brucerdn

Thanks for the replies

Hello everybody,
Been awhile since I could do anything with blacksmithing finally in a position where I can. I have a question for everyone if you had 2000$ to spend on supplies what would you get? Ihave a good coal forge, hammers,some tongs, steel, an anvil, a press, a couple of different vices(take that anyway you want) and a few other things. What would those of you making a living at consider essential? thanks for your time

Ok, but with the fire would I have to make the charcoal, or would the heat of the fire have done the work for me so that all I have to do is cut it in to chunks

A question for you gentlesmith's. A major forest fire went through here last year would the burned out trees (pine) make charcoal?

Heard or read about a guy who dug a trench in the ground layed a piece of pipe in it.with holes drilled in it then built up the sides with clay from the creek let it cure attached his blower or air source to it and then proceeded to forge don't if ti's true or not but sounds life it might work

there's the big problem no one wants to pay what it's worth at least in my neck of the woods and thats why I'm just a hobby blachsmith. I refuse to something for nothing

You have a way with words Sir; thank you for being able to express what I feel

My Brother Seth just left for his third trip to Iraq. He told me to tell my school kids that he wasn't doing it for recognition or fame but because he wanted them to have the freedom to stand around on a street corner and mock the people that were giving their time and lives if they choose. Because they are free.
Sooner or later the price of freedom must be paid by those willing to give up everything so others can be free even if the others don't understand the price that's being paid.
I hope this makes sense I'm pretty worried about him 3rd time this time twice during Desert Storm.
I will never forget all the battles that have been fought and won so I can sit here and type my thoughts or ask ?'s Or just drink a beer in peace and freedom.

The only problem with an old vacuum is the noise my first forge had an old vacuum and it was terribly noisy but worked like a charm

Always check at the local high schools and colleges. If they have some kind of industrial arts program you'll be able to get some decent steel for free because at least around here the schools have to pay someone to haul it off.

Also I usually lurk more than submit, but this site has been an invaluable resource to me and I'm sure many others. I check it every chance I get and everytime I get on I find that someone has already asked and answered my Question Thanks Glenn and everyone else

Cute as a bug in the rug Congrats!!!!!! big time

How many of us have taken a screw driver out of a box and tried to stick it in a board or just tried to stick anything in something. I admit it and boy was my Daddy upset when he found it stuck in the wall of the shop. I found out that day how to respect tools and use them properly. I guess what I'm trying to say is if people were taught how to use guns and knives properly and the ones who didn't use them right were punished like they should be, instead of maybe getting a slap on the wrist. The rest of us wouldn't be walking around wondering when they were going to take away or hammers and pencils or anything that might cause potential harm (like a cup of hot coffee in the face). My 2 cents worth.

Irn
Hope you don't mind but i printed it off and read it to my class. Kids today just don't seem to apprieciate what this county has been through just so they can stand on a corner and watch the world go by.

My brother is in the army and has been to Iraq 5 times twice in desert storm and 3 times this time. He won't talk about what he's seen or done but I thank him and the good Lord for what he's done and keeping him safe. I also honor and praise all the men and women everywhere for the sacrifices they have made for our safety and freedom through out the ages.

As the saying goes "By hand and hammer do the arts Stand"

I would modify it a little And say by heart, hand and hammer do the arts stand

Thanks Andrei;
Didn't know that about the pennnies

Jim;
I wouldn't post any adds, in my experience a wantad just upped the price because people thought I was collecting, but when I got an aso and started banging on hot steel and just asking around blacksmithing tools started appearing and most of it reasonably priced or free. Because just about everybody had a relative who was a blacksmith, and they would really like to see the tools go to someone who would use them and take care of them. This included one 100 pound english anvil.

amen to that, and all the people in harms way

One source I found recently was the local high school and college, not alot of material but pretty good quality and enough to keep me in practice material. It also allows me to stretch my imagination to reshape it into something I can use, and they were happy to let me scrounge because it was that much less they had to pay somebody to haul off. This is only good if they have an industrial arts program. If you need it they also have pounds of 6013 and 7014 rod stubs 6"s or more long that still have use in them. makes me wonder what exactly they're teaching the kids, because there's alot of good stuff in the local high schools scrap tub.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Much clearer now. I will definitely look into those free volumes.

Brian

Listen to Ian and the others and definetly download the books they are really worth having with alot of good info.I'm a newbe to and have learned alot from the gentlesmiths on this site.
As far as burning up steel the only time I burn it up is when I start getting impatient and start cranking the blower to fast especilly(spl) on thin material

thanks Strine that really helps I knew it was something simple I was missing
Ralph I really hope you can find the demo I really would like to see a blueprint about nails and how to make them and thank you Mr Smith I'll watch the video when I get home.

? for all you gentlesmiths out there.I've read a couple of books about blacksmithing and would like to get some more instruction on making nails and rivets. I guess I really don't understand what a header is and how to make it work, if anyone could explain what the header is and what it looks like and how it is supossed to work I'd sure appreciate it

then pull them out of your fire put them in a baggie and sell them as dragon fewmets for 5$ apiece

actualy want to pay me to do something in the.....

beutiful how long did it take and what did you use for steel