Coming from a "I know nothing beginner" IFI has been a invaluable source of info! If your are starting from scratch like I am I would recommend research research research. I've spent about three solid months reading/searching the net sites and asking anybody I could find that had a background in blacksmithing,welding or metal fab. questions that mignt be helpful in the process. I've down loaded the free books from the links available from IFI and read them over and over(somtimes I'm a little slow).
Just in the last few days I've put together a few parts of the adventure, got a old piece of rail track...coal car rail a litle small but it beats a rock...a old bbq grill and some sch.40 nipples,T, and a 8'' flange for the fire pot(soon as i get a digital camera I'll try to put the pics. on). Went to one black smith demo at a steam engine show to watch and will join BAM through the fine people that I met there who where more than eager to help with any questions that I had. Baby steps and careful planing seem to be helping me.
But I'm sure there will be nothing like hitting the iron that will teach me the most.