What can I make?

As most Blacksmith Organizations (clubs) will have what is called a trade item that members make and draw tags to see who's item they draw in a trade. I thought it would be nice to see some from different organizations in one place. We see some in the "What did you do in the shop thread". Anyway in the BOA (Blacksmiths Organization of Arkansas) the way the trade item is chosen, is the member who is hosting the meeting will set the item to be made, like a garden tool or trivet or wrench etc. Those members who want to make an item can decide what to make. Here are some of the pictures of items I have made in no particular order. If I remember right this was some s…

A suggestion was made to open a new section What Can I Make. This will give all levels of blacksmiths a topic, or theme, and the freedom to run with the idea. Make anything that fits the theme, big, small, simple, complex, it is up to you. We will have a new theme each month. There is no time limit for the theme, so you may build and add your project at any point. Other folks may like your work and want to make one, so please post photos of the build as well as details such as stock used, tools used, and other information you feel would be helpful. And of course photos of the finished project. Let the fun begin.

This is my granddaddy's chair. For as long as I can remember, he sat in that chair preparing his sermons and watching Bama football, back when it was free to watch over the air. I'm sure I crawled up in his lap, too, when I was a kid. I remember like it was yesterday when, as a boy no older than 5 or 6, I'd sit on the front pew of the church enthusiastically saying "Amen, granddaddy!" He'd always smile back. How could you not love a little Opie Taylor-looking redheaded grandson who so cutely affirmed your sermons? He was beloved by all, and I can't put into words how good a human being he was. I was fortunate that my stepmom kicked me out of the house halfway t…

help advice construction of a swing-type portal stand transportable use of a hoist frame Hi, for personal use we would like to make an iron frame similar to a swing stand portal, transportable, to be carried on a truck and used to load it. Could you kindly give us some advice some technical construction suggestions thanks. http://www.legnofilia.it/files/posted_images/2183/altalena_paranco_1558348702_596077.jpg http://www.legnofilia.it/files/posted_images/2183/dsc_2815.jpg http://www.legnofilia.it/files/posted_images/2183/dsc_2830.jpg http://www.legnofilia.it/files/posted_images/2183/dsc_2890.jpg http://www.legnofilia.it/files/posted_images/21…

I have a whole box of industrial coil springs. The metal is about 1/8" thick, varies from 1/4" - 3/4" wide (1/2" most common), and the lengths vary - if straightened maybe 9" - 18". I have no idea what these were originally used for. I got them as part of a mixed lot at an auction (I was after some tools and clamps). I don't think I paid $10 for the whole lot. I have around 50 springs. I'm not sure of the exact metal composition, other than high quality spring steel. To date, I have only used a couple of springs in various found art welding sculptures. What should I do? I'm pretty new to Blacksmithing, having taken basic classes at CAFAC in Minneapoli…

My oldest Grandson is graduating this year and I would like to make him something as a gift. His main passion's are firearms and medieval things. I have had a few idea's but I want to make something really unique and so I am asking for input. One of his options after graduation is a job offer from a major ammunition mfg and I think he is going to take it. I have to ship it to him so it can't be a full size civil war cannon (he likes anything that goes BOOM). I can forge something or weld together a sculpture. I would prefer forging at this point. It should be something from my own imagination but I can put my own personal touch on any suggestions, most likely. Tha…

So... I broke my wrist playing rugby today. So in a cast for the next 6 weeks. Any ideas of what sort of blacksmith/knifemaking/general crafting projects I can do? I do not want to turn into an absolute couch potato

I’ve got free access to a seemingly-limitless supply of (used) cast iron boiler blocks/sections from old boilers that have been replaced. Is a block section (I can grab one that’s 2” thick, or some big thick heavy monsters) something worth bringing home to build a stationary forge around? There’s at least 1 YouTube video where a guy built a forge from a boiler section, so I know that it will work well for at least the length of a YouTube video. But would it have any long-lasting pros/cons? I would assume that anything too thick would act like a heat sink and suck up too much of the heat that I’m trying to generate. But on the thinner side, is it worth pursuing? …

More air under the fire.

Dear community members! Some days ago I got a bunch of old bent big drill bits from my grandpa. Are these good to make bushcraft knives? If u have any other ideas let me know. Thanks in advance.

First the springs. They are roughly a 2" wide coil that is very tightly coiled together and is roughly 3' long. If I had to guess at the thickness of the metal, I would say maybe 1/4"? Looks comparable to 4 gauge wire. No idea where the neighbor got them, or what they were used for, so figuring out what kind of metal they are might be tricky. If I had to guess what they are from, they look comparable to the springs you would see on a trailers tail gate, although they seem much to heavy duty for that unless it was quite the heavy gate. Maybe something akin to a toy hauler camper? Will have to get pictures. The second item I was given are what appear to be really old w…

I had reason to disassemble a small engine a while ago and salvaged these counterweights. Judging by the spark test they've got a decent amount of carbon, so my mind goes towards edged tools. In particular, I'm wondering about an adze (I need one in any case)but not sure if I'm letting a superficial resemblance trick me into a fool's errand. Any ideas folks? Anyone bashed on one of these things before?

This is my best out of 28

Grubbing around in the river again. Is that gas torch cutting on the end? Too small for an anvil but I feel it should be a tool, what's the best way to put this to good use. Also got half a sleeper, a frustrated dog and sore shoulders...

help construction design realization gin pole: hello we will have to build a gin pole hoist to be installed as a foruna crane on the flatbed of a truck, to transform it when needed into a makeshift crane to be used on the farm, some ideas some constructive suggestions, we will have to make the support supports to hinge the arms to the platform and the tie rods to support the same to the body any ideas? http://img.iweku.com/upload/f/c0/fc021be8352c50cc07021d6ed452bac8_thumb.jpg http://img.iweku.com/upload/e/a9/ea988e6cb1cb3fefbf966a359b64593a_thumb.jpghttp://img.iweku.com/upload/3/5c/35c28a4fa27f80c20a1906c35312ccaa_thumb.jpg …

I was wondering if anyone had ideas for something mechanical but fairly simple to try making. That involves forging several parts. Some simple machine hooked to a motor would be interesting . Or just something involving several pivots. Examples of things I was thinking of was perhaps a gear puller, or dolphin jaw tongs. Maybe a lock. Really looking for things that can be powered with a motor for something useful. Even if it’s a basic use. Any ideas?

hello, if it were possible, I would need some advice some suggestions to make a gym bench, it should be light robust aesthetically pleasing to handle compact not bulky to store in a corner when not needed. measures: 12 inches wide 30 cm long: 48 inches - 120cm high from the ground: 17 inches - 43 centimeters what material do i use? how do i make it? thank you

Hello all. So I recently built a stone block fire pit at our house, and I think it turned out quite nice for my first attempt. The five extra blocks that make it look like a castle were a last-minute addition because I had the five left over from the Home Depot delivery (they actually gave me four extra blocks than I ordered). But now I'm thinking it needs a blacksmith's touch. I could use a masonry bit and some rivets to mount some iron accents around it, but looking for ideas from those who may have attempted a similar thing. Do I use 1" flat bar and some homemade rivets to put a band around it? It's not perfectly circle, so each band would need cut to the 10" width of …

Hi all, I am a little low on creativity right now. My dad gave me this long round, and I dont know what to do with it. I have mostly only used stock 1/2 inch or less, so this is new to me. Idk if it is mild or HC steel. It about 10 feet long. And it was free to me. Creativity welcome.

A couple of weeks ago my dodge 3500 donated its tie rod end to my scrap metal pile. I just wish that it didn't take out my tire in the process! I don't know what kind of metal these are made out of so I don't know what any practical projects would be. I was thinking things like hot chisels, hammer eye punches, drifts, things like that. But again I'm not sure of the metal or heat trading process for it.

Hi all, I have several thousand cut nails (2 1/2 inch long flooring nails) that I use for hands-on demonstrating. I have done the twisted nail and loop on a keychain, the twisted fairy spoon on a keychain, the finger ring, and the small hook with hole. What are some other forging ideas for these nails? I need projects that can be finished within a 10 minute time frame per individual. And I'm looking to give the participants more choices in projects Thanks, Dave

I recently bought a couple anvils and some random scraps and tools from an auction, and I went because a man who attended church with my family passed away. I didn't know until after he had died that he was a blacksmith, and his wife reached out to give me some literature she had. By the time she found out I was smithing, she had already had the realty company out to inventory his shop, so it was too late to be able to look through his stuff. So I went to the auction, picked up his anvils, picked up some other miscellaneous parts, got a nail header so I didn't have to forge one (lol), and today I got around to actually going through some of the boxes. I found his tou…

Just another backwoods type. First post. Been reading and looking around. Been kicking around the idea of building a forge for a while. Went to school for metallurgy at one point, didn't get to finish. Story for another time. I've got a lot of the stuff laying around the farm and I think I can build the forge without having to buy too much. Just a few questions. But first, what I plan... I've got an old 30gal compressor that went kaput. Was thinking about chopping the ends off and doing a perlite/waterglass layer to bring down the diameter and lining with 2-3" of 2600* mat with a blown ribbon burner. Thinking about going for a higher heat for wootz but we'll have t…

Good day to all! Finished the project. Lighting in the lobby of a country house.

I have a thick piece of round stock a few inches in diameter and i need some ideas on what to make from it