ChrisB

was surfing and came across this.. How to Make a Blacksmith Forge - Blacksmith Skills for Beginners - Popular Mechanics

Homerville, thats almost home for me. I grew up in Spencer.

Mark, Thank you. I just thought I saw you say in another thread you didnt use 20 mule team but something else.

Cool stuff! Add some pix and you'll have a nice BP

If the backyardcasting guy made it work for melting metal it should be fine for forging. Like others said there are better choices however we all understand living withing a budget or using what you already have on hand. You can put it together and work for a while until you decide this is something you want to do as a hobby or maybe move on because its not you. If you end pursuing the craft you got a low cost start and will be able to direct forge funds into other tooling until the time comes when the clay liner dies.

Mark, What type of flux do you use? Thanks Chris

I've been surviving for some time with a 4 1/2" grinder or two.

I would keep this link handy. Longevity - WeldingWeb

Make a mini heave hammer.

Use Lab Metal. Be warned when it hardens its requires a file to shape it.

Marine Tooth Brush. aka small wire brush. Or even better, chuck it in the blast cabinet.

I love my Hobart 210 its a 220v machine. I suggest you get a Hobart. They have their own forum that is well watched by Hobart techs. When I got my machine I had a simple question about setup. I picked up the phone dialed the 1800 number and was talking to a real live human in less than 30 seconds.

With the amount of Diesel Isuzu small box trucks on the road i would be looking for a motor out of one. You may luck out and find it'll bolt right up to your trans.

The local welding shop told me oxy/propane uses 3x the amount of oxy as oxy/ace. So you negate the savings by spending more on oxy.

quit drinking beer

A wooden sign that says "Always more coal"

I know I should have know better. But I figured the directions said it could so why not...

Was working on a second 1/4 x 1" ring 22" dia when it broke in several pieces. The tension "arm" is made of nylon not steel. Glad I only paid .99 cents for it on ebay.

lets see a pic of these fancy clod hoppers.

How many amps is the motor trying to pull on startup? If its cold its going to pull more. You may have it plugged into a 15amp circut when it really needs to be plugged into a 20amp circut.

A filtered clean air supply goes a long way in consumable life.

I had a tank freezing problem when it was 80

+1 on Glenn's post.

Get the impact socket. Take it and the fork to a machine shop and ask them to cut a hole at your desired spot that is undersize for the socket yet correct when the fork is heated with a torch. Once home freeze the socket and heat the fork. Once together weld from the underside.

The only thing decent in your price range is a Lincoln or Miller or hobart "Stick" welder. All are going to require a 220 50amp outlet to operate. 110v welders are really meant for light work, 1/8 or less. Thermal Dynamics makes a 110 unit that fits your price range. The local shop sells them and warns that they are really only for repairs not fabrication. Sign up for TSC's email flyer they send out a 10% off coupon about once a week on various stuff. About every other month it will apply to a welder. Getting a 220 outlet needs to be your first purchase.