newbie blacksmith needs help

[matt87]

Welcome, Zac. I used to spend a fair amount of time around your neck of the woods as it happens, and still do from time to time.

Probably the first thing you should do is sit down with a notepad, pen, drink and a snack, and read some of the variety of free guides available on the internet regarding getting started in blacksmithing. Probably the best are on this website. Also get to your local library and find whatever books you can on blacksmithing. Make sure to take notes on anything interesting you see, ideas you have etc. (This is a very useful life skill and will help you in many ways.)

To put it simply, you need 5 things to start smithing: something to hit (iron or steel), something to heat it (fire), something to hit it with (hammer), something to hit it on (anvil) and somewhere appropriate to hit it.

Material/stock to use abounds, but you have to know where to look, and what to look for. If you have a scrap yard near you, great. They may not though let you have a rummage around the place, especially at your age. (Parents etc. may be useful here.) What you're looking for are mild steel and higher carbon steels. Cast iron is not useful for us much. You may have to or want to buy your steel new. Again, if you have a steel yard nearby great, but you'll need a lift. Probably the most useful sizes of mild steel are square and round bars from 6mm (1/4 inch) to 12mm (1/2 inch). Flat bar is useful too. To begin with, 6mm (1/4 inch) thick is good, in widths from 12mm (1/2 inch) to 25mm (1 inch). Higher carbon steels are useful for making certain tools like chisels and punches that you will need very soon. It's also useful for making edge tools.

Forges are an interesting question. I would probably say that you should go for a charcoal forge to start with. It's a readily available, clean-burning fuel, and you can usually get it at knockdown prices this time of year (one advantage to our 'interesting' climate). Charcoal is THE ancient smithing fuel, and is capable of fulfilling all your needs. Plus it doesn't need much air and there's no fiddling around with potentially dangerous, expensive and noisy gas equipment. There are many simple and cheap designs of charcoal forge available on the internet. Start by looking at Tim Lively's washtub forge. For air blast, you can start with an old hair dryer.

Anvils are a real problem in Britain. There are plenty about that usually go for a song, especially on eBay, but the vast majority are in awkward places for pickup only. Don't necessarily think 'London pattern'; that is a relatively modern design with many useful but non-essential features. You're basically looking for the biggest chunk of mild or carbon steel you can lay your hands on legally. Again, scrapyards are a good starting place. New anvils are available, such as through Vaughan's, but a decent one will take you a long time to save up for on £30 a week. Avoid cast iron 'anvils', such as those 10Kg ones made by Record and the like. To find out why, search for 'cast iron anvil shaped object'. If you get really stuck send me a message and I'll give you a point in the right direction.

The hammer can be as simple as a rock, or as advanced as the Hofi Hammer. One or two ballpein hammers are all you need to get started. 1-1/2 to 2 lb is plenty heavy enough. You might be able to find these in the shed or garage, free for the asking. Next cheapest is a car boot sale or junk shop. (Don't pay more than a few quid, and even that would be for a good condition one.) All else fails, there is Halfords, B&Q etc. There you'll pay about £8. If you're lucky you might find a cross-pein hammer in the same weight range.

Location is not really something I can advise you on much. Obviously covered is better than not (like a carport). Be careful where though, as ventilation may become an issue, as will other hazards if you locate yourself in a garage or shed.

So get thinking Zac! And remember, safety first and have fun!

[wrenzac]

wow thanks for all the great info it is very helpful now to start the research and saving if any1 has anymore advice it would be very helpful and appreciated.

Zac

[Ian]

If you can get down to London this weekend (Saturday, 11am till 4.30pm) I'm doing a mobile forge Demo Day on a local City Farm. It's at Stepping Stones City Farm, Stepney Way, London (they have a website, as I can't remember the postcode, it's just down the road from my place you see).
Don't expect any great revelations or all the bells and whistles but there'll be a fire, a couple of anvils and a mad Yorkshireman battering seven bells out of something. I'd be happy to show you a few pointers (not that I know bugger all mind you).

[wrenzac]

sounds good to me what day is it?

[Ian]

erm..... Saturday?

[wrenzac]

yeah sounds great i will try my best to be there

[Ratel10mm]

Zac, if you want to learn bladesmithing, then in the U.K. the best thing to do is join British Blades they have quite a few hammer-ins & other stuff going now, and new people are always made welcome as long as they aren't idiots. I go by the same name there as here.

(Glenn, I hope it's okay to post that link?)
Not a problem, glad you did

Also Zac, I remember a blacksmith's shop visible from the M4 at Slough (well, the sign is anyway). I confess I never made the opportunity to visit them, but they're the only smith I know of in your immediate area. Or have you been & found they're fabricators, not blacksmiths?
There is an artist smith the other side of Henley. Whether they'd be willing to let you do anything, I don't know.
There is also a list on BABA's website of smiths willing to teach or apprentice. Make sure you look it up as there's quite possibly someone that you could get to.

[CurlyGeorge]

Good luck, Zac. But be forwarned, once you catch "the bug", blacksmithing will be in your blood forever!! LOL.

[wrenzac]

lol yeah im kinda already getting it im really looking forward to saturday and im looking forward to starting my hobby thanks guys

[CurlyGeorge]

When you get to Ian's, Saturday, shake his hand for me. Thanks.