billyO
@billyo-blacksmith.bsky.social
Blacksmith and Metal Guild Lead at Past Lives Makerspace in Portland, OR (www.pastlives.space). I forge household items, sculptural pieces and custom damascus (pattern-welded) kitchen knives. I also teach beginning and advanced forging classes.
And I've been working on developing a seahorse workshop
July 30, 2025 at 2:03 AM
And I've been working on developing a seahorse workshop
Hello all. Been a busy summer but have had some fun projects at the forge. Here's a recent mirror I finished
July 30, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Hello all. Been a busy summer but have had some fun projects at the forge. Here's a recent mirror I finished
Hello all. I stared another wedding band from the 60-layer twisted bar left over from the chess set I did a few years ago.
April 14, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Hello all. I stared another wedding band from the 60-layer twisted bar left over from the chess set I did a few years ago.
Hello all. I recently learned screen printing and have T-shirts available for purchase. The anvil is on the front and saying on the back. $25 each.
April 4, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Hello all. I recently learned screen printing and have T-shirts available for purchase. The anvil is on the front and saying on the back. $25 each.
Just got a copy of Matt Jenkin's book and after looking at it, I'll recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their blacksmithing skills. I'd rate it up there with Otto Schmirler's classic book "Werk und Werkzeug des Kunstschmieds: The Smithy's Craft & Tools" and Mark Aspery's 3-volume set.
March 28, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Just got a copy of Matt Jenkin's book and after looking at it, I'll recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their blacksmithing skills. I'd rate it up there with Otto Schmirler's classic book "Werk und Werkzeug des Kunstschmieds: The Smithy's Craft & Tools" and Mark Aspery's 3-volume set.
Good afternoon, all. Finally finished another flower for my brother and SIL's anniversary gift. Only 6 months late this time🙄
March 17, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Good afternoon, all. Finally finished another flower for my brother and SIL's anniversary gift. Only 6 months late this time🙄
Hello all. Back to forging. I needed a way to hold some 1/2" square stock differently so here's the newest pair of tongs I forged today. I think they're getting better looking....
Have a good week all.
Have a good week all.
March 17, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Hello all. Back to forging. I needed a way to hold some 1/2" square stock differently so here's the newest pair of tongs I forged today. I think they're getting better looking....
Have a good week all.
Have a good week all.
Good evening, all. Back to blacksmithing. Today I made a small flatter for use under the treadle hammer and am now able to blank these out in ~6 minutes each from start to finish (including cutting them off with the saw). Let me know if you want some to make your own hooks.
March 3, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Good evening, all. Back to blacksmithing. Today I made a small flatter for use under the treadle hammer and am now able to blank these out in ~6 minutes each from start to finish (including cutting them off with the saw). Let me know if you want some to make your own hooks.
Good afternoon all. While doing the 12 hooks for Phoebe, I had significant difficulties holding them because of ill-fitting tongs. Because I plan on doing more of this style, I decided it was time to make a dedicated pair of tongs.
I really wish my tongs looked as good as they work😞.
Maybe someday.
I really wish my tongs looked as good as they work😞.
Maybe someday.
February 24, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Good afternoon all. While doing the 12 hooks for Phoebe, I had significant difficulties holding them because of ill-fitting tongs. Because I plan on doing more of this style, I decided it was time to make a dedicated pair of tongs.
I really wish my tongs looked as good as they work😞.
Maybe someday.
I really wish my tongs looked as good as they work😞.
Maybe someday.
This is your response to a valid question??? If you are typical of the democrats, it's no wonder why we lost the election. I'm sorry to say that if you don't start DOING something, you will have lost another supporter. PLEASE. WAKE UP, GET OFF YOUR ASS AND DO SOMETHING!!!
February 24, 2025 at 3:55 PM
This is your response to a valid question??? If you are typical of the democrats, it's no wonder why we lost the election. I'm sorry to say that if you don't start DOING something, you will have lost another supporter. PLEASE. WAKE UP, GET OFF YOUR ASS AND DO SOMETHING!!!
Good morning, all. I posted a question to our representative asking: aside from merely talking to her republican colleagues, specifically what she is doing to stop trump and the fascist. This was the response??? No wonder the democrats lost faith from voters and thus the election.
Thanks😟
Thanks😟
February 24, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Good morning, all. I posted a question to our representative asking: aside from merely talking to her republican colleagues, specifically what she is doing to stop trump and the fascist. This was the response??? No wonder the democrats lost faith from voters and thus the election.
Thanks😟
Thanks😟
Good afternoon all. Back to blacksmithing, which I like WAY more than talking politics. Here's another chef's knife recently off the bench. I finally decided on my maker's mark and remembered to put it on this one.
February 23, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Good afternoon all. Back to blacksmithing, which I like WAY more than talking politics. Here's another chef's knife recently off the bench. I finally decided on my maker's mark and remembered to put it on this one.
I was there, and was disappointed that you didn't answer my question or others about what specifically you are doing to stop Trump, so I'll ask again:
February 22, 2025 at 4:18 AM
I was there, and was disappointed that you didn't answer my question or others about what specifically you are doing to stop Trump, so I'll ask again:
Just at the town hall with Rep. Suzanne Bonamici @repbonamici.bsky.social. It was kind of disappointing. I got to ask a question at the end, but didn't get a good answer, so I'll ask again:
February 22, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Just at the town hall with Rep. Suzanne Bonamici @repbonamici.bsky.social. It was kind of disappointing. I got to ask a question at the end, but didn't get a good answer, so I'll ask again:
Hello all. With the family emotional roller-coaster smoothing out, I decided to try a take at the 150mm blacksmith challenge. What is it you ask? It's a challenge to see what one can do with a 150mm x 20mm square bar (or 6" x 3/4" sq for us in the States).
I decided to try a book end.
I decided to try a book end.
February 21, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Hello all. With the family emotional roller-coaster smoothing out, I decided to try a take at the 150mm blacksmith challenge. What is it you ask? It's a challenge to see what one can do with a 150mm x 20mm square bar (or 6" x 3/4" sq for us in the States).
I decided to try a book end.
I decided to try a book end.
Hello all. This in my 16 y/o nephew who ran away from Minneapolis 2 days ago. We're worried he might be a victim of human trafficking.
Please share with as many folks as possible.
Please share with as many folks as possible.
February 20, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Hello all. This in my 16 y/o nephew who ran away from Minneapolis 2 days ago. We're worried he might be a victim of human trafficking.
Please share with as many folks as possible.
Please share with as many folks as possible.
Just thought I'd share a few bottle openers from a recent class I gave. (The middle one was not yet finished, if that wasn't obvious🥴)
Have a good weekend all.
Have a good weekend all.
February 16, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Just thought I'd share a few bottle openers from a recent class I gave. (The middle one was not yet finished, if that wasn't obvious🥴)
Have a good weekend all.
Have a good weekend all.
Hello all. Just finished another Star Trek themed wall hook. This one is available for purchase, so if you know any Trekkies who might be interested, have them contact me.
Have a good weekend all.
Have a good weekend all.
February 14, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Hello all. Just finished another Star Trek themed wall hook. This one is available for purchase, so if you know any Trekkies who might be interested, have them contact me.
Have a good weekend all.
Have a good weekend all.
Blast from the past p2 - Here's the back side of the bowls from the previous post.
February 14, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Blast from the past p2 - Here's the back side of the bowls from the previous post.
Good afternoon all. Here's a blast from the past - some titanium bowls with electro-etching designs I did when I had my shop in WA back in 2017.
February 14, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Good afternoon all. Here's a blast from the past - some titanium bowls with electro-etching designs I did when I had my shop in WA back in 2017.
Back to smithing...Here's a fun project I did last year with a woodworker, Purl at our Makerspace. For the full story see: stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/i-desig...
February 12, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Back to smithing...Here's a fun project I did last year with a woodworker, Purl at our Makerspace. For the full story see: stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/i-desig...
Back to smithing: Here are pics of a trivet I recently did:
February 6, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Back to smithing: Here are pics of a trivet I recently did:
Hello all. Here's another 10" chef's knife from my "Clouds Over Water" phase (which I'm still in, BTW)...
February 4, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Hello all. Here's another 10" chef's knife from my "Clouds Over Water" phase (which I'm still in, BTW)...
This week I also finished the 12 hooks with upset square corners (the client wanted 3 of the double hooks in the last pic). Let me know if you're interested in any...
February 1, 2025 at 5:39 PM
This week I also finished the 12 hooks with upset square corners (the client wanted 3 of the double hooks in the last pic). Let me know if you're interested in any...