Tim McCoy

Very tasty ... really well thought out design!

Amazing texture!

My wife too has relegated me to the small space in the back yard ... I am planning to build my smithy in a space 5 x 8' ... I used the patio yesterday to set my mock up card board boxes inside that amount of space, just to see how things would go. The important things all fit nicely; space for a 24" sq forge table, 12x18 anvil block, post vice, slag bucket with a narrow work bench at the far end of the space ... now all I need is the actual stuff and about 20 pallets to build the place. Looks to me like you have most of what you need and space enough to do everything except large pieces. My biggest problem will be where to store all the stuff that has been following me home for the last 60 days ... bedframes, rebar, wheel drum, box channel iron, about 50# of bolts and nuts (all steel - some galvanized but all usable) and ... more. Good luck!
Tim

Many of us new guys would be willing to buy wrought iron for $2.00-$2.50/lb ... especially if you could let it go in 10-20 lb lots ... as most have to watch their start up costs ... also, is ABANA a non-profit??? If so she may be able to donate a portion for the tax write off. Have you tried contacting some of the locations that have retro village re-enactment sites ... they may be interested in buying some for their use. Just a couple thoughts ... hate to think that much of it may go off into scrap oblivion.
Tim

Cannot find any coal for sale within 150 miles ... starting my forge in Las Vegas, NV ... for the time being I would like any info on charcoal used in forges ... what's the upper limit on temps? Will be using a wheel drum-air fed forge ... about 13" across and 3" deep. Have plans for wood to charcoal converting system ... mainly interested in something to get started with until I can make a trip to Sedona or Flagstaff (nicer trip than going to Pheonix) for some pea coal. Will check with local ferriers this week-end.
Thanx
Tim

Hello,
New here - just building my first forge, brake drum, hair dryer, etc. Have acquired part of a truck tow hitch, "L" shaped weighs about 33-35# for beginners anvil - found a pick at a yard sale for $2.50 for a bick ... also had
aout 20 nail stakes (concrete forming stakes) follow me home - round, flat and sqaure. Anyone have any experiance using these? Also found a piece of steel plate cut to be the in concrete base for street lights ... about 18 x 18" with the center flame cut out for wires and holes cut at corners for the mounting bolts. Does cut with hacksaw ... slow, but it does cut. Would really like to know about the stakes though ... thought they would good to practice with. Photos to follow.
Thanks!!
Tim