Mr.Blacksmith

I started with a store bought hammer, and an anvil from a farmer friend, to make an anvil I am sure you would probably have to cast it, such requiring a large furnace. I would not know how to do such a thing. however, what I do know, is that for me, as a beginner things I tried to make were hard, and you may get frustrated but you must remember that practice makes perfect, I kept on reminding myself that my stuff is not perfect...yet. And I still have musch to learn. so I have continued to practice and i have become a lot more proficient in basic skills then when I started. What I am saying is, starting will be a little rough, but it is worth it. Always follow your dreams.

oh yes absolutely, at the low low price of free in three easy payments it's great. it is what i have been using to practice with in stead of going and buying some nice expensive stuff. it is a little hard to work but that builds the muscles and is helping to teach me hammer control. it also helps me learnt o watch the xxxx fire or burn off the tips of the relatively high carbon re-bar. any free metal is something you could use mess with, or just have plain fun with. i like to make my forge keeping tools out of the stuff, it comes in pre-cut sections (when i buy it) that are great of handling in the fire and out off. and now i guess i've gone really far into it but to answer your question, in my humble and mostly useless opinion, YES it is.

Sorry for the lack of haste in my reply, but I have been offline. My air supply is an old blower that I have from an inflatable slide. I have put some fire brick in the bottom and built a makeshift firepot kind of design. I will put pictures up tomorrow, but I am still looking for a way to make it more efficient

right now i am using charcoal, but i may use coal soon. i am ideally saving up for a gas burnr later. but as of now i am using charcoal, and possibly coal.

I just got this grill to use a forge. now i have a couple of ideas, where the square hole on the right side is, i may want to take some thick pipe and lay it on the bottom along part or most of the length of the grill/forge. then drill holes in the pipe with increasing size away from the blower in the pipe so air is evenly distributed. or i may want to enlarge a small hole on the side farthest (left) from the large square hole (that connects to the fire box i will probably not use here) and after enlarging the hole i may cut one of the grates so i can use the smoke stack as a type of ash dump after i cut it to fit. or i may do both, except put a divier in the middle so i have a firepot type design with a side type blower/pipe design i just described on each half.

now i don't have access to welding, but i can cut any metal and i can drill and bolt.
I have also attached some images of the other parts i have. i will probably be lining it with fire brick to increase heat retention.
thanks for any ideas!

Thank you sir, I wanted to do something simple, but not so simple it wouldn't work efficiently.

This is my forge, as you can see I took an old swing as my shelter. The forge itself is on a wooden table, which is protected by 3-4 inches of dirt and 1 inch firebricks. I burn charcoal with a electric blower I took from an old inflatable slide. It has gotten hot enough to weld. She's a good forge, but I am going to get a nice gas burner, save me a little trouble.

I've never fixed the edges on an anvil, and i have one that has none to speak of. ill post a pic tomorrow. but how would i fix them? Take an angle grinder to the thing... i'd hate to...

I've got a wheel grinder right now, it's small but does the job.

I've been thinking about a belt sander it looks like i'll have to get one. Along with the three hundred other tools I want :P

If any one knows where I can get an anvil near or preferably in Tennessee? I'm looking for one at about 100 pounds, give of take, for a reasonable price. With clean lines and flat face, good ring, you guys know the drill.

Thanks, Matthias

im looking into making my own kopis. but how did you manage such a nice curve to the blade, and how did you do the guard and pommel?

Thanks will do!

I am looking to upgrade the forge I have (charcoal) to a gas burner system. And considering I have a particular fondness for not blowing up, is there anything I should, shouldn't or need to do? I am especially unexperienced when it comes to building a gas forge, but I would like to try to build my own. however because of my lack of experience I wonder if I should simple buy Zoellers' Z burners, or take the risk and try to build my own myself?

Currently my forge is set up with a side blower for air and I have it raised and insulated with firebricks. I want to try to add in one or two burners so I don't have to worry about stoking my fire or adding in more charcoal.