Mistakes were made
Many times in forging we make mistakes. The key is to turn these mistakes into new ideas and lessons learned.
How do you do this?
Figure out where your piece went wrong and ask what you could do differently. This will help you improve your skill and designs.
You can also take that mistake and turn it into something completely different. Or you can tweak the error and incorporate it as a new feature.
For example, I forged a star for a challenge I issued to my fellow Gulf Coast Blacksmith Association (GCBA) members. The task was to forge a unique design out of 1/2in x 12in square stock. The challenge was meant to push our skill sets and generate a discussion between the members to create a learning environment.
I initially set out to make a sun using 6 sections of 1/2x2in bars. I drew a taper on each end of the bars and tried to keep them equal. Once each end of each piece was drawn to a taper, I paired them off based on close size and shape. I intended to forge weld them together (another skill I’m still learning) but was unable to.
From this mistake, I learned that I should never attempt a forge weld when low on propane. My forge needs to be hotter for success and with lower propane my tanks iced over. Since I was unable to forge weld, I turned to my Arc welder to attach the pieces.
When I had two of X-shapes welded together, the piece looked more like a star than a sun. I also realized that my original plan to forge three of these X-shaped objects together would not give a symmetrical look. So instead of starting over, I forged on and turned my “sun” into a “star.” I discarded the third X-shape and stuck with just the two pieces. After the pieces were welded together, all I need to do is make one "X" slightly longer than the other. Now, I have the design for a traditional Christmas star.
I find that most of my successful projects stem from an initial mistake. When I design on paper and then begin forging the steel, it never moves the way I want or expect. This often leaves me with something way off from the original design. But ultimately, my second attempt at the piece leaves me with a superior design.
My Dinner Bells, "T" Monograms, and Scroll Hearts were all born like this. They involved tweaking from my original paper design.
We will never be free from making mistakes–from beginner to master, mistakes happen. What we do with them is what matters.
