how did you get started smithing?

[steveh]

for me it started when my wifes friend gave me the anvil in her yard,a peter wright(333lb).from there it just gets worse 100lb vulcan,82lb hay budden,130lb peter wright,224 double bick vaughan,2 buffalo forge tables with blowers,1 cast forge tablewith blower,3 free standing blowers,3 post vises,almost forgot my riveters forge and my brake drum forge.it doesnt stop there as you all know,i dont even want to think about the wish list.this has only been 2.5 years,ive added on twice to my shop.my shop and tools have all been paid for through my blacksmithing so it keeps me in the wifes good book and i got the wish list(power hammer, H13 anvil,bigger drill press....

[Ice Czar]

sideways, by wheedling my way into an apprenticeship with no real smithing experience. (but a strong art and sculpture background and the right attitude)

[blafen]

a sudden bolt of inspiration, a shop vac tire rim and some clay, was my first forge and my first anvil was a chunk of ibeam from the mirage hotel, i have since gone propane and have 200 pound vulcan.

[rfb343]

I had an overwhelming burning desire to make a screwdriver that wouldnt stand out in a 18th century reenactment so I could take apart the smokepole to clean it, started with propane torch and a $40 anvil from craigslist, now I got a coal forge and a few more self made tools, still growing.

[Johannes]

grandfather was son of a blacksmid, for 5 generations, but died before he could teach me annything, went to get a masters in product design, a degree as a farrier, sculpturing clases, and now 'im triyn to teach myself the craft, building a new shop and big masonary forge at the moment, and have recently bought an 100 y old 350kg anvil for the new shop.
My goal is to become a full time professional blacksmith/farrier within 5 years.

[BeaverDamForge]

I want to learn to make hinges, latches, and maybe even locks for a timberframe house. I worked on a piece of rail for about 9 months before I was given a real anvil, 100lb Fisher. My present forge is a stack of firebricks/mud with a box bellows I made from some scrap plywood. Smithy is a lean-to against the house with a gravel floor. It's a hobby for me, I like to spend a couple afternoons a week forging if the weather is good.

Good Luck!

[markb]

I wanted to make knives. Started collecting tools, got a coal forge, anvil tongs etc., did some ornamental stuff, built some gates, but just never made the time, now 30yrs. later i"m making time and trying to make a knife with your help.
Thanks

[Covforge]

Boss at work took a course then asked if I would help him set up a forge. Everything I made I made two of. He may have burned 100# of coal in 5 years. I've probably burned a few tons.
Travis

[dablacksmith]

It started for me from reading the lord of the rings and wondering how they welded in midevil times... then the metalshop teacher let me play in the propane forge( I made knives and swords in highschool!) but I reall got the bug when i went to a mountian man rondesvous and saw a blacksmith working.... watched him for hours! then went home and started working... 25+ years later and ime still going strong...

[ThomasPowers]

Well I still remember watching the blacksmith at Williamsburg when I was in single digits, (and I'm closer to 100 than to 0 these days). Always interested in medieval arms and armour and got started cold working metal by the SCA; then ran across a copy of "The Modern Blacksmith" and built my first forge for US$1.17 total back around 1981. Spent a year apprenticed to a professional swordmaker 1983-1984, (6 days a week in the shop, no pay, two meals a day with him and his family...) and it's just gotton worse(better) since then!

It's a chronic condition.