgressions - usually not, anyway. :-)

Good to have you join us, and we look forward to seeing some of your work. If you have any problems figuring out how to post pictures, just ask and someone will walk you through it. I had a bit of confusion the first time I tried it and others have also, so you wouldn't be alone.

Rich Waugh
ArtMetal Moderator

Hi Ivan,
I forgot to say welcome in the other post ,so welcome ya'll.
Frank (in da UP,eh)

Really nice to see a world-class metal artist active on ArtMetal! Here's a link to an old feature article that was put on ArtMetal ages ago... http://www.artmetal.com/files/imported/project/Features/SAVTORCH/INDEX.HTM

(Note: Link made live by Moderator)