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oddtodd · Silver Status Member

Hi Guys! I am now the blacksmith of the Wayne County Historical Museum here in Lovely Indiana! I'm going to be blunt. I need help. The forge hasn't been in operation since 1997. I've got it 99 percent operational. I fixed the fabric in the bellows, cleaned out the whole air duct system and brought in a truckload of coal courtesy of Nixon Tool Company in Richmond, IN. I fixed the water trough, went through all the scrap metal that was donated by Richmond recycling Center, and got the casting oven operational for the foundry when we get a volunteer to run that.

I need help with tools though, badly. I am on a fixed income so I can't buy them myself, but my local sears has offered to sell me them at a 20% discount. I don't need much. I need a new 40 oz blacksmith hammer, a 20 oz. ball pein hammer, a chisel and punch set, and a couple of files. Like I said, it's not much, but these tools are essential. If I have these I can make everything else I need.

What I would like to ask is for gift cards to sears. 5 bucks, 10, 20, whatever you can afford. Hell if you have tools extra you can ship them straight to the museum, although shipping on a 40 oz hammer might be expensive. lol I only need about a hundred dollars total.

This is all I've got guys. I can't get a job because I am disabled. Well, I could get a job. but this was arranged by my case manager to get me back into being able to work. Baby steps if you will. My grandfather was a farrier, so I already know how to do most of it, even though using a coal fired forge is going to be a new experience for me. I've only used propane fired forges before.

I am learning how to speak to a group, to make decisions, and how to run a business, even though I'm not making any money and I am totally volunteer. I take care of keeping stock in the forge and I am making a product. ( hooks and nails for boys and girls in school groups.) I make sure that the forge is clean and well-kept. I will be making things to sell in the gift shop. I will be doing this for at least a year just to build up a good job reference.

I am going to have a poster made with the name of the forum and the names and usernames of everybody who donates. I'm not going to put amounts down because it's no competition. If you can find it in your heart to give, you will be recognized for it, that I promise.

THe website is www.waynecountyhistoricalmuseum.org

You can send the gift cards to

Todd Davis C/O
Wayne County Historical Museum
1150 North A Street
Richmond, IN 47374

This is my own baby and I am not recieving help from anyone. I am totally in charge of this project. Like I said, this is for me to build up my job skills and to learn to talk to people again. It is up to me to succeed or fail.

Please help me, because if I fail at this, it would make it very hard for me to become a productive member of society again. And all I want is to feel like I am needed and belong somewhere.

Even if you don't donate, if you come through my area(we are right on interstate 70) I will give you a personal tour of the museum. We have a lot of cool stuff, and if you arrange with me beforehand, I will show you stuff that nobody else gets to see.

Thank you for reading this!

OddTodd

ZipSnipe · Veteran Member

Todd, have you tried Flea Markets? I get most of my tools at flea markets dirt cheap.

I'd hit the Flea Markets first especially the small flea markets thats where you will find deals.

Example: I needed a slitting saw blade for my milling machine, guy sold me a whole band of them(20 pcs) $3. I see ball peen hammers and files for a $1 all day long. People are hurting and just selling off for what ever they can get.

But then again free would be nice, but the stuff you mentioned sounds like about $10 bucks here at my local flea market.

broommaster2000 · Moderator

I've been in the same boat, Todd. It looks very promising!

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

The problem is Zip, I'm not allowed to spend my own money, or I would have already have the tools. This is part of my vocational training. I have to learn how to write proposals, ask for funds and basically run it like it was my own shop.

This is something I am being monitored on. I have to go step by step until I finish the program. My case manager and the director meet once a week to discuss my case. I have to prove that I am capable of handling this before I get vocational help or money to go to school beyond pellgrants and so I can get tutoring and other services I need.

Don't worry, I'm not just asking here. I am going to sears holding corporation and writing a proposal for my program. I do get mentoring on that though. The director and I are going to sit down next week and he is going to help me write the proposal.

I just thought that maybe you guys would help me out on a good cause. I'm sorry if I am stepping on anybody's toes or offending anybody. If I am please tell me and I will stop. I'm just hitting up every avenue that I can.

I've already been turned down by Lowe's, and while Walmart will probably give me some help, they just don't have the stuff I need. I already got coal, I got end cuts and scrap from my local recycling center, and A few auto yards are going to let me tear down burned up engines for the good steel in them like pushrods, valves, and camshafts. I can also get axle shafts from broken car and truck axles. Those are REAL good steel.

They are making it hard on me on purpose. This is my test to see if I can make it in the real world without being in a sheltered environment. I am going to give it my best help, but I have to learn stuff like networking, sourcing, and cost analysis. This is the networking part. I am on step 2 of about 300.

My first step was getting accepted to be the blacksmith and run the forge. Sitting in front of a board of directors being asked lots of questions was probably the hardest thing I've done since My schizo-affective disorder developed, but I was told by my case manager that there will be harder things. I don't know what, but I will pull through them.

Please keep up with the suggestions though. I can use all the help I can get.

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

Hi Guys! Oh Today was great! I had my first school tour today! There was only one slight glitch. Nobody bothered to tell the tour guides THey had a new blacksmith. lol Boy were the surprised when they came in the livery stable and heard the blacksmith's anvil ringing. I did it for 3 hours. I made a trace loop and half a horseshoe. I'll finish it on the next tour and make something else.

I am going to ask the lady that does the displays if there are any antique air guns. If there are I'll take pics and post them. God this volunteering job is turning out to be too cool!

broommaster2000 · Moderator

Don't you love it when a plan comes together? Mr. Green

whm1974 · Veteran Member

Good luck oddtodd. I hope you succed in your program.