FordPrefect

The way I see it as a beginner blacksmith, use the metal you are most comfortable in using for what ever you want to make, perhaps staying with one type of metal till you master the basic forging techniques and HT techniques for that particular metal, this is my approach to learning. Adding different metal types till you exhaust all basic metal types (1018, 1045, etc.) will add to your knowledge base, this will be used in the future to work unknown metals or junk yard metals, if so desired. This is what works for me, otherwise there is always trial and error, hands on, with figuring out unknown metal properties, which is also a desired element and which should be a part of the learning curve. Having the ability to ask a full time working blacksmith a question on a on any step in a forging process is priceless, thank God for IFI, for those of us working hobbyist that do not have time to take classes, this is a time and money saviour. Thank you guys, and you know who you are since you answered so many question, and at times repeated questions, I am sorry for repeated questions but some of us learn by repeating over and over till it sinks in (I think it has something to do with age). Thank you IFI.

Basher, I love the axes, incredible workmanship, maybe just add few words on how you made at least one, from point one from selecting metal to finishing and HT, thanks in advance for sharing. Here is one more I really fell in love and will attempt to make soon:

I did some metal spinning in high school, used aluminium to make a water cup...it seem fairly simple to thanks to Mr. Steve Vandervest who made metal spinning easy and fun.

That price is a steal, but you could still buy it, and then wait for some real steel to come along...

Is there a picture of the bottom of the stand?

I only knew of Grant Sarver by reading his posts. From what I read he freely and willingly shared his knowledge as well as his humor with all of us, thank you Grant. It is always sad when a man of Grant's stature passes away, my prayers go out to his family and friends.

I love this sculpture...

Love the anvil in the above drawing, this is from a fantasy book author Terry Pratchett.

The stuff we got is 1" to 1 1/2" and few bags of that larger size coal, it works just fine, I use a screen to remove ash and clinkers. The fire is good enough to do most work. I also picked up a gas forge so got all the basis covered.

Drewed, where are you dude?

Drewed, Just give them a call, there is someone there all the time. I am not sure what the ash content is but for a beginner just getting into blacksmithing this will keep the cost down.

Not sure ash levels, price is great for just starting out. Steve the samples of Damascus pattern examples are awesome on your web site. I love them all, the ladder, serpentine, and welded cable is really nice. Thanks for the link Steve.

Drewed, You have been overpaying, my other friend told me he gets his coal Burlington. I will PM Aaron Cergol for the fly press. http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/mat/2693092476.html Bud Soil's and Grading LLC. nut= 1 1/2" clear for wood burners or coal burners or forge 50 lb bags are $9 per bag. $8.50 a bag on a pallet of 50 bags/1.25 tons = $425 stove= 1 1/2" to 3" clear for wood burners or forge 50 lb. bags $9.50 per bag $9 a bag on a pallet of 50 = $450 rated 13,000 btu wood normally 5000 to 6000 btu

Drewed, I get my coal in Fond Du Lac, great price, and found a forge there. I was thinking of getting a Centuar fire pot and make my own stand and the rest. I don't feel bad anymore, it's just that if I tell someone I am selling something to them, then that is what I will do, it's a principle that I live by, my word counts for something. I would like to pick up a 80lbs anvil and a 145-165lbs anvil, that should cover what I want to do, price is not an issue but not going to pay over $3 per pound, obviously I need to see and if I like it, then price is not an issue. A friend who is a welder picked up a Trenton 150lbs anvil for $35, I have a picture, what a lucky stiff. Looking for a clean drop forge anvil (Hay Budden, or Trenton), verse the cast iron, so Vulcan even a clean one, is not all that, it was not meant to be for me, lol. Any help I get is appreciated, so if you know someone let him know I am looking for two anvils, but one would be great for starters, by the way I am doing the smithing in Big Bend, in your hood, I keep my honey bees there and plenty of room for me to do all the stuff I love to do. I will have extra two post leg vises, I will pick the better of the three I own, the other two I will sell or trade for an anvil, two of the tree are in great shape, I will clean them up before I get rid of them. Thanks Drewed for all the information, maybe we can meet one day, and have a coffee, love Starbucks.

Hi Brian, and thanks for the welcome.

Drewed, having a real hard time finding a good anvil, my friend who lives in your neck of the woods (Big Bend) found a 70 lbs Vulcan, but one that is not is in such a great shape. I had to buy three post leg vises just to get one that is good, that is sad. I got stuff to trade with now, but I am bummed that the guy sold the two anvil, just before i picked them up...oh well, patience is a virtue, especially when you have metal to pound on.

I thought in Waukesha they babble...lol, but yes we some of us from Milwaukee do refresh our self via the bubbler.

Oh we got a comedian, wow, from Waukesha, lol.

42: I could have used your help and knowledge few months ago when I and my wifes brother in law Bill started in this path to blacksmithing, now I have three different post leg vise (Columbian 4 1/2" jaws complete, Indian Chief 3 3/4" jaws complete, and Iron City 4 1/4" jaws missing few parts), will be picking up a very clean Vulcan 70lbs Anvil this Sunday. Hammers and tongs I have. Bill has two old forges, one post leg vise unknown manufacturer 4 1/4" jaws, 70lbs Vulcan vise, and soon will be adding 50lbs Vulcan. Getting big items was a nightmare, especially anvil's and post leg vises...the collectors created an artificial demand and the prices are sky high, which discourages people from starting in this hobby, good thing I am stubborn and persistent. Ebay, etsy, Craig's List are all good sources but sky is the limit and not knowing what to get and how much to pay for it was a learning curve, example for the post leg vises I paid $113.12 for the Iron City, $86.75 for the Indian Chief, and $90.00 for the Columbian. For the Vulcan Anvil I will dish out $200.00, which is $2.86 per pound. Unfortunately I found this and may other good web sites, after I acquired few initial pieces of equipment, that would have helped me choose the equipment much more wisely and guide me as to their value. So any help is appreciated.

Thank you all, I will be looking to find locals that are getting into forging iron, that is a bond that only few can hammer out.

Hi all, just starting out with blacksmithing...