Hot Iron

Last Saturday, I took a blacksmithing class in Chillicothe.   Bud Harvey is a retired Caterpiller engineer, and the owner of Hot Iron Blacksmith shop.  Since we do a lot of maintenance and repair work on the farm, and since I have heated a lot of metal with a torch and beat on it with a hammer, I thought it might be a good idea to learn some proper techniques.  Bud uses the traditional coal fired forges and traditional anvil and tools.  There were four of us students who spent the whole day in his shop. It was an interesting experience, and I did learn a lot.  I also made a steak turner and a coat hook to take home to prove that I am now an amateur blacksmith.

Bud showing us the basic techniques and how to start and operate a forge.  

My partner by the forge and anvil that I used for the day.

S-I-L and D#2 were fortunate to get their house sold for a good price.  However, the house inspector that the buyers hired was very nit picky and provided a long list of items that needed to be addressed prior to closing.  Clayton worked on the plumbing issues, Tim and his son worked on the electrical issues, Herb is installing a handrail, Ron worked on some issues, but I ended up with much of the list.  After spending several afternoons, working everywhere from the crawlspace and basement up to the attic, the list was mostly addressed.  Then the appraiser hired by the V.A. (where the buyer's loan was coming from) found some more issues that they wanted fixed.  One was that the garage gables needed painting.  Ron argued that you don't paint in January in Illinois, but they were adamant that to get the loan approved, it had to be painted. So yesterday I painted in January!  If the paint doesn't stick it will be the new owner's problem.  We think that by tomorrow afternoon, the house will be ready for closing.

My punch, tools, and materials lists.

 

But the Lord hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.
Deuteronomy 4:20