Ridgewayforge

Well, I for one can't wait to see your work! Welcome to this tremendous compendium of all knowledge metal!

Welcome to IFI! Always glad to have you here. Sounds like you've got a leg up on most, having worked with metal. What do you plan to do mostly? General smithing? bladesmithing?
Whichever, I wish you luck with it!

That is a fantastic video. I might have to try this soon. Tell me, how does that fit in a pocket though? I agree with Rob. Good choice for music. Refreshing after hearing the sharp sounds on most smithing videos. Well done!

Looks like a good buy, as long as the face and edges are good.

I'm looking to build a side-blowing charcoal/coke hybrid forge. Does anyone know whether its better to have the blower blowing in through the back or through the side?

I am planning to build it in a rectangle, akin to propane forge designs, with the front open. Should I place the opening for the fan on the long side or in the back opposite the opening? Any help would be great.

Can't wait to see some blades! But, don't be afraid to try other things as well. I know the satisfaction of making your own cooking utensils or hooks, and I can imagine you've felt the same about your knives.

Welcome, welcome! Wood working is pretty impressive, it'll come in handy if you want to make yourself knives and their handles.
Your plan for you forge set-up sounds pretty nice. Also, do check out the local blacksmithing organizations near you. Sounds like you're on the right track!

Some Aloe is a good idea. Clean rag is also good. Some contact solution for eyewash. Cheap, yet effective.

Well it was hard, whatever it was. I didn't try as hard as I should have (I was more interested in making myself a fork), so some other time I'll have to try it again. Seemed pretty darn hard, though.

I use charcoal in my set-up. I get a big ole fire going, and once there is a nice bed of coals, I cover the fire to make like a log cabin, it's both charcoal and wood. Just today I forged myself a good eating fork. Without a blower, too! I just use a fireplace bellows and the natural propensity for the wind to blow on my fire. Got it up to orange heat!

Charcoal can burn cleaner than coal, depending on the quality of both. But on the whole lump charcoal from the store is a great fuel.

Will do!

So in general these blades are not HSS?
Would they be high carbon steel? I just know that these blades have taken a beating over the last 18+ years, so I know its good steel, just not sure exactly what it is. Thanks for all the input, its a great help!

Does anyone know if High Speed Tool Steel makes a good knife?
I have some tines from a Rotary-tiller that I just repaired today, spark test makes me think that they're HSS Tool Steel.
They're already in a rough shape of a knife, but I want to know if there is anything I ought to know about forging, quenching and tempering before I attempt.
Thanks!
~RidgewayForge

Joseph, I'm around Frederick, I like to call it podunk, not a whole lot around here.

ThomasPowers,
I just know that some people tend to look on using a campfire as a little bit novice, but I say anything that can cook your bacon AND the fork you eat with is worth trying. It takes a little longer in the campfire vs. a forge, but I like the wait. Its rather relaxing. I'll definately go check out that book, I've found a few others that were rather good, too, although I cannot remember their names.

Thanks all for the resources!

I'm a newbie from Maryland, and boy am I glad I found this forum!

I got started in blacksmithing fairly recently, although I've been interested for a while. The first time I saw a 'smith was a number of years past when I hiked in the Sangrio Cristo mountains near Cimmaron, NM.
I played around at first, hammering some hot metal that I heated in a campfire.

Nowadays I have a better set up, but some of you might say my methods are 'uncouth' and 'unconventional', or even 'wrong'.

I still heat my work in wood fires. I've figured out ways to build up a campfire so that it mimicks a forge's heat output. I have a few pieces of railroad track that I use as anvils, which serve my purpose well. (Yes I know they're not the best, but they're what I got for now.)

So far it's been a struggle, but I've been figuring things out slowly but surely. I've made hooks and a utensil to lift pots, and want to expand what I can make.

I appreciate having this space to gas about myself and my experiences! I look forward to learning all I can on here!

~RidgewayForge