This is our daughter, Janelle, blacksmith graduate of Austin, TX, Community College and certified welder. She was home for a few days and did some playing at the forge. Enjoy!
As a kid growing up I had a very small all original forge between 16” & 18” in diameter. Then I found the fire box of a much larger forge out back so I made me a larger forge with the fire box an old Maytag washing machine tub & a table saw stand. My father latter bought a forge slightly larger than the one she was using. I loved doing that type work & had a couple great teachers. At age 16 I ran after a young lady & you could say the rest is history. I left home & never got back to my passion for blacksmithing & playing with antique tractors & hit & miss engines. I did do a lot of welding and fabrication but never made anything swinging a hammer again. Now I’m in a wheelchair & paralyzed below the chest with only one good arm. So now I just sit back and watch other people make things. 🙂🙂🙂.
To make such a delicate piece with that heavy hammer and the final assembly meets Janelle's criteria "it has to be pretty", I'm impressed with her skills. Clearly she has inherited her parents many talents and was born an artist, well done.
This is very cool. I love that Janelle took up a trade skill and that she is doing well at it. I think it is very sweet that you use the hammer she made in college. I wanted to take welding in college, but the local community college wouldn't allow women to take it--its only available for male prison inmates. I love that she has purple hair. I tried to make out what her shirt said. "That's what I do" and then I couldn't see the rest. Thanks for sharing!
She shows her love for you by emulating you and some day soon if not already she will surpass her teacher. The joy of every teacher the student surpassing. God Bless You and Your Family.
Mr. Engel, this has to make you proud. It is awesome to see your daughter interested in what has provided you and your family with a source of income. I know as a father to a 16yr old daughter, she makes me proud everyday. It is really nice to see that blacksmithing will be in your family for years to come. Thank you so much for sharing.
Whaaatttt? Not coach/buggy/wagon/wheel related at all. Awesome just the same to see daughter using Dad's tools to make something!! Absolutely Cool! And a great end result. My observation is that skinny hot red steel cools much faster than the Big Stuff you usually hammer on!! Daughter's turning into a Craftsman like her Dad! Awesome to see! Thanks for letting us see the process.
I have thought for many years that the low number of women in "Men's Trades" is not down to their lack of aptitude, or ability. Possibly lack of opportunity, but mostly societies expectation: If you feel that you will be unable to do something, (because that is what everyone tells you), you are unlikely to try it. And more likely to fail at it, (the lack of expectation sets you UP to fail). Respect to Janelle for challenging the norm, and to both of you for providing the opportunity for her to succeed so well. Will she take over the business when the time is right, I wonder ? :-)
Thanks Janell, You have opened a whole new world of things to do at the Anvil. Really enjoyed your video. Wish I had started at your age. Keep up the great work.
Thank you for sharing Janelle! I showed the video to my 8 y.o. daughter and she immediately wanted to go out to the forge and get to work! You've inspired her!
You’ve taught her good and she’s learned round good and her classes in school helpers that much more I’m proud of you as a father with your daughters I can do this type of work and you can’t hurt right
EXCELLENT! I love seeing women enter traditional men's trades and add their touch. Janelle's cap is perfect for her trade. Seeing her carefully test the newly forged piece for heat with her hand reminded me of the story of the city dude who stopped into an old fashioned blacksmith shop just after the blacksmith had tossed a newly completed hot horseshoe on the dirt floor. The inquisitive visitor picked up the hot horseshoe and immediately dropped it. The blacksmith said, "Hot isn't it?" And the visitor said, "Nope, it just does not take me long to inspect a horseshoe." Happy New Year to you and Janelle plus your family.
Thnx alot for the quick response and im thrilled !!!! Looks like I'm going to Austin community college...Lol I'm so excited and happy.ive been searching the web on this subject and haven't had much luck till now. I watched this video to make my mom and girlfriend one of these beautiful hair pieces but I got way more outta it than that...Thank your daughter for me please ...Much love and respect to you and your family sir...God bless!!!
Thanks. Your videos are really great. As an old safety man, I would prefer to see her wearing safety glasses with all those sparks and slag flying around. She done really good. Looks great on Mom's hair.
It's gratifying to see that your talent, skill, and artistry will live on with your daughter. Thanks for this video. Wishing you and your family a happy and prosperous new year.
You have every right to be proud of your daughter. She's talented and I suspect she has spent many hours watching you. Thanks for sharing her artistry.
Excellent! I am sure you are very proud of Janelle for her skills. She obviously hung around your shop while growing up and took a liking to metal work. My compliments. We will cut the videographer some slack as he has been producing some excellent work in the past.
It is pretty easy to see the beauty as it developed with each strike of the hammer. A hammer in the hands of a skilled artisan. I know her mom wears it to adorn her lovely hair.
Well, talent clearly runs in the family, she made that "look easy" and it's not. Creating delicate curves and angles with such a delicate piece, wow. How proud you must be!
I'll bet the rest of the her college class just stood back with their jaws dropped when Janelle got near a hammer and forge. You have to admire the great talent and excellent eye.
I knew a female blacksmith. Her name was "anvil anne" . She was even more prettier with suet on her face. She had arms like "pop-eye" and was most the time "dingy". I was never afraid in a alley with her at my side..she joined the Army.
That was excellent! Love the technique for bringing the curves around to meet the centre, never saw that done before. I will have to give it a try next time I light up the forge!
Very interesting to see a young lady as skilled as your daughter. She obviously enjoys blacksmithing. Good luck to her, and thank you for the presentation!
Really cool technique to bring those curls around with the cross pein, and I like the slight distal taper across the short cross-section. You definitely gave this novice smith some ideas for practice pieces that I can gift :)
That was sure a unique gift. Especially since its made by your daughter. She sure does have the gift you have. Surely she does teach safety in her classes. Safety glasses first. Take care and God bless. Happy new year.
That’s definitely the prettiest blacksmith I have ever saw‼️ An she is really good thanks for sharing Hope y’all have Happy an prosperous New Year That is really Great video
Really great stuff, just like her Dad. One thing I've noticed other Blacksmiths do is to use a brass brush at the end of the project to add highlights to the article.
Man, Be proud on your daughter. Great to see that she's trying to enter a "men's world". My girlfriend did the same a couple of years ago and became a certified welder herself at the age of 40. This because she had enough of healthcare and wanted something to do, she always wanted to do. Great job
