tdaleh

 Welcome  to the fourm. Go to the forge section ago into the solid fuel section and look up JABOD or fifty five forge. Both very easy  to make.  

Google metal recycling  in AUSTIN TEXAS  then pick up the phone and see if any of them deal with the public.

Always tell my knife students one of the hardest things to do is make you right and left hand  work in mirror image with your left and right  hand  when grinding  knife blades. 

Made my  first ladles over the hardy hole and step of my anvil. Made some on a wooden  stump with a depression carved out.  Make a round  ring , end of piece of pipe with the inside rounded so it doesn't  leave cut marks . Hitch pins and trailer balls make good sinking tools . Plus you can use the Hitch pins and trailer  balls to planish over. 

A grocery store carry out cart is my mig welder cart. A press for old time formic a glue taken apart and made into two work benches 30 inches wide and10 foot long. Each table weighs around 350 pounds.

Look up Blacksmith  Association of Missouri . And Kansas Custom Knife Makers Association.  Both should have someone in your area.

Pictures  help 

Chris John has some beautiful examples of hammer and chisel work posted in the axes,hatchets,  hawks section. 

My Bader B3 has been running fine for 15 years plus . They are very easy to change from small wheel,  flat platen, or large wheel. 

Why don't you  make up a small billet and weld it up then grind a bevel on one end and etch it . Then you can see  what it contrast it has. 

Great  explainiation on steps than the photos to show how . Appreciate  you taking the time to show us your  method.  

Tried  to forge a rose a different way than I have made them. Just about got it done an two petals went thunk.  Not a failure  but a learning  experience. 

The end grain picture looks just like the steel I have had red short.  The  cracks  in the end of the bar are just starting to  crumble.  First time you do it makes you say what just happened . JPH'S  first book has a section that tells which steels are red short. 

Google knife supplies.  Should bring up all kinds places to look for handle  material. 

Wasn't there  a  video of someone  making shovels out of railroad track  on here and while back.

Sweet. Nice job

There is a section  on this site called forges. There are some pretty knowledgable people that have gave a lot of time explaining  the how and why  of forges and burners. There is also a knife making classes section again  lots of contributions by knowledgable people . Pull up a chair get your favorite  beverage  and read . A lot of your questions  will be answered. 

Thank you for sharing your  work.  Great to see something  different. Are they copys of original  works  .

Fire up the forge  grab a bar of steel and experiment.  You will be surprised  at what you can figure out by doing.

I would call Roger at Little Giant  and discuss  this problem. He can tell you the best way to do the repair. 

Get the book Iron Menagerie by the Guild of Metals Smiths. It shows what punches you need to make animals and how to  make them.

The texture  on the leaves and petals add to the character of  the flower. It's the little things that make flowers stand out. 

When Steve and JPH talk people should  listen. Good first knife.

Down draft welding  table.  But that only works on smaller projects .

Smith master, Very interesting website