As a former judge of one or two forging contests (they stopped asking me, I wonder why ) my first concern on the shoe posted by Don would be the end of the branches. It looks like they took a few more hits then necessary and ended up thinner than the rest of the stock.

Also it looks like the clip is off center, the lateral toe nail hole should definitely be punched coarser (more to the center of the stock) the medial nail hole should be less coarse.

Further I have a doubt or two about nail fit.

But I could be wrong!


Ronald Aalders

Sorry Don I just can't help myself! Hey, and what happened to the pics of your Reminic?

Donald Ruff wrote: I wouldn't even attempt making that shoe in 3 heats - just a waste of bar stock for me. But, you have inspired me to keep working on my skills. Thanks for the incentive.

Obviously you do a better job at fast forging than you do at fast typeing.

I am no expert at forgeing, but a three heat shoe that looks that good is pretty impressive Donald. After I have the basics down I might give it a go. Nice job.

Donald if you are interested in testing for CJF certification your forging is close. The shoe would look alot better if you marked the other branch as the lateral branch.

Jason G.

Ronald,
I'll be a the barn shoeing tomorrow. i'll get pics of my reminic.
The nail fit is horrid punched to deep and the toe nails are to fine and the 2nd and 3rd nail holes are to coarse.
the clip is off center.
IRNWKR2,
i have taken the cf test once, just the pratical and the written, failed the pratical, too much stock hanging around the foot and not good enough score on the written. guess i need to get in the shop and in the books
Phil,
my goal is to get a 2 heat shoe but i have along ways to go, as Ronald has pointed out
Tom, yes my typing is smoewhat lacking, you give me the drive to try harder and maybe even start using spell check

Donald Ruff wrote: I have seen Jack Miller do a 2 heat shoe, but that was years ago.

I've seen Reuben King do a one heat eagle eye shoe to fit a pattern. Also saw Sam Gooding do a one heat shoe. Both of these guys have spent thousands of hours practicing for forging competitions. It would be really cool to see how much shoe somebody like Bob Marshall or Billy Cruthers could make in one heat.

I'm happy when I can forge a decent heel and a toe bend in one heat.

Bob Scrazio and I hope I spelled that right was telling me a storie at a certification about a one heat bar shoe made by Dave Ferguson.
I asked Dave to demonstrate this when I was at his shop in 2004 he smiled declined but explained it was done in coal and with two pair of tongs the toe bend was compleated before the shoe was brought out of the fire.
Mike

Mike,
Thats cheating

I would still like to see it!
Mike

Forging a one heat shoe is difficult, but a few folks who can work the fire can do it. With that thought in mind, if anyone offers to bet you they can forge a one heat bar shoe if you'll give 'em 10 to 1 odds, don't call 'em unless you've got enough money stuffed down in your jeans to cover your losses.

I have got a Bob Marshal two heat shoe that he made for me at Tom Stovall's.
It is made of 12" of 3/8 by 3/4 he was talking to me as he made it explaining how to run the fuller.

He wasn't in a hurry.

I, on the other hand looked like a chicken pecking and car full of circus clowns.

Bloomer (there are to many Tom's)

I saw Derrick Cooke CJF make a one heat shoe when he took his CJF at A&M. People that work thier rear off to get someplace impress me.

Can anyone explain to me when you may be required to make a one heat shoe? Don't get me wrong it is impressive, but if you really want to impress me show me your books, teach me how to make more money, or spend less money or both. I would rather spend my hours learning about the business end of my pencil, than practicing to make a one heat shoe, that I'm quite certain will not help my bottom line.

I watched Billy Crothers make a one heat shoe, clipped and ready to nail. Pretty amazing.

Dave

I just thought it was neat. It was something that I couldn't do. Making one heat shoes probably won't help your bottom line unless your making all of your shoes.