Hi I just signed up

[WagonMaster]

Hello, I just joined this site and hope to learn a few things about knife making,
I am a OTR truck driver and don't have a whole lot of time off, I love chasing big catfish and have alway's took a interest in Blacksmithing. I completed the work on my first make shift forge yesterday and plan to make a few knifes.

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[markb]

Welcome Wagonmaster, you'll find lots of info and good people here.
Your forge looks good.
Mark

[jake pogrebinsky]

I'll second Mark on all that.Nice setup,but there's no provision for an ash-dump.That will nesessitate a clean-out once an hour,or so,as well as before and after work,so if you can,try to use coal that makes clinker,rather than ash.And what you have in there in the photo looks suspiciously like briquets-you don't want to use them,too much clay mixed with that charcoal dust.The real charcoal they sell at the stores is way sexy-pure as the driven snow,and kicks the heat right out,but goes away right now too,and is way too expensive,so that the soft,bituminous coal that makes clinker is your best bet.Best of luck!Jake.

[irnsrgn]

Oops Jake, poor coal makes clinker, good coal makes ashes.

[MooseRidge]

I've always found that any coal makes ash and clinker, however, "good" coal makes less clinker than "bad"....

The stuff I've been using for years is technically "bad" coal, some sulfur, tends to clinker if not run hot, medium ash... however, puts out some major BTUs... and it was free!

Sadly, I'm down to less than a ton, so I'll be coal shopping soon...

Wagonmaster, if you are using charcoal, there is no problem especially just starting out. You'll have to watch if and when you switch to another fuel (as any of us do when we get "new" coal, each load acts slightly different than the last!) or if switch to or add a propane forge. Heating times will change, etc.
I'm over in Dunlap if you ever happen to be in this neck of the woods....

[WagonMaster]

Thanks for the warm welcome, I am brand new at this.
the pipe I have leading down to the connection has a plug so I can dump the ash.
When I get back to eastern Ky, I'm going to try and get me some coal.
My first attempt at making a knife didn't turn out to good, I think I got the blade to hot. it warped just a touch. I did make me a set of tongs that turned out pretty good, outta a couple pcs of rod I had.
I have Two long saw blades that I'm using for making knifes

...I learned a good leason today.., I put charcol starter fluid in there and it didn't look like it caught fire and I put some more fuel on it and lite the lighter and darn neer went up like a rommon candle.Yep I scorched the hair on my arms and got the hair on my chin, And got several blister's on my fingers. LOL
About ten year ago, I went to a old time thresser's show in Adams Tn, And this feller had a black smith shop set up and I had him make me a Gaff and , sometimes you meet someone That you take a liking to right away. Well me and this old feller became friends and He told me that him and his apprentice's meant there at that old cabin" Black Smith Shop" the last sunday of every month and invited me to join them. Well me being a OTR truck driver and not having much time to go, I never made it there. But I may have to make the trip.
Boy's I sure do appreciate all your help. I'm going to try my best to become a big part of this club you all got here....Tom

[Glenn]

Tom, anyone mention the Blueprints section on the opening page of the site? Some 600 how-to tutorials on things you can make to make your life easier.

[WagonMaster]

Thanks Glenn, I went in there and looked around,There's some real good info in there...

[jake pogrebinsky]

Originally Posted by irnsrgn

Oops Jake, poor coal makes clinker, good coal makes ashes.

Why,you've got to be kidding...but i bet you're not.O.K.,Tom-sorry about that,disregard what i said.
Many years in isolation from other smiths sure gave me some strange ideas.Always supposed the clinker to be the requirement for the bottomblast-it remaining permeable to the air blast.Ash in our local bitumen stops all heating after the first,and only(very decent,though),heat.
And really only my shiftlessness has prevented me from converting to the side-blast at this point.

[larrynjr]

Welcome Tom, I haven't worked on knives much but it seems like with any hot steel, it will twist and warp as you pound on it but you should be able to flattening it back out after each drawing / shaping session before you put it back in the fire.

Enjoy the site it's is a wealth of information and great company!