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What is the best gear to use, as i am starting off not having an equipment

Long time collector of hobbies who finally dropped some cash and got a basic forge setup. Used to be a reenactor, currently a leather worker, cosplayer, general nerd. I’ve made a handful of knives and I want to branch out a bit. Wouldn’t mind making some friends in the hobby either. I’m also learning welding. Rocking a 163lb British anvil, an Amazon propane forge, and a 20’ shop (forging extension is in the works).

I've been pounding steel for several years at the local HS/adult school forge but just recently the wife decided to surprise me with a propane forge of my own that she bought somewhere online. So now I'm setting up my own shop (it was so much easier to just go and have most everything there and ready to go). In trying to find out if anything the forge 'instructions' said were accurate, I ended up here. Already found more info than I ever expected (almost too much). For a data junkie like me, I've been reading like crazy. Thanks to everyone who has posted here...it really helps others looking for help. I did find out that the 'instructions' were (as expected) a complete wo…

In retrospect. believe the first year of unsupervised attendance of the local blacksmith shop would have been about 1948. My parents were business owners in a small town in Oklahoma, and I a townie, barefoot and free to roam the (small) downtown area. Therefore often frequent local blacksmith shop run by 2 brothers. (In small towns of yesteryear, everbody knew everyone, and got on to them(just like their own) if they got out of line.) The coal forge was on the east wall of the building with a walk access door immediate on the south side. I seem to recall both a manual crank and electric driven blower device, but too many years to nail down. The building ventilation …

Hello, everyone! My name is Rich. I live in Bordentown, NJ... a few miles south of Trenton, NJ or about 35 miles from Philadelphia, PA. Just to be clear from the beginning: I own no tools for blacksmithing, yet. I got interested in blacksmithing and metalworking while I was in the Marine Corps. I took a welding course where the instructor talked about blacksmithing, and I visited his forge -- a small set up where he did a mix of blacksmithing and farrier work, and I thought it was neat. However, I had neither the time, space, or money to start forging back then... obviously. Fast forward many years into the future -- I've put myself through college, started…

This is Steve Gridley from Maryland. I’ve been a jeweler since the 70s and have a farming background and some hot shoeing back in the day. My dad and I did a lot of metalwork repairs and he passed on a good mechanical background and taught me how to make or fix just about anything. Professionally I’m an environmental geoscientist and geologist. Worked a good many years in oil and gas drilling and completions and still consult with government agencies and in the private sector. I just ventured into DC TIG for repairing antique jewelry and thought I’d try some metal pounding when the “new” old anvil that just came my way (still need a few things). I buy and sell metal…

Just introducing myself as a new hobbyist. Took a blacksmith 101 course at a local crafts school and really enjoyed it. Signed up for the 102 class next month. I’m in the process of collecting some used tools from flea markets, thrift stores and tag sales. Have a couple of anvils that I collected earlier which led me to become interested in blacksmithing ( a bit backwards I suppose ). I’m retired and have been involved with antique machinery for decades. Thanks.

Hello all: I am just starting out and still have much to learn. Old family post vice, railroad rail anvil and small gas forge. All advice appreciated.

Hi all, Ron here. back when i was in college i had a friend who had a small forge and shed where he did all of his smithing and tooling needs, after classes I would go there and he started to teach me the basics of being a smith be it weapon or otherwise. His brother was a farrier and worked on horseshoes. it has been a long time and i am trying to establish myself as a smith and i would like to learn and polish myself as it has been a long time at least 10 years. so i am looking for some local smiths who i may spend a little time around. I am looking for a smith or smiths that i may watch and speak with in or around Long Island NY. as I dont yet have all of the finances …

God blessed me today in finding this form. Guys I,m a retired tool & die maker not a blacksmith. Even though I have been a metal worker my entire life makes me still a green beginner in this new world of metalworking. I been watching YouTube videos for days before jumping into this & wasting time & money only to have a forge build fail in a short time as wast of money in thing I bought & not needed. I know many reading my post have been there done that. Just because I have done heat treatment in the past makes me know anymore than any of you in making a forge. So I will be asking some very ignorant questions in the future. Be a former boss of min…

Hello everyone, my name is Nazar, I am 31 years old and I am a blacksmith. the title of the topic is the distance from my house in Ukraine to the city of Chicago, where I currently live. I have had fibrous dysplasia of the hip joint since childhood, this unpleasant disease has always limited me in some way ,so it happened and now, with the beginning of the war with Russia, I wanted to join the army to defend my country from the Russians, but I was declared unfit for military service due to illness. To be useful, my friends and I repaired cars that went to the front. I sold the machines from the forge to buy things for military friends who were goi…

I’ve been a picker for over 20 years, buying and selling many anvils, forges, blowers, and tools of all types over the years. Also grew up watching Roy Underhill and the woodwright shop, which is why I operate the way I do today. so I figured it’s time to take some of the things I’ve accumulated and put them to work. I tried a little champion coal forge but didn’t like spending more time on the fire than the project. Now I’ve built a workbench and purchased a volcano gas forge which I haven’t built yet. Looking forward to a good looking hook project here’s my modest setup. (I need to get that post drill mounted and find a head for it)

Good morning, I am looking to get started in black smithing. Probably focused on making tools for around the house and useful items. Naturally, I would not mind making a knife or 50. Would like to give some axes a try too. I am out of west Tennessee, near Jackson. I just got my forge in, hoping to have it up and running this weekend. With this and my anvil I should be good to go. I have a decent start on my hammers, including a raising and plannishing hammers. I also have a few raising and creasing stakes, and a pair of dishing forms. I don’t know how much use they will see. I am sure I have some other toys I have forgotten about. I do have some ex…

Hello. I’m in western Pennsylvania. I want to get started blacksmithing. Several years ago I found an old forge made from a steel implement wheel with a turyure in the center set in concrete. It came with a hand crank blower and about 20 pairs of different tongs. Then I found a cast steel anvil(I think). I can’t find a name on it. I work out of town a lot but I would like to get it set up this year. I love seeing some of your shop pics for ideas

I have just started forging steel. I decided to try making rail spike knives to begin with and have had reasonable success. I decided to try to make a blade out of a 1/2" Allen wrench. It was going well enough then it just broke in the forge. Any advice? I am using a propane forge.

I'm super new to blacksmithing on my own. I've taken 3 classes to make specific objects. Each class was 3 hours and we used a propane forge. So I have a basic understanding of hammer control and basic twists and points, but I have zero knowledge of building a coal fire. I've done some scrounging and found a $2 hammer that I'm going to try to dress using advice from a YouTube video by Alec Steele. I have a friend that is giving me their railroad rail section to use as an anvil so that took care of a huge setup expense. (I still need to invest in a vice and possibly a hammer.) I have some library books on reserve so I'll be more knowledgeable about terminology and tec…

Hello to everyone. I have a small workshop. I mainly deal with woodworking. But lately, I've been trying to make something out of iron. I just joined you. This picture is the last project I was inspired. I have a small transaction left.

I’m Jeremiah. New on here to posting, but actually joined several years ago. I’ve been exposed to blacksmithing and metal working for a long time. I’m in New Mexico and have a friend who introduced me to it a long time ago after taking classes with Robb Gunter and his sons. I met them, got to spend a little time in their school and at Robb’s forge and see what its like when a true master puts hammer to iron. I didn’t really appreciate it then to be honest as I had other interests taking up my time, but in the last couple years, I’ve been trying to set myself up to be able to do some more hot metal moving. As my title states though, I tend to get distracted, sometimes for …

Hi all, I'm Guillaume From France. I'm doing blacksmithing and bladesmithing for a hobby and i'm a member of the french forum about forge : Forgefr.com (I may find some buddies here?) . I'm also a mechanical designer since more than 20 years in toolmaking, oil & gas and now aerospace. I'm here because one of our members who is in love with propane burners but don't speak a word of english as found useful informations here and want to work on the subject with me. We'll share our results here. Thank you already for all that you share. Hope to share useful stuff too.

Hello, I am new here. I was an aspiring woodworker until wood prices went through the roof but more importantly, I reside in the people hating, soul crushing, isolated cesspool that is the American suburbs. Thus I have essentially no access to green wood, no trees to put my axes to and no sawyers for hours. Why do I even have axes? You can say I am hopeful. When society collapses I will be the ruler of all the land I could not afford... mwuahah.... I have an absolute addiction for tradition and natural resources, I am a big fan of Crossed Heart Forge's no-plastic, no chemical bottle aesthetic, I can't help it, millennial raised alongside social media and pour over co…

My name is Marshall, I am very new to smithing, so new I haven't made a forge yet! It's my turn with my grandfather's farm, or what's left of it, and now that I have made it usable again (far from finished but usable) I want to begin metal working. I am fascinated by steel and always wanted to try my hand at smithing.

Hello, I got my first forge this past winter and it’s turned into an obsession. I am located in northern Penobscot county and am interested in learning from another smith. I do plan on taking a class maybe next year at curren homestead. Happy forging yall

Hello I'm Brecht, I'm from Belgium, Ghent. I'm following eveningcourses with a blacksmith (and a group of other students) to become a blacksmith. I like it, so it is time to invest in tools of my own. Looking for an anvil (or something that can be used, I'm looking around in the bin at work : heavy machinery repair shop). Already looking around here for a couple of weeks/months before posting. I rent a small workshop where I have a welder and some equipment for that. I share it with others. and to mess you guys up, i just copy the title of the fellow from Deinze just below me

Hello everyone, My name is Philip, 38y old and hailing from Belgium. I have been thinking of picking up blacksmithing for quite a while and I took 2 lessons a few years ago. I recently decided to finally go for it and have been researching the internet, books and youtube ever since. Last week I picked up an old anvil which looked perfect for a beginner. As I live in a suburban area I have decided to pick-up a propane forge to get started and normally it should arrive in the next couple of days. I also pick-up some square stock and am going to assemble a wooden anvil stand. So hopefully I can start forging this weekend. Planning on practicing tapers,…

Hi everyone! I've spent the last couple of years building a small sailboat in my garage. It's a Sunfish-like critter (aka: Clonefish) made of wood, epoxy & varnish. The hull is done, now it needs hardware. For this boat all the hardware will be bronze. They don't make much bronze hardware for small boats any more so I'll be beating bronze rod, bars and plate into submission. My background? I'm a retired software guy who appreciates the opportunity to do something besides stare at a screen all day. I've about ten years experience in my rudimentary home machine shop. Back in 2019, when we could do such things, I took a one-day course in blacksmithing and a one…