iForge Tutorials index

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Blacksmithing and metalworking questions answered. Blacksmith projects, plans and DIY. Craftsmen's tools and machinery discussed. Welding and welders information. Forge Equipment, anvils, book reviews and stories. Gas Forge plans and instructions. Step-by-step how-to on the iForge blacksmithing instructions page.

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Click for full image		iForge, was an interactive demonstration of blacksmithing techniques operated in the early days of the Internet when slow dialup modems were the rule and images that are now considered thumbnails took all the power of the average PC to download. Thus many of the illustrations are very small. Later demos used larger pop-up zoom images along with the thumbnail size images. A few of these demos have bee re-edited with the larger images.
		Demonstration Schedule: Demonstrations were run on a weekly basis every Wednesday night from May 1999 until November 2003 on the Slack-Tub Pub (our chat) then in a special "class room version". Due to the nearly week long process of processing images and setting up the demos each week the guru could no longer keep up the schedule and stopped running weekly demos. A few new demos have been added but most new anvilfire articles are found elsewhere such as in the FAQ's section.
		Updates: We are currently updating many of the existing demos to our new layout. This includes updating the demo's themselves, fixing HTML, correcting spelling, adding supporting links and so on. Since our new wider layout with ads is not printer friendly we will be adding a "friendly print" button once the updates are complete and the code tested. Eventually we would like to replace illustrations that were initially low resolution and or poorly done.

NEWBIE TIP OF THE DAY : Life is The TEST

Wednesday Dec 11, 2024 - 26/32

Often when discussing math and technical subjects or complex rules someone will make the wisecrack "Will there be a test?" and I often point out on such subjects that "YES there WILL be a test." But it is not what most people think. Life, your success in life, in your career, even in your love life, may depend on that technical knowledge. Most are simply the things you should have learned in High School. Many trades, including blacksmithing, only required an 8th grade education as a prerequisite. However, at that time an 8th grade education was determined to be a prerequisite for many mechanical trades included algebra, geometry and basic chemistry AND you were expected to KNOW IT. If you remember what you were supposed to have learned in high school (or have relearned it) you are way ahead of the curve in the test of life. - guru

No.	Demonstration	Description	Demonstrator	Date

66	Safety	Safety I	Jim Paw-Paw Wilson	23 August 2000
69	Safety II	Grinding Wheel Safety	Jock Dempsey	27 September 2000
166	Safety III	Metal Fume Fever	Jim Paw-Paw Wilson	13 May 2005
167	Rosettes	Decorative Washers. NEW!	Jock Dempsey	May 23, 2011
168	Guru's Tongs	Twists on Tongs. NEW!	Jock Dempsey	May 30, 2011
1	Tennessee Troll	Troll Figurine.	Bill Epps	19 May 1999
2	Mule Head	Head of a Mule, or Horse	Bill Epps	26 May 1999
3	Seahorse	Seahorse made from Recycled Rasp	Bill Epps	2 June 1999
4	Swan	Swan Business Card Holder	Bill Epps	9 June 1999
5	Tongs	3 Versions of Tongs	Bill Epps	16 June 1999
6	Hammer Control	Dippy Duck assists in displaying proper hammer handling	Jim "PawPaw" Wilson & Andrew Hooper	23 June 1999
7	Horseshoe	Forging Horseshoes	Richard Hale	30 June 1999
8	Leaf	Leaf keyring with raised veins	Bill Epps	7 July 1999
9	Tools	Some Handy Tools	Bill Epps	14 July 1999
10	Leaf2	Guru's Folded Leaf	Jock Dempsey	21 July 1999
11	Twists	Various Twists and tools	Jim PawPaw Wilson	28 July 1999
12	Spike-Axe	Throwing axe from RR spike.	Bill Epps	4 Aug 1999
13	Rose	Forging a Rose.	Bill Epps	11 Aug 1999
14	Jonney Pick	Jonney Pick candle holder.	Bill Epps	18 Aug 1999
15	Heart Hook	Heart Shaped Hook.	Bill Epps	25 Aug 1999
16	Ram's Head	Ram's Head.	Bill Epps	1 Sept 1999
17	Real "Horse" Shoe	Horse Shoe with Head and Tail.	Bill Epps	8 Sept 1999
18	Souvenir Horse Shoe AND Belt Buckle	Souvenir Horse Shoe AND Belt Buckle.	Jock Dempsey	15 Sept 1999
19	Basket Twist	Basket Twist.	Jock Dempsey	22 Sept 1999
20	Drive Hook	Drive Hook w/ Head	Bill Epps	29 Sept 1999
21	Snake	Snake from old rasp	Bill Epps	6 Oct 1999
22	Braid	Brading Iron	Bill Epps	13 Oct 1999
23	Cleft	Musical Cleft Bell	Bill Epps	20 Oct 1999
24	Hinge	Bean End Hinge	James Joyce	Oct 27 1999
25	Bean Leaf	Bean End Door Pull	James Joyce	Nov 3 1999
26	Long Horn	Texas Long-Horn Head	Bill Epps	10 Nov 1999
27	Door Knocker	Fancy Forged Door Knocker	Bill Epps	17 Nov 1999
28	Axe	Small Hand or Camp Axe	Rich Hale	24 Nov 1999
29	Towel Bars	Towel Bars with Leaf Ends	James Joyce	1 Dec 1999
30	J or L Hook	J or L Wall Hook	James Joyce	8 Dec 1999
31	Spiral_1	Spriral and Scroll Layout	Jock Dempsey	15 Dec 1999
32	LILLY	Lilly Flower	James Joyce	22 Dec 1999
33	Candle Holder	Candle Holder with brazed pan	Bill Epps	29 Dec 1999
34	Horse	Horse Head	Bill Epps	05 Jan 2k
35	JJ Candle	Candle Stand	James Joyce	12 Jan 2000
36	Lid Lifter	Lid Lifter	Bill Epps	19 Jan 2000
37	Scroll2	Scroll Ends	Bill Epps	26 Jan 2000
38	Apple	Apple	Bill Epps	02 Feb 2000
39	Bit	Horse Bit	Bill Epps	09 Feb 2000
40	Rosebud	Rose from Tubing	Bill Epps	16 Feb 2000
41	Fuller	Anvil Fuller Tool Updated!	Bill Epps	23 Feb 2000
42	Candle	Candle Stick	Bill Epps	08 Mar 2000
43	Peter Ross Demo	Leaf and Scroll	Jock Dempsey	15 Mar 2000
44	twist hook	S hook w/ basket twist	Jim Wilson w/ JD	22 Mar 2000
45	RR-tools	Tools from RR-Rail	Jock Dempsey	29 Mar 2000
46	Scorpion	Scorpion	Bill Epps	5 April 2000
47	snail	Snail	Bill Epps	12 April 2000
48	Header	Nail Header w/ Insert and how-to	Ralph Douglass	19 April 2000
49	Swage Tools	Anvil/Swage Tools	James Joyce	26 April 2000
50	spork	Spoon/Fork	Bill Epps	3 May 2000
51	Striker	Flint & Steel Dragon Striker	Robert Hogg (Smithinscout)	10 May 2000
52	snail2	Aniversary demo! Snail from Otto Schminler	Bill Epps!	17 May 2000

******* YEAR TWO ******
53	Flower	Flower	Bill Epps	23 May 2000
54	Claydon Knot	Claydon Knot	Bill Epps	30 May 2000
55	JJ Basket	Eight bar basket twist	James Joyce (JJ)	7 June 2000
56	Cross	Christoff Fredricks	Bill Epps	14 June 2000
57	JJtools	Smiths Tools	James Joyce (JJ)	21 June 2000
58	Tripod	Tripod	Bill Epps	28 June 2000
59	Dragon	Dragon Head	Bill Epps	5 July 2000
60	Ntech1	Photographing Ironwork	Glenn Conner	12 July 2000
61	ABANA 2K	Slide Show	Jock Dempsey	19 July 2000
62	Dragonfly	Dragonfly	Bill Epps	26 July 2000
63	Punching I	Punches Holes	Jock Dempsey	2 August 2000
64	Punching II	Punches II	Jock Dempsey	9 August 2000
65	Matrix	Matrix Punches - Touchmarks	Jock Dempsey	16 August 2000
67	Collars	Collaring	Jock Dempsey	6 September 2000
68	Ball	Forging a Ball	Bill Epps	20 September 2000
70	Wizard2	Wizard Letter Opener	Bill Epps	4 October 2000
71	Chook	"Flexy" Hook (from cable)	Tannis O'Neille	11 October 2000
72	Fresia	Fresia Bloom	James Joyce	18 October 2000
73	5hook	5 Way Claydon Knot Hook	Tannis O'Neille	25 October 2000
74	Hoof Pick	Horse Head Hoof Pick	Bill Epps	1 November 2000
75	BEP Anvil	$20 Souvenir Anvil	Bill Epps	15 November 2000
76	Angel	Forged Angel	James Joyce	22 November 2000
77	Shovel 1	Fireset Shovel and Pattern	Jim Carothers	29 November 2000
78	Shovel 2	Shovel and Handle Attachments	Jock D. & Bill Epps	6 December 2000
79	C-Cross	Celtic Cross	Glenn Conner	13 December 2000
80	Brass	Brass Candle Sticks and More	Jock Dempsey	20 December 2000
81	Cleats	Ice Creepers	Glenn Conner	27 December 2000
82	R-Rose	Round Rose	James Joyce	10 January 2001
83	Rivet	Riveting	Jock Dempsey	17 January 2001
84	Rivet2	Bolt & Rivet Heading	Jock Dempsey	24 January 2001
85	BPoker	Bill's Fire Poker	Bill Epps	31 January 2001
86	Scraper	Scrapers & Burnishers	Jock Dempsey	7 February 2001
87	Heart	Heart Spatula	Jock Dempsey	14 February 2001
88	Fuller2	Fullers and Fullering	Jock Dempsey	21 February 2001
89	3 in 1	3 Fire Tool Handles	Jock Dempsey	28 February 2001
90	Hinges I	Hinge Basics	Jock Dempsey	21 March 2001
91	Hinges II	Hinge Benders	Jock Dempsey	28 March 2001
92	Froe	Froe (f Fromard)	Jock Dempsey	4 April 2001
93	hammers	Claw & Plain Hammer	Jock Dempsey	18 April 2001
94	Eagle	Angle Iron Eagle	Bill Epps	25 April 2001
95	Welding I	Forge Welding I	Jock Dempsey	9 May 2001
96	Welding II	Forge Welding II	Jock Dempsey	16 May 2001
97	Spike Knife	RR-Spike Knike	Bill Epps	23 May 2001
98	Molds-I	Patterns & Molds I	Jock Dempsey	30 May 2001
99	Molds-II	Patterns & Molds II	Jock Dempsey	6 June 2001
100	Bills No.44!	Humming Bird	Bill Epps	13 June 2001

******* YEAR THREE - Candlestick Series ******
101	Candle	Twist Candle Stick	Ralph Douglas	20 June 2001
102	Simple	Simple Candlestick	Bill Epps	27 June 2001
103	Anvil Shoot	Independence Day	Jock Dempsey and Jim Paw-Paw Wilson	4th July 2001
104	Ball-Leaf	Leaf Candlestick	Alan Longmire	11 July 2001
105	Candelabra	3 Arm Candelabrum	Jock Dempsey	18 July 2001
106	Box Base	Box Base Candelabrum	Jock Dempsey	25 July 2001
107	Forged	Forged Candlestick	Ceridwen (Bethany Schirmer)	1 Aug 2001
108	Sticker	Candlesticker	Glenn Conner	8 Aug 2001
109	Vines	Vine Candlestick	Sharon Epps	15 Aug 2001
110	Spiral	Spiral Candle Holder (BSA)	Glenn Conner	22 Aug 2001
111	courting	Courting Candle	Bryan Black	29 Aug 2001
112	Lighter	Colonial Lighter	Sean Conner	12 Sept 2001
113	Draco	Dragon Sculpture	Jock Dempsey	19 Sept 2001
114	D-Tongs	Dragon Tongs #1	Bill Epps	3 October 2001
115	B-Dragon	Bodice Dragon	Bill Epps	10 Oct 2001
116	Longhorn	Longhorn Head	Bill Epps	24 Oct 2001
117	Brooms	Brooms	Jock Dempsey	31 Oct 2001
118	Funiture	Drill Press 101	Jock Dempsey	2001 - 2012
119	2H Horse	2 Heat Horse Head	Hugh McDonald	21 Nov 2001
120	Rams and Roos	Rams and Roos	Hugh McDonald	5 Dec 2001
121	Accessories	Drill Press 102	Jock Dempsey	2001 - 2012
122	Layout	Layout and Squares	Jock Dempsey	19 Dec 2001
123	Ducks	Duck Heads	Jock Dempsey	26 Dec 2001
124	Tri-Leg	Tri-Leg Candle Stick	Jock Dempsey	2 Jan 2002
125	Hold Downs	Work Holders	Jock Dempsey	9 Jan 2002
126	Grate	Fireplace Grate	Jock Dempsey	16 Jan 2002
127	Human Leg	Door Knocker	Hugh McDonald	23 Jan 2002
128	Tulip	Tulip Candle Holders	Hugh McDonald	March 7, 2002
129	TONGS	More Tongs	Hugh McDonald	March 20, 2002
130	Gage	Center Line Scriber	Hugh McDonald	March 27, 2002
131	Addendum 88	Fullers & Fullering	Jock & Hugh	April 3, 2002
132	E. T.	"Easy" Tongs (BSA)	Sean Conner	April 24, 2002
133	Spring	Spring Swages & Dies	Jock Dempsey	May 1, 2002
134	Norfolk	Thumb Latch	Jock Dempsey	May 15, 2002
135	Sconce	Simple Sconce (BSA)	Jock Dempsey	May 22, 2002
136	Stand BSA	Simple Candle Stand (BSA)	Jock Dempsey	May 29, 2002
137	Lost Wax	Lost Wax Casting	Rich Waugh	June 5, 2002
138	Scroll	Scroll Wrench	Jim C.	June 12, 2002
139	Basics	Locks and Keys I	Jock Dempsey	June 19, 2002
140	Wards	Locks and Keys II	Jock Dempsey	July 10, 2002
141	Dbl.Twist	Door Handles	Hugh McDonald	July 24, 2002
142	Testing	ITC-100 and Flux	Jock Dempsey	July 31, 2002
143	5 Tools	5 Good Tools, Cheap Price	Sean Conner	August 7, 2002
144	stands	Anvil Stands	Jock Dempsey	August 14, 2002
145	Tumblers	Locks and Keys III	Jock Dempsey	August 29, 2002
146	Rose	Russian Rose	Larry Mills	September 4, 2002
147	TWO	Bottle Openers	McDonald & Dempsey	September 18, 2002
148	Refurb	Gas Forge Rebuild	Jock Dempsey	October 3, 2002
149	Padlocks	Locks and Keys IV	Jock Dempsey	October 30, 2002
150	Braid II	Braided Handles	Jim Carothers	November 13, 2002
151	20 Books	Literature Review	Jock Dempsey	December 4, 2002
152	Spears I	Anglo-Saxon Spearhead	Bruce Blackistone	December 11, 2002
153	12 Point	Christmas Star	Ntech & Whitesmith	December 18, 2002
154	Cut-Off Machine	Cut-Off Grinder Notcher	Hugh McDonald	January 15, 2003
155	Spears II	Alternative Spear Making Methods	Bruce Blackistone	January 29, 2003
156	Lilly I	Lilly Candle Stick	Genia Burch	March 19, 2003
157	Lilly II	Calla Lilly plus "V" Tool	Jr. Strasil	March 26, 2003
158	Leaf Cup	Leaf Candle Cup	Jr. Strasil	May 28, 2003
159	Fuller3	Simple Spring Fuller	Jock Dempsey	June 18, 2003
160	Fly Press I	Fly Press Demo	Russell O'Dell	July 16, 2003
161	Presses	Fly and Punch Presses	Jock Dempsey	August 10, 2003
162	Tooling	Flypress Tooling	Jock Dempsey	August 11, 2003
163	Diesets	Commercial Press Tooling	Jock Dempsey	August 19, 2003
164	Square	Stake plates and Bolsters	Jock Dempsey	September 10, 2003
165	Fly Press II	Fly Press Demo 2	George Dixon	November 12, 2003
166	Swage Blocks 1	How to use a swage block.	Jock Dempsey	November 8, 2006