Howdy,
I'm just getting into blacksmithing and found this place. You guys sure have a great resource here and I'm hoping to learn a lot.
I was in the process of setting up my shop however a friend of mine is having marital dificulties and my new smithy (my garage) will now be housing his car...however I'm still hoping to work on my setup and get things rolling.
I've got an old Buffalo forge that I inherited when I bought the place and I was cleaning the garage when I started thinking about getting it setup and working. So in my quest for more knowledge I bought The Art of Blacksmithing by Alex W. Bealer. I've worked with steel since I've been out of high school and I've worked as a production welder for many years and am currently working as an Ironworker (high steel). So blacksmithing is right up my alley.
I recently bought a book called Back To Basics put out by Reader's Digest in a used bookstore and in it was a chapter on blacksmithing as well as numourous other pieces of useful information. In this chapter it showed how to build a brakedrum forge which really lit the fire in me, so to speak, that it's possible to get things rolling without spending a lot of money. I was a little concerned about the cost of installing a chimney and the like for getting the Buffalo forge setup.
I'm still trying to get my smithy setup however it wont be operational until my friend settles his marital issues...I can see how the collecting portion of this hobby can quickly become addicting. I made a few purches today. Think I made out okay.
I bought a straight pein hammer, a sledge, a handeled chisel, three sets of tongs, a wire brush, I found a lid which should fit perfectly on a brakedrum, and I picked up a post vice.
Already had one set of tongs and a cross pein.
I might post up some pics when I get around to taking them.
Feel free to ask any questions...I know I sure will be!