Forgeless fuss.

[ThomasPowers]

Funny thing the old copper wound welders are often considered better than the newer Al wound ones. My tombstone is probably as old as I am. Though if you get a choice I would advise getting an AC/DC one and *definitely* get a 220 VAC version! (mine plugs into the electric stove plug...)

[Work-In-Progress]

I am going to get that cheap wealder at walmart for US$99.98, mainly because I Have about 600 dollars at my exposle and 450 of that is going to driver's ED. I dont have any 220 outlets anywere, I'd have to get one put in. It's a cheap crappy wealder, but it's better than what I have now.

I live in Thornton New Hampshire, and the only things I have at my disposal are things I find at he dump and what I can by at the hardware store. The way I see it, this is going to be one heck of a challange.

[Glenn]

If you have an electric stove or electric clothes dryer, you have 220v. You just need the right pig tail to fit the outlet.

[habu68]

And a VERY understanding wife when you set up the welder in her kitchen.

[Mills]

I believe that he may not be married since he is looking at drivers ed. A bit on the youngish side, perhaps.

Work in progress: Welcome to the reality that each of us faces. right now I have more cool tools than ever. And I NEED a few more. Because as I gain experience and skill another job comes up and I am having to reconfigure what I have and sometimes buy a new tool to be more efficient. This is the journey you should savour. You like many of us are focused on what yu want to achieve, the destination. I can hear "are we there yet" in the background of your posts. don't ask me how I know this.

You have a pretty full load, but you are able to do some more. OK then what one thing can you accomplish right now that will get you closer to where you want to be? Take care of that little task (really, keep it small) then another and another. There will be a time when you can go do something big and you will be prepared to do so for the little stuff is done. May not work for you, but I believe most here in this community are satisfied in a like fashion.

So you have an anvil, how about getting a forge? What have you come up with so far? you will need an air supply and something that won't burn up very quickly.

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Work-In-Progress]

Glenn: I dont have a clothes dryer or a stove, no 220 outlet. One can be put in because we have a 220 breaker in the fuse box. just the matter of puting one in and getting a welder.

Mills: Thanks for the adivce, Unfortunately I have a multi-track mind, It's hard to focus on one thing. I am getting better though, focusing only on the forge, but cant focus on the step by step prosses. I need a welder, no I need clay, no I need two 55 gallon drums, no I need pipe and fitting, no I need to get to the dump, how do i put on a tyuer without a welder. Thats my mind.

I dont have an anvil, I'm serching for something to use as an anvil. For a forge I have a round charbroiler propane grill. It looks like it would work but I think I'm going with the 55 supercharger forge (or what it's name is), or something like that. I have an air supply, its an old Electrolux vacume, It has massive air out put so I'm going to rig it with a dimmer switch to controll it better.

[Glenn]

As to an anvil, look for anything with mass. Lessons in Metalworking > Blacksmithing > LB0005 Blacksmithing Anvils will give you some ideas. Don't get hung up on having to find a (insert brand name here) anvil. Use what is available while you search for the anvil you want.

[Nomad]

Work: Let me throw in my 2 penny’s worth.

First, this is coming from someone on your side of the fence (beginner that doesn’t have the $$ to spend on toy) and not from an expert.

For your forge, you have a great start. You can do a bunch with what you have. The BBQ is an ok, but not great foundation. I used the cart from one and bolted an old cast iron sink into it. That was lined with dirt, garden variety. Where I’m from doesn’t have much organic material though I did sift it through some scrap ¼ x ¼ hardware cloth to keep the rocks out. I built my ‘firepot’ using 4 fire bricks. I then added a chunk of scrap pipe to the side, held on with an old U-bolt and plumbers tape. Nice and solid. I added a $5 goodwill hair dryer and was off and …well not quiet running but I had a forge. Here are pictures of the earliest version. I would highly suggest adding more of table to support your work and keep your fuel contained.

I had nothing as an anvil to speak of either. I took a solid stump, hacked a socket into it and sunk my 10 pound sledge to the handle. Not great, but something. I recently found a steel yard that sold me a piece of 5” x 5” square stock for $.40 a pound. The 2’ I got for about $60 is around 135 pounds and is much better.

When I was in HS I was able to take a votech class in welding. Great class, the price was right, and I built all kinds of things. Just swapped a wench a buddy gave me for a 220v Lincoln Buzz box but haven’t wired it up yet. I agree that a welder is a great tool but I’d spend the money elsewhere.

I sure use my drill a lot more than I would ever use a welder. I like to bolt things together as I am frequently taking them back apart to use for the next project.

If I didn’t have my $15 pawn shop circular saw with the $7 abrasive cutting wheels, I’d sure have a hard time cutting much steel. I can quickly swap blades for those woodworking projects too (or for the wood braces on the forge).

That’s what I’ll say, you be the judge though.

Nomad

[ThomasPowers]

Habu; I have a "welder extension cord" so the welder is just outside the kitchen window; of course I do tend to wait till my wife goes to the city...it's about 100 miles each way so that gives me a nice welding window...

Still waiting on getting electrictiy to the forge building; probably be a fall project as it's a lot cooler to dig then.

[Work-In-Progress]

Ok, I looked at the welder, its a 70 amp stick. It looks ok, I really am only going to us it for light welding, sheet steel, tacking, nothing bigger than 1/8 inch maby 1/4 really just sheet stuff. I really want to get it because it looks like its good for what I'm likely going to be doing. Or should I really REALLY just wait, next summer I will have a job and can likely get a much better one.

Nomad: Thanks for your two pennys (now I have 4 ). I too am going to lean more towards the drill and bolt method, easy to manage. I called a local scrap yard and asked about a chuck of steel and he asked about what size. I said 6"x6" inches, but I think he read me as feet. His voice was so funny in surprise!

Glenn: I am going to go to a scrap yard soon, maby tomorrow but likely later. I'll look for any hunk of steel or RR rail to use as a anvil. There is a local auction that always seems to have a small anvil, so I'll be looking there often.