...Passing it on...

[ironglows]

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  My grandson is taking over most of my blacksmithing operation...and making some fabulous knives.

  Not enough...My great grandson, is getting in on the fun..  Here with his Dad's help, he is forging his first blade...

https://www.facebook.com/100038776150122/videos/pcb.524062808896253/433875014405412

   Careful..you don't bite your tongue, L'il Buddy !

[oldandslow]

It is good to see kids doing something except having their nose stuck in a phone, tablet. or computer. How old is he and don't you know that sticking out you tongue helps you concentrate on your task? 

[ironglows]

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  He is 7 years old and going into 2nd grade.  He is the adventuresome type, will try anything once..

  He uses today's technology, but isn't hooked on it.

   So, like the Jack Russell terriers I used to hunt, and compete with.. he has to be carefully watched, or he will bite off more than he can chew..... other than his tongue, that is..    

[oldandslow]

Keep him learning and by the way, he needs some safety glasses with infrared protection if he going to continue to help forge knives. I know you knew that but since he has no eye protection in the video I decided to mention it. Many years ago I worked for a foreman that always mentioned after a safety meeting to wear our safety glasses because we were using the only two eyes we would ever have.

[ironglows]

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  Safety glasses a must...and he usually wears them.  So far as the infra red.. I consider the most auspicious time for them, would be when forge welding.

   When forge welding, one is concentrating upon the white hot steel in the middle of the fire, which is already formed into a "torch"..

  Back when forge welding was a common practice, smiths who regularly did that task, developed a blind spot in the middle of their vision.

   At blade heat, I don't consider it a visual danger.

[oldandslow]

If an object is hot enough to glow red it is emmitting infrared rays which destroy the rods and cones in your eyes. It is a painless process. I knew several old welders that used a cutting torch without eye protection and they had the blind spot. Even if the object you are looking at is only glowing dull red it is doing damage to yours eyes, just not a quickly as when white hot. I understand glass blowers also get the blind spot if they don't wear eye protection. I spent some time in a blacksmith shop watching the smiths when I was young. Those shops were a staple of the farming community back then. Everyone of the smiths wore cutting goggles even back then. Lincoln Electric has a book that has detailed information about this subject. A large part of my working life was spent as a welder and I used Lincoln lenses because I trusted them to give me the protection I needed and they did.

Side note: I was fascinated with the trip hammers blacksmiths used and always watched if someone was using one. Forge welding using a hammer and anvil was interesting but not nearly as much as watching what a trip hammer could do.

[ironglows]

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  Power hammers are very handy for making forge welded pattern (damascus) items, which like over 500 layers .....  Inever bought one, but I wouldn't be surprised but my grandson gets one.

[oldandslow]

They made quick work of replacing hard metal on plow bottoms back in the day. I guess now you just buy new and sell the old ones for scrap. I haven't seen a blacksmith shop in forever. The last one I remember was in Tahoka, TX and he only did a little ornament work.

[ironglows]

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   Used to be some farmers would resurface their plowshares with hard surfacing welding rod.  As a teenager, I did it a couple times when I was in Ag shop.

[ironglows]

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  I have a correction to make.  I said my great grandson who was forging a knife in the video, was 7  years old.

   Correction; he is 5 years of age.