Marksnagel

Neil, your wife and Evelyn & Rachel are in my prayers. I pray for continued steady heathy growth in the girls and for patience and peace for you and your wife. I believe in miracles and your girls are miracles.

Mark <><

Hey there Sam.

I am about 2.5 hours east of Raleigh and have gotten some really good coal from a fellow in Pittsboro. His dad started blacksmithing but has since past away and he sells the coal his dad had.

The coal is a really good quality, burns good and clean. Check your profile for a PM and I'll give you the fellows number.

Mark <><

Wow Kyotie,

You are asking a lot. Like Glenn asked, What weight are you looking for.

If you are looking to spend no more that $60 for an actual anvil then you are looking at one that weighs at the most 30 pounds. Thats at $2 a pound. 

Still, there are times that people stumble across a great deal from some guy that has one in his old barn. You may get lucky. 

As Grant Sarver (RIP) told me, tell everyone you meet that you are looking for an anvil. Your barber, your baker, everyone. You never know when one might turn up.

My thoughts: Leave no stone unturned when looking for an anvil. And keep the largest stone you find just in case you can't find an anvil.

My first anvil was a piece of RR track. My second was a RR car coupler knuckle. I now use a "real" anvil but still use my RR track and coupler knuckle from time to time for different needs.

Mark <><

Coal:

I ball up one piece of newspaper, wrap another around it and then another around  that one. Place it directly over the air source. Take my coke that was left over from the last fire and bank it around the paper. Light the paper on the bottom and place more coke on top. Keep a slow steady blast of air to the fire and add raw coal to the top of that.

Charcoal:

I make my own charcoal so I have different size material. Ball up the newspaper as above for the coal. Put a healthy amount of charcoal around the paper and light the bottom edge of the paper. As you are maintaining a slow steady blast of air pile more charcoal on top. 

Raw coal:

Start a small fire with kindling or pine cones and add the coal slowly to the top of the fire. Not enough to smother it but enough to get your coal going. 

Bottom line is what most others have already said. Keep a constant flow of air going to the fire.

What type of coal are you using? 

Anthracite or Bituminus

What sized pieces of coal are you using?

If they are large they will not light nearly as quick as small pea sized coal or fines. 

There are a lot of factors that can lead to failure to establish a fire. 
 

I decided to give making charcoal a try last year and now I make more charcoal than I can use. I use it primarily at the forge even though I still have coal. I also use it in my charcoal grill.

I can't figure out how to get the pictures from point A to point B, so go to my facebook link below and look through my pics. Wander through my page and with the pictures I give a fairly good description of how I made it and how the operation goes.

My charcoal retort works great and each burning results in 90 - 100% burn. The best wood I have found for the forge is old oak pallets. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Revealed-By-Fire-Blacksmithing/228941297128590?id=228941297128590&sk=photos_stream

Lucky you! I've known Dan for a few years now and have never had the pleasure of meeting him. I'm sure you had a really good visit. 

Looking forward to the pictures.

Ok, critique time.

You asked for it.

Looks good to me!

Keep on keeping on.

Mark <><

Beautiful work.

Thanks for posting the pic of the really cool candle holder. I think that there are several of us here that will attempt to duplicate yours. Just so happens that I have several bottles and a glass cutter laying around. 

Did you use a glass cutter or did you score it all the way around with a small file? 

This is surely on the to do list. Again, thank you.

Mark <>< 

I started out with a piece of RR track. then a RR coupler knuckle. After about a year I got my first anvil. Use what you have and be happy till something better comes along. 

It is better than a rock.

My guess would also be cold twist. Hot twist to shape just a little over sized to fit in the bean and then cold twist to finish.

Or not.

Really neat work.

Mark <><

I have a few questions for you to answer that may help people here that would like to help you. 

1. What is your neighbors chief complaints?

  a. Noise

  b. Smoke

  c. Your safety

  d. Their safety

2. How big of a lot do you have to put a smithy on?

3. Have you/your parents checked out any local ordinances or home owners association rules that might prohibit you from blacksmithing on your property?

4. Do your parents rent or own the house/property? (this makes a difference in your rights)

5. How high is the fence that your neighbor peeks over to complain? 

6. Is it your fence or hers?

7. Does your family get along with her or have polite conversations with her in other areas of life? (non blacksmithing) 

8. Is there a Blacksmithing group/guild in your area where you can go to blacksmith? A lot of smiths have to travel because they live in the city or just have no resources where they live.

The more information you give without crossing into you and your parents privacy, the more people here can offer advice. Without enough info we will just be swinging in the wind with suggestions. For someone here to suggest a 15 x 30 soundproof shed is nice unless you have a 14 x 29 lot. See what I mean?

Mark <><

Hey Max,

 Welcome to IFI. This is a great place to learn because there are so many different smiths with so many different ways. (quirks)

Joining your local group is the way to go. I started when I was 50ish so you have a good head start and your son will have a great head start. 

Again, welcome.

Mark <><

Very nice work!

Neat Frank. Johnsons floor or car wax?

Just curious. Why don't you like using tongs? Not that there is anything wrong with that, just curious. Also, use caution with those should you get them hot enough to melt the plastic grips. Plastic burns hurt.

Mark <><

I have been using strictly coal for the last 4 years. It works great. I still have about 150lbs of coal from my current coal purchase. I have however made my own charcoal retort and now make my own charcoal. It is a little time consuming and as with most everything else there are pros and cons. 

I almost strictly use charcoal now. If someone comes over to the smithy and wants a coal fire, I oblige them. 

Pro: I really enjoy the fact that I can make my own.

Con: It does take prep time that could be used at the forge. 

Pro: I also use it on my BBQ grill.

Con: You will use a lot more charcoal than you will coal. A lot more. 

Pro: IT IS FREE!

Con: You need to learn to manage your fire differently.

Pro: It has a more accepted odor than coal. I like the smell of coal but some don't while at demos.

Con: IT IS FREE! Oh wait, thats a pro.

There are a lot of people that have a hard time getting or affording coal and charcoal is the better way to go. I set up my retort as I find time so it doesn't conflict with forge time. When I am ready to light it off, I do so and then go forge. I can do everything with charcoal that I can with coal. It all boils down to a personal issue. Find what works best for you. Just remember, charcoal briquets are not good for forging. 

Did I mention that by making my own charcoal it's free? And I should never run out. 

Mark <><

Hardie tool time!

Small pein (Paul) is a new member and has suffered a stroke. Unsure of it's severity but still in need of prayers. 

He was going to come over Sat morning and do some forging but his wife called fri and told us of his stroke. Please keep them both in your prayers.

Mark <><

Thanks for the updates. Know that you both are still in our prayers till all is well.

Mark <><

Nice job Chester.

Eric and Kathy,

 You and your family are in my prayers. 

Mark <><

I spoke with Danny, Old N Rusty, this afternoon. He is doing well and still in the hospital. He will be given radiation treatments and be put on a chemo pill while at home. 

The rumor that he is going to sell his shop is not true. He has no intentions of selling his business. He said that he has iron in his blood and will keep on blacksmithing. 

Keep Danny and Eileen in your prayers.

Mark <><

Very nice!