Hoary

Well, I found someone who is looking to get rid of a iron wood stove I was thinking I could use it as part of a forge development/anvil... how would I use it as a forge? i'm thinking maybe by using a tire rim to rest on the edge of the surface using the chimeny part for the air blast mount or just use the stove itself for the forge... is this something to consider?

Well, the best adive I've gotten from the seniors around here is go to a scrap yard and pick up a solid chunck of metal for real cheap, I guess google your area for scrap yard or metal yard or anything slightly related. it took me a while b/c it's not quite called a scrap yard in my area, more like a metal recycling station or somethin weird like that.

I guess this is along the lines of the topic, but I was wondering, I've seen some forges using metal tubs or buckets, I think I could pick one up from a hardware store, but are they normally galvanized? Just wondering...

What Books would be best to teach me general information metal properties and melting points ect. I wanted to learn so I wouldn't be scratching my head when I used a certian metal and expect it to be able to work into something that it just isn't cut out to be.

Ok for those who've helped me so far I want to thank you all and putting up with my endless questions and stuff, but I always found that asking these endless array of Q's would save me the chance of losing an eye prematurely or whatever else had I moved with plans. Ok here goes the next one, atleast I have created pictures to help explain a little better what I'm hoping to do and what I'm hoping to use, feel free to compliment or shoot it down, It won't bother me :-) Here's the pictures: As you can see by the first one I want to use Cement to seal the extra holes in the tire rim and support the long bolts or metal rods that would support the metal grate. Aside from it looking quite linear, I just wanted to know if that is a good solid plan and if I would use cement how should I prepare it? Once hardened is there something I should do to avoid air pockets and having the heat of the fire blowing it up in my face? lol I like thinking of worst case senerios it keeps me alive yet keeps me from living :-s Just let me know. I know Ironpuppet mentioned he's using clay since it would be more breathable but I'd lose the support for the bolts... but these are my ideas, I just want to know if it would blow up in my face before I actually have it blow up in my face. :-p Thanks

What kind of clay are you using to cover the holes in the rim? how could you make sure you applied it right so you don't get air bubbles and flying shards of clay? just let me know! -Bobby

I got this piece from my inlaws in IN. It feels sturdy enough, it's about 3' long though and approx 2 1/2" - 3" wide. I was thinking maybe cutting and shaping the top and sides to create a horn maybe then cutting the rest in parts and welding them together to create a base to anchor down on a wooden stump.. maybe it will work but here's some pictures to show you what I got. Let me know your thoughts.

Well, I'm sure everyone had this at one point, but mine is quite simple... maybe... anyways. I'm planning to build a forge, I need something for a fire pot. I've got two items at my disposal, 1 a hibachi type grill about 3inches deep and a wheel rim from a car. I would think the wheel rim from the car would be the most resonable item except for the holes in the rim. I've seen the post of Iron puppet title ready firing forge or something to that effect where he did use the rim, but materials needed to make it are kind of hard to come by just yet. With that said, my 2nd choice the habachi would make sense since it is a solid piece of metal and all that would be needed is a hole to put the air flow in and then weld. does anyone have sugguestions? and something to make note of for the habachi is that it is an iron with baked enamel on it, does that create a health risk or a heat rupture risk? just wondering. Also please don't take my post as an impatient jolt to make a shoddy forge as patience to make quality comes first, just not very knowledgeable on how to be thrifty and quality if you know what I mean. Thanks in advance! -Bobby

cheftjcook, This seems like a very good way of getting into things , I'm usually a loner when it comes to practicing or interacting so as you imagine alot of trials and errors.. but something feels right about this interaction idea, nearly got a tear in my eye hearing you speak about the man who was greatful that his anvil was going to ring again b/c of you. That's the kind of devotion I'm hoping to gain from this step in life. Thanks :)

Thanks so much, When you're new your imagination doesn't quite work with you on things as much as I'd need it to. Anyways... Please tell me there wasn't a more specific place to ask this question or more so a place where this has been answered on the forum, if there was I apologize for the extra question. -Hoary

Well I'm sure everyone has been faced with this problem at some point and time... I'm not picky about what I use, in fact I've even came to a conclusion that using a piece of rail would be fine, but the problem is I don't know where to even start to look for a piece of rail. I'm in northern VA and just don't know how I would get one. If anyone has some ideas please shoot! thanks! -Hoary

Just to introduce myself to ya all, the name is Bobby Magarity and am from Sterling, VA. I guess you can say that I'm the 99% of the male population who is excited about blacksmithing due to renfaires and Sca event's, but after studying a few black smith books I've really taken a deep interest for the profession. Growing up I've always had mentors who were praticing some kind of smithing, whether it be with leather or silver, it all required a certian ammount of level headness and flow that just made it irristable to me. For now I'm eyeing materials to create my own forge, but before I dream of hitting that anvil I've made an effort to read into some books to get a better idea of what to expect and how to get started on tecnique.I guess overall I wish to enjoy performing something that I have great respect for and that I'm completely in awe of. As for my everyday life, I'm Married for soon to be 2 yrs. Am about to have my 2nd child at the end of this year, gender still is a mystery to us, but we're glad in our first born baby girl. My small family has been greatly taken with period events such as Md. Renfaire, Potomac Celtic Festival and SCA. AS I noted in my profile I've always been good working with my hands whether it be landscaping,tailoring,carpentry,playing music or massaging. I guess that's it in a nutshell or more :-) Pleasure to be a part of this this group. -Bobby A.K.A. Hoary