Gary

I reread Nolano's post, a sealed can to keep the weather out, or is there another reason? I keep mine in an open metal bucket.

Irnsrgn, why a sealed can?

I prefer a waist to knee leather apron for forging at home and the Fort. For grinding I wear a chest to knee leather apron along with my goggles and face shield.

Welcome Ted, lot's to see and learn here!

Welcome, sounds like you're an Oregonian too!

Welcome from another fellow Oregonian. I'm from Portland. How long have you been smithing?

Alan, Whatzit #1 are pritchels for putting the holes in horseshoes. #2 is a grindstone dresser. #3, I don't know, maybe a trailer hitch planishing stake holder?

My rivet forges are 20" to 22" in diameter. I think anything much larger is a shop forge. I too prefer a hand crank or a great bellows like we use at Ft. Vancouver. I have used electric blowers at a shop where we have the Great Annual Steam-Up here in Oregon and went through much more coal (also burned up a couple of pieces at first). I feel I have more control with hand powered air, and I'm used to it.

Ezra, you can do alot of work with a rivet forge and also hook up a Champion 400 or such blower as Alan pointed out. When we do off-site demos (away from historic Ft. Vamncouver set in the 1840's) that's what we use. Not period correct for us but most people don't notice. You didn't say whether you were doing period demos or just wanted portability for your own convenience. I have a pump handle forge that usually gets favorable attention. I understand it was a transitional tool to wean farmers off the bellows to the crank style.

For those living on the West coast, don't despair. I'm from Portland, Or. and in the last two years that I've been looking I've found 3 rivet/farmer's forges ( one at an estate sale marked 10.00 for "iron tub"). I've bought 2 anvils, 125 lb. farriers and a nice little 89 lb. Peter Wright for 125.00 each. I've had the most luck with post vises, I have 5 from 35 lbs.to 90+ lbs. and only had to pay for one. It cost 50.00 and when I got it home and cleaned it up found it was a Peter Wright. My first post vise was found under a neighbor lady's woodpile in her garage. I have to admit two of the vises and a large 3'x4.5' Champion Forge came from a family trip to Kansas. I also found a nice Buffalo Forge drill press. I have used Craigslist, the newspaper, local magazines with classified ad sections and word of mouth. I have found many smaller tools such as hammers at garage and estate sales. I watch e-bay but the prices are usually way too high, especially with shipping for anything heavy. The tools are out there! Good Luck!

Welcome Jim, I'm from the northern end of the valley in Portland. Great site and lots of good people and info. here. Gary

A belated welcome from a fellow Oregonian. I'm up in Portland and do most of my smithing at historic Ft. Vancouver across the river. I just built a shop of my own but don't have my stack up yet for my coal forge. No propane yet. I checked out your site, nice work and shop. I just posted our annual workshop notice in the events area, maybe you'll be interested. Gary

Atlanta Cutlery carries hawks and handles.

"Also, I had asked what type of oil to use on these blowers but haven't seen anyone respond. Do you use regular old 30wt motor oil?" I use 30wt.

Alan, think twice about taking apart an old working blower. I recently read on another site about someone taking apart a working blower and it didn't turn out well. Even if put back together properly , if all bearings and such are not aligned exactly as they were they may not mesh well. These things wear in certain ways and if even slightly rearranged may not run smoothly again. I have a Champ.400 and several others, as long as they are kept swimming in oil (no gaskets, yes they leak) they work great.

On a trip to Kansas (from Oregon) to visit my son-in-law's family I was followed home by a large Buffalo Forge, complete with working blower and arm and the one legged stand that attaches to the forge to hold extra long pieces in the forge. This belonged to his great grandfather as did the two large post vises I was given. The one on the left is 70+ lbs. the other is 90+. Glad we took the trailer.

Anglesmith and Crackers, I too was at the ABANA conference and enjoyed watching some of the Aussie smiths at work. It was a wonderful setting there by the lake. Gary

Regional, Yes that is in Brooks. If you go to antiquepowerland.com you'll get a sense of what the place is all about. They have the Steam-Up the last weekend in July and the First weekend in Aug. This is where all of the different groups under the Powerland umbrella get together at the same time. The rest of the year individual groups have their own events there at different times. Most of us are part of the NWBA or the Ft. Vancouver Trades Guild. Let me know if you're interested, we usually have monthly open forges at Brooks.

Thank you all. Hey Regional, are you familiar with the annual Powerland Steamup? I was smithing there last weekend. Gary

Hi, my name is Gary. I've been smithing for about two years now, most of it historical reproduction at historic Ft. Vancouver in Washington state. I've collected enough tools to set up a forge at home and am currently building a small shop in the backyard. I'm a 30 year Postal employee and a Army National Guard Retiree. I like to keep busy. I've chosen this site over some others to become active in, I like the Blueprints. I'm not much of a joiner and this will probably be my longest post. Thanks Gary