Thank you! Your support means the world to me and I cannot thank you enough. It's because of great folks like you that I can experiment with new ideas, create new content, and keep the iron moving here at Three Rivers Forge!
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Three Rivers Forge
Blacksmith - forging iron in order to bring a little bit of the wonderful trade to folks everywhere!
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Firstly, you get my undying appreciation for your faith in me. Your support will help keep the iron moving here at Three Rivers Forge, making it possible to try new things and create new content.
Secondly, you can look forward to priority access to everything that happens here. Any posts I make are scheduled so that the higher tiers get them first. Discounts on merchandise, new videos and articles... everything is opened up to the highest tier members first.
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Public post
Forging a Leaf
Nathan has just uploaded what I think will go down in history as the best tutorial on forging a leaf.
Aside from fantastic videography, this video takes the time to really explain what you do and the all important WHY you do it. When you watch #blacksmiths forging leaves, you'll often hear them warn about working too cold or having that dreaded snap as their leaf just falls off the parent bar after all that work. Lord knows I've lost a bunch of leaves!
Nathan explains why that happens and how to avoid it. And he turns out a leaf that is about as beautiful as you could ask for.
If you're not subscribed to Working with Iron, I highly recommend it. Nathan produces some of the best videos out there and is a genuinely good person!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci93coi_0tI
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Public post
It's the little things....
One of my favorite channels on youtube is Desert Owl Forge. Tim hails from over in Europe and brings a unique aesthetic to the American smithing scene, in my estimation.
In this video, we see him making a gate latch. It's a beautiful design with elegant lines and enough topographical change in the steel that there's no doubt in your mind that a blacksmith made it.
What's most impressive, in my estimation, is that each step along the way is very simple. Tim is using the basic movements that every blacksmith uses. The magic is in how he chose to combine the fundamental movements.
Little things add up. Tim started out with some plain iron bars and ended with a truly beautiful piece that'd be the pride and joy of any garden gate in the land!
Kudos to Desert Owl Forge for reminding me of an old lesson!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP12vtz_fjQ
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Public post
Books for Blacksmiths
If ever there was a book you shouldn't judge by its cover, it'd be the Engineer's Black Book.
I was first introduced to this great book by Adam Booth over on his abom79 Youtube channel and can't believe I spent a lifetime without having this wonderful resource in my shop.
How does it help the #blacksmith? Well, most of us are in a perpetual state of "you don't know what you don't know!" How can you look something up on the internet when you don't even know what question to ask?
The EBB is certainly filled with a lot of information that you won't need. But it's the other three-quarters of the book that you'll find fascinating.... and you don't even know it.
The EBB is certainly filled with a lot of information that you won't need. But it's the other three-quarters of the book that you'll find fascinating.... and you don't even know it.
Want an example? How about being able to find the easy way to space out legs or bolt holes on a piece you're making? When I was making up my Tool Carousel last year, I need to space five outriggers for the wheels around the perimeter of the base. I could have looked it up on the internet if I used the right search terms, but it was far easier to just browse through the EBB because I could carry the book with me to the shop and not worry about any batteries dying.
How large of a square can you fit into a circle of given size? Might not seem important to the #blacksmith, but it sure comes in handy when you're designing a floor lamp or coat rack.... or forging down an axle you found because you want to make it into a hammer.
I could go on for days, but I won't bore you by waxing poetic about the Engineer's Black Book. If you don't have a copy, get a copy. Get a copy for your children while you're at it. It's a definite "must have" for the average home shop no matter what your particular hobby might be!
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Public post
Books for Blacksmiths
Paul Hasluck - Bent Ironwork
This is one of those books that's both educational and just plain fun to read. I highly recommend it for your blacksmithing library whether you're new to the craft or have been around the anvil a few times!
Published in 1902, Bent Ironwork is written for the novice. Unlike a lot of books, the author doesn't wast precious pages on unnecessary information. Everything is kept clean and simple with the focus on exactly what you need. Best of all, Paul gives us detailed recipes so you're not left guessing how much iron you might need.
Bent Ironwork was written at a time when money was hard to come by and often Widows and Orphans needed to make a few pennies just to earn a crust of bread. It's both a tutorial on doing decorative ironwork with few tools, and a window into the past when things weren't nearly as comfortable as they are today.
Bent Ironwork was written at a time when money was hard to come by and often Widows and Orphans needed to make a few pennies just to earn a crust of bread. It's both a tutorial on doing decorative ironwork with few tools, and a window into the past when things weren't nearly as comfortable as they are today.
You can usually find this book for sale for under $10 all over the internet and I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you have young children who are interested in learning the trade, this is a must-have item for their Christmas stocking.
All of the patterns can be scaled up or down however the aspiring reader likes.
All of the patterns can be scaled up or down however the aspiring reader likes.
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Public post
Hello! Welcome to Three Rivers Forge.
I look forward to sharing this journey with you and hope that you find the adventure as enjoyable as I do!
When I first started down this path more years ago than I care to admit, I never would have imagined I'd end up here. Truth be told, I never imagined there would be this thing called the "internet" or that it'd be possible to reach out across the world with the push of a few buttons.
I'm not at all savvy when it comes to this technology stuff, but I'm deeply grateful for the fact that it's allowed me to share my ironwork with customers around the world. From Singapore to Switzerland, Israel to New Zealand, you can ironwork from Three Rivers Forge.... and it's been a tremendous honor.
I look forward to sharing this journey with you and hope that you find the adventure as enjoyable as I do!
When I first started down this path more years ago than I care to admit, I never would have imagined I'd end up here. Truth be told, I never imagined there would be this thing called the "internet" or that it'd be possible to reach out across the world with the push of a few buttons.
I'm not at all savvy when it comes to this technology stuff, but I'm deeply grateful for the fact that it's allowed me to share my ironwork with customers around the world. From Singapore to Switzerland, Israel to New Zealand, you can ironwork from Three Rivers Forge.... and it's been a tremendous honor.
What are my goals for this page? Well, I actually haven't set any, to be honest. I could talk all day long about how I'd like to purchase a hydraulic press or sell a dozen t-shirts every month, but the truth is that I'll be overjoyed just to receive your support and know that there are folks out there who have my back. It's support from good people like you who keep the iron moving here at Three Rivers Forge. I realize that not everyone has the need for some ironwork or a t-shirt of their own at the moment, so I thought I would offer this option as well.
Every dollar raised goes directly to the #blacksmith shop's operation. Maybe that'll help buy some more iron. Maybe your support will make it possible to try something entirely new to me. In short, I'm not sure about a lot of things but I can be certain that it will be an exciting journey.
Exclusive content not only on how I make the projects like the dishes I'm so well known for, but why I make them the way I do. In the #blacksmith trade, the why is just as important as the how, and you'll be the very first let in on the secrets. :D
So, again, welcome! It's great to have you here and I look forward to sharing the journey with you!
Every dollar raised goes directly to the #blacksmith shop's operation. Maybe that'll help buy some more iron. Maybe your support will make it possible to try something entirely new to me. In short, I'm not sure about a lot of things but I can be certain that it will be an exciting journey.
Exclusive content not only on how I make the projects like the dishes I'm so well known for, but why I make them the way I do. In the #blacksmith trade, the why is just as important as the how, and you'll be the very first let in on the secrets. :D
So, again, welcome! It's great to have you here and I look forward to sharing the journey with you!
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The drill press is probably one of the most useful tools to have in the shop, and one that I use more than I would ever have imagined! To make it an even more versatile tool for the shop, when we reach this goal, we will add the excellent table made by Fireball Tools, or by shop for a vintage drill press that has better features, including a larger table.
The addition of a larger table would allow for fixturing, the placement of jigs and fences, as well as supporting larger pieces. The drill press extension table sold by Fireball Tools is designed with the small shop in mind.
Of course, if you're following along here at Three Rivers Forge, I'm sure you have the same passion for old tools that I do. Adding something like a Walker Turner radial arm drill press to the shop would be an amazing step forward. I can't say if one will be available at the time, or if it'll be available at a price I can afford, but I will certainly consider it an option.
Small bricks build big walls, and little additions to the shop can make a tremendous difference in speed, efficiency, and design capabilities, as well as the overall ambience. Thank you for seeing the potential. Thank you for joining the team!
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