Ridgewayforge

That's a nice piece of handiwork! Beautiful!

Beautiful anvil! Sharp edges mar your work, too, unless you're super-accurate with your hammering. If you nedd a sharp 90 degree bend on say a nail hook, makie the radiused edge and then use a nail-header to put a sharper bend on it.

Sounds like a solid set-up!

I personally think it could be done, and the gears would provide enough to keep the fan going well enough. It might take a tad bit extra work than say, a champion 400, but it'd work, in my opinion. I might try it.

This guy did it: http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/23179-my-forge-with-a-homemade-blower-mechanism/

Well, this is a blacksmith forum. We seem to all share the love of blacksmithing, as we are here. If we pursue this hobby, then wouldn't we be blacksmiths?

Always possible they were repuposed as staples.

Potentially easier would be to scrap an old bike and use the gears. That way, you still get the control of the hand-crank while making it easier on you. What do you use now? Bellows? Your lungs? A blower would be a step up, and I see no reason why a bike wheel wouldn't work, though I'd go for the chain and gears. I've been toying with the same concept for a bit.

That's an excellent looking set up! What is the ceiling height at the peak of the roof? I've been trying to plan one of my own and am getting stumped on the slant of the roof.

That's what Smithing is all about! Make and use!

I would get them to fit the size. That's my personaly advice, having used ill-fitting tongs. Just get the right size and go from there. And, just to second the others, if you feel so inclined making your own tongs is a good forging excercise!

Welcome from Maryland! Glad to see you've taken an interest in smithing! Try to get in touch with the local blacksmith group-incredible resource!

I've finally got a picture of one of the nails. They're all largely the same as this one, except for a few odd smaller bits. I'll make sure to use these well- old nails sure are interesting!

Tom, I searched but could not find the exact book you mentioned. Is there a link you could direct me to? I did a spark test today, and yes indeed they are wrought iron, so far as I can tell. They match up with the long streaks with very slight bulbs on the ends of the streaks. Also, I find that they are not nearly as rusted as any of my other metal, which seems an indication of WI, since it rusts slower than other metals. Junksmith, I'd love to see those pictures! We'll see what I can get done with them. I'll probably keep getting batches of them from time to time, but we'll see...

Thomas, my mistake! I meant the bellows! I'd be quite interested in building one of those, with an adobe forge. I figure It'll combine two hobbies: working out and forging!!! :D Frosty, I like that style, using a river as a draft! I'm hoping to come across some better equiptment soon, but for now I'll use what I can and I'll force it to make do! Jm, How does a wheelbarrow work for the table? Was it a shallow one or was it deeper? I've considered that...seems to be a low cost alternative to scrounging some sheet steel.

Thomas, do you have any specifics on building one? I'd like to, but there is little information on it, or so I've found. I searched for it and looked in the blueprints, but to no avail.

Odd Duck, I've been saving up for one of your hand-cranked models! I can't wait until they come out!

I'll try spark testing them to see if they're WI or some other metal. Phil, becuase of the Chestnut blight that started killing trees around the turn of the century, I'd say these nails are no younger than 1910, and I'd imagine they're a bit older than that. I'll spark test, but I don't know if they'd use carbon steel back then. Also, I've got some other hardware from the same batch-some hinge-pintles and a huge staple- I'll try them, too. One has evidence of being forge welded (which is rather cool to see, from so long ago) I'll try to get some pictures soon.

I recently got a handful of old factory cut nails from my workplace (previously they were used in a barn). I thought they'd be great for forging little hooks to sell, but boy was I wrong! Perhaps someone has some information about these things, but the old cut nails didn't do well at all. I've read a bit about them on this website: http://www.appaltree.net/aba/nails.htm, but couldn't figure out why they weren't good raw material for forging. First off, they just crumbled when I hit them. They acted like they were hot short, and that perplexed me. Shouldn't these be mild steel, or am I dealing with a different metal altogether? Second, they split right down the center. Does anyone have information regarding old cut nails from ~1875 and later? They were taken from some chestnut beams. Thanks!

I'm not real intent on getting the forge itself, I just want to be able to heat metal without waiting eons until its hot enough between heats. (that fire gets darn hot, too, and the radiant heat is a killer!) A forge blower is what I'm after. I met a man who owns an antique store, he smiths himself and he'll let me know when a blower comes in. I've thought of the 55 forge, and if I can make some time I might try it. Thanks Caleb for the encouragement!

What's in a name? Especially the name "blacksmith"? Does it mean actually pounding on hot metal, or trying to do your best at it? Being low on cash I have no real forge. Nor do I have a brake-drum forge with a hairdryer, (which I would consider real, but just for now let's pretend its not.) I have a fire. Many times I have gone out to my fire ring, lit up a fire and labored intensively on it, trying to make it hot enough. I wait a minimum of one hour before I try to smith on it, letting a good bed of coals gather. Then, armed with nothing but a 5-gallon drum lid and a fireplace bellows, I fan the flames. And I keep at it, until my arms nearly fall off. I alternate the two, depending on whether I need a concentrated heat or a hotter fire. I call it my Determination-fueled forge. I am saving now for a rivet forge with a nice hand-cranked blower (oh how I pine for it!!!!), yet I know that I'll always carry with me the knowledge of "if you set your mind to it, you can do almost anything! After a terrible day today at the forge, its helpful to remember to never get discouraged. Its a good excercise, forging over a campfire. If you get a chance, try it! At the very least you'll appreciate the "modern" technology of blowers!

Where are you located? You can get 50 lb bags of smithing coal cheaper from (admin edit: blacksmith gatherings). Even with shipping. I would just go with good coal. It'll save you a headache and lots of frustration!

I'm sure most of you have been given something (or many things!) free or almost free throughout the years, just becuase someone heard you were a smith. Let's hear about it! I know for me last night I was given a knife blank of Damascus steel by a man who had heard I did some forging. Even though I don't make knives (yet), That kind of generosity is great to see! So, what've you been given, either by random people, friends or mentors, "just becuase you're a 'smith"?

I think maybe the key word here is "pressure". Anything, if your forced to do it, becomes distasteful. If I were to let my relaxation at the forge turn into a production facility, then I'll feel pressured into making more and more and then, I'll need a NEW hobby. On the flip side though, making a few small items for friends seems like a good way to add to the "I need a new anvil" fund!

Is his anvil a Harbor Freight?