Subject: Re: Fwd: buying a swage block

From: Dave <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 08:26:51 -0500

At 07:00 AM 8/1/96 -0400, you wrote:
>
>---------------------
>Forwarded message:
>Subj:    buying a swage block
>Date:    96-08-01 06:57:49 EDT
>From:    Cynthia5
>To:      theforge @wugate.wustl.com
>
>I have a question about buying a swage block.  I'm fairly new to
>blacksmithing and a friend of mine has a line on a swage block I can buy.
> I'm wondering if it's worth getting at this time or if my money would be
>better invested in other tools.  I have an anvil, two of them, hammers, a
>crank blower for a forge (just need to put a forge together--in fact if
>anyone has ideas of building a small coal fired forge I could use that too),
>cold chisels, etc.  Would like to buy a small drill press also, but I'm
>afraid if I don't move on the swage it'll be gone.
>
>Any advice?
>
>Thanks
>
>Cynthia
>
>

Cynthia - 

To me, the key to making the swage block decision is more about what shapes
are available in a given block vs what kind of work are you planning and how
long may it be before you get into actually using the swage block.  Off
hand, I'd say getting the forge is higher on the priority list.

Dave Brown
Heritage 'Smithing
Heritage Hill State Historical Park
Green Bay, WI

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From: "Franklyn Garland" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 09:29:48 +0000

On  1 Aug 96 at 8:26, Dave wrote <snip-snip>

> >better invested in other tools. 

There is no question that a swage block is a useful tool.  I am of 
the opinion, however, that you buy or make tools AS YOU NEED THEM.  
You can spend a lot of cash buiding a mob of tools and then not use 
most of em' for years.

If the swage block is a fantastic deal, buy it.  If it isn't, just 
wait until your work has progressed to a point where you can use one 
and then hunt one up.  You will save money in the short term and get 
use out of what you buy.

Personally, I think buyig a swage block before you have a working 
forge is puttin the cart before the horse.  With out a heat source, 
you cannot use -any- of your tools.

Enjoy The Craft, and Good Luck

=================================================
Franklyn D. Garland                         
The Celtic Knot Forge                       
[email-masked]                                 
http://www.mcs.net/~frnklyn/homepage/
For Public PGP key, finger [email-masked]
=================================================

---

From: [email-masked]
Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 23:09:48 -0400

I snap up any and all blacksmith tools that I can afford.  Years ago, when I
first started, I put ads in all the local small town papers looking for
blacksmith tools.  Some phone calls were ludicrous but several paid off.  I
picked several anvils, forges, vises, etc., but no swage blocks...  If
possible, I turn nothing down because I can always (read usually) sell it to
someone who really wants it.  Use your own discretion and think about it
before you sell it.   A while back, I was given a Chicago slip roll which I
sold for several hundred, but guess what - now, I need one for a job I'm
doing.  I can't remember where the money went and I sure wish I had the tool,
instead.

hollis