Dustin

Any ideas on how I can blacksmith while living in an apartment? Oviously I can't build a forge in my small flammable apartment. Have you ever heard of "travel' kits or anything, maybe I could take to a location and do my work there? I'm stumped, I was thinking of maybe renting out a storage but I don't want to spend the money each month to have to do that.

I did find a guy who is offering classes in blacksmithing and knife making. Each class is 3 days and he is charging $400 each with intermediate and beginner so I'd be looking at about $1,600. Hope I can find something cheaper.

It's starting to amaze me how rare of a hobby this is. I went to the library today and they only had one book and it was only on making horse shoes Still trying to find a club near me but that ABANA site isn't very user friendly so it's taking me some time.

Vinegar can also be used to remove scale and prepare for finishing. Just soak overnight.

Phil

Are you talking about the scale from the temping process? I've noticed in a lot of videos after the item is cooled in oil it's caked with a thick black layer.

Oh don't worry George I fully understand. I'm 24 years old and just recently accepted the fact that I'm balding. Oh well, just lets me expand my hat collection lol.

Thank you guys so much

You know I went to the book store yesterday in hopes to find some metal working books so I could learn things like these and more, but they didn't even have any which was a shock to me. Maybe I'll check the library today but thank you for that nice bit of knowledge, I can stop scratching a bald spot into my head.

So bear with me here, I'm still a blacksmith noobie and before I put hammer to metal I want to make sure I understand a majority of things first. I guess it's the way I was raised, I research as much as I can so I can have a better understanding going into it and so I can know what to expect for the most part.

So here is a little list of things I'm having trouble understanding.

1) Borax - (and or the white powder I see people putting on the hot steel) what is it, what does it do and do you need to have it
2) Water or Oil - Which is better for tempering or if not "better" what's the difference. I've heard of people using cooking oil
3) Annealing / Temping / Harding - Couldn't find a resource out there that really explains these in a step to step. I understand you form the metal, then you need to harden it and cure it but I don't know which steps these go in or the proper terms or how to do so. My understanding is when you are done with the blade you heat it then let it air cool, then heat up again and dunk it in water? From there I'm lost.
4) Galvanized - Whats the easiest way to identifiably pick this out so I know never to use it.

Thanks, I'm sure I'll have more noob questions down the way as I'm learning but I've been watching videos for the last 5 hours about blacksmithing and those are the ones that have been wracking my head.

For that much you could make your own bellows. I'd pass

Not trying to pry or anything, but what about renting a house? With the slump in the economy, there are lots of houses sitting empty that are comparable to an apartment in terms of price even with utilities factored in

I live in Washington State, the highest taxed state in the whole country.

Renting a 1 bed if you could find one that small would be ruffly $700
On top of that is trash $100 every 3 months, heat is normally $100 a month and add on car insurance, food and other things I'm looking at about 900-1,000 a month.

Right now I'm living in a 2 bedroom 2 bath apartment with washer-dryer and 1 car garage for only $550 a month with trash and water paid for. So leaving that for a crappy house in a bad part of town for me wouldn't be worth it.

just a thought, that might eliminate the open fire problem and the hammer singing on an anvil, however it might cost a bit more to set up.

***a press and induction forge***

heat with electrical induction forge no flame and no noise, and work the steel with a press. If you get a small one maybe a 20ton bottle jack press.

Wouldn't sparks still shoot from the metal I'm working with? I'd be scared of setting something on fire like my wood deck, carpet. Also my garage is out of the question, we aren't aloud anything inside other then our vehicles.

Or "friends"? I've parked a powerhammer with a friend before who had the space and was outside of the city.

I also run an open forge on a regular basis for the college kids why can't work in the dorms.

And what do you call a person who does a wide range of smithing? You call him a blacksmith!

Funny you should mention friends because I found out a friend of mine who I use to do civil war reenactments with opened up his own shop. I was gonna offer him $30-50 a month to work in his shop, the only problem is I haven't been able to get a hold of him yet. Also I'm fortunate that my best friend also wants to get started in blacksmithing but has more of an eye for leather working so he'll be making all my sheaths and a few hand grips.

Thanks for the help guys, I never thought about clubs or chapters in my city.

Hey all,

So I guess this will be just me ranting or seeking advice, either or it's just something I need to get off my chest so bear with me. I've lived in an apartment for about the last 10+ years of my life and if you have as well you know most places don't allow open flame BBQers let alone a forge. Then again I've never lived on a ground floor but even so I'm sure having 50+ neighbors at least one would complain about the sound of a hammer making sweet music to an anvil.

I just recently got into this world of smithing(mostly bladesmithing but I'd like to make candle holders and other odd & ends so what do you call someone who does both blade and blacksmithing?) and like a kid in a candy store I want it now! This isn't just an everyday hobby I want to pursue. It's in the back of my head this is something I want to do until the day I die. However I don't make a lot so moving into a home isn't in the cards for me because lets face it, apartment life is far cheaper. I don't know what to do, it's like having a car but no license to drive it. If I can't have a forge I can't pursue this dream and it's very frustrating.

So here is a question, have any of you been in this situation? If so what did you do to feed your smithing needs.

Great looking anvil you got there! Very inspiring to keep my eyes open for online buys.

i am currently talking to a man that has car springs. i hope he will let me take them this week. and since i don't have a forge yet i cant use a rebar

Forges are super super easy to make, you could make one out of a break drum and few iron pipes and a hair dryer. You can even make your own wood coal. Search youtube for how to build a charcoal forge.

Good luck

Looks good

No material huh, have you tried looking for railroad ties or rebar? Even car springs could be used.

Hi Dustin, welcome to the site, you have not put your location in, but you may find we may be of interest, www.blacksmithsguild.com or go to the groups section on the forum to see if we could help you.

Good luck on your new obby (Short for obsession which it will be if you are bitten by the bug)

Oh sorry, I am from Spokane Washington in the States.

Hey all, I was at a Scottish Highland Games today and they had a blacksmith with an old school forge making knives and what not's and it was very inspiring to become a blacksmith. He recommended this forum, and with a name so easy I almost forgot it lol. Anyway happy to be here and I hope to learn a lot from you master blacksmiths out there. My interest are for swords, knifes and other things I can make and sell at Renaissance-Faires.

Thanks again,
Dustin