Well, I finally got a bit of time to catch up with things on the computer. I'm in a hotel in Chicago tonight and will be heading toward the Guild of Metalsmiths meet in Minneapolis tomorrow.

The NEB Fall meet in Vermont was terrific! Great demos by Steve Parker (power hammer forging), Steve Bronstein (forging pipe), Nathan Robertson (hammer making), Steve Gensheimer (design considerations) and Dave Hammer (forging hats). The NEB hired a pair of videographers to record the demos and they also provided a big screen remote monitor in the overflow tent so everyone got a good view of the demos. Every group staging such an event should do the same. Not only can everyone see better, but there is a recording of the demos to pass around/sell/archive when it is all done.

Hey guys I just got my website up and running. I would love it if yall would go check it out and let me know what you think (HONESTLY what you think, No hurt feelings here). Its nothing fancy but its a start. The address is http://www.designermetalworks.net table 1: Table commisioned by a boat captain. Made using an actual bronze ship's wheel.The base is steel and was painted to match the natural patina.

For some time now I've faced an ongoing annoyance with my raditional anvil hold-downs - youknow, you get the piece one the anvil, set the hold-down and go to work, only to have the work come loose on the second blow.  By the time you get it clamped again, you've lost the heat and have to start over.  This issue cropped up mostly when I was doing chasing or chiseling work, where the work was hit a number of times in rapid succession.  The traditional figure 7 style hold-down just didn't hold tight enough against repetitive blows or much side pressure.  Clearly, I needed a better solution.

These garden flowers are my latest quick projects. They are really easy to make and they look so pretty. Plus, I invented the design and leaf shape myself! (although I'm sure they've been done befo

I am new to this site... I have been a full time blacksmith artist. Started out in a fabrication shop, migrated to building fences, then went to work (for free to learn) from a real blacksmith pro. He taught me a lot, then I struck out on my own.