ATLPilgrim

I'm not going to lie, the main reason I wanted to start learning this craft was for wrought iron and bladesmithing, but I also understand the need to get out and learn the basics first. And then relearn the basics because jumping into bladesmithing is understandably not simple. That being said, I DO want to learn it, but I'm following the "Blacksmithing 101" syllabus before I hop into "Forging Muramasa's Katana".

How much do you pay if you don't mind me asking and directing me there because...well...I live in Georgia so that may be a viable option lol

Ok, see I have a firepit very near where my forge will be and I burn slash and do bonfires quite often, but I've never really thought to just take them from under the ash because I was under the impression that when you let the fire die down all the charcoal simply burns away? Is there a way to stop this? Also, when starting up your forge every morning (or whenever) what's the best and most practical way to do so?

So I've been registered here for a couple of days now, soaking up all the info I can on this amazing craft, and I think I'm ready to start asking some questions (after doing a search first, obviously). I think for my first forge I'm going to be going the "old grill" route (so if there are any good blueprints on one, if nothing else so I can see pictures, please let me know) but operating on a low budget right now I don't think I can really afford coal especially with the lack of experience I have. To me that sounds like burning away money. There are no associations around here (anymore ) and no colleges offer courses that I've found but I have an absolute abundance of oak and pine (though something tells me the pine pitch will be something to stay away from?). I know the basic deal is light fire, burn wood, and transfer to forge. What I don't understand are things like, do the chunks of wood need to be about a similar size to the charcoal I want going into the forge or bigger since some will be burned off? Dees it really matter if the wood is completely seasoned beforehand since it's getting burned anyway? Any help on the topic would be awesome guys, thanks so much for being such an awesome community. My blacksmithing questions begin :D

Thanks for the welcome guys, can't wait to get started. I feel like I'm in class :D

Hey guys, just a quick hello from the Deep South. I've been kind of lurking around some smithing websites trying to find the best I can for someone who is clueless to the trade and I was referred here by a buddy. Trying to soak in all the knowledge I can and at the same time actually get my hands working on things so any assistance anyone could toss my way would be awesome and greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance y'all :D