NoviceSmith15

Thank you! Matt~

Thanks everyone for your help and comments--I got in a huge load of bituminous coal today, along with some new steel pieces which I am currently using to make a gift for my sister--I found a pretty cheap place to get new steel for a reasonable price, so I think I'm all set to go, especially since I found that my bathroom vent is definitely enough to heat coal to a perfect temperature! heeheeheeheeheehee :D Matt~

OK, so, last month I was rummaging through some scrap metal in my great-grandpa's man-cave, and--WHOA!! I found actual iron ore! It had a almost black surface, so at that time I thought it might be coal. I whacked it with a hammer hard enough to break it into three chunks, and found not coal, but iron veins inside. So, with that said--WHAT THE HECK DO I DO WITH THIS???! Like, can I burn it down to extract just the ore with my small brake drum forge and bathroom vent fan? If anyone has any idea what to do with iron ore, please tell me! Thanks! Matt~

Wow! that is really nice! Was it hard to make???

Thanks all of you for your suggestions and help--I really appreciate it! I realize now that I'm going to want to get much further along in this trade before thinking of a bellows--my dream smithy looks like this: a raised stone stage with a timber roof and open sides with pillars--a square, stone forge, an anvil, and a good old fashioned bellows, with wooden racks to hang tools and products on. I know that's real far off, but it's what I'm aiming for. I will think about and mull over what all of you have said and plan on building my own bellows in the future, hopefully once I have an indoor shop. Thanks again for taking the time to help me out! Matt~

Thanks for your help!

Hey everyone! I just was looking at the many associations listed in the bottom section of the forum, and noticed that there were none listed for Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina. In case there are other blacksmiths in this area who need an association to go to, here are a few I know of: ABBA: the Alex Bealer Blacksmithing Association, arround Doraville, Georgia. John C. Campbell Folk School, near North Carolina in Brasstown, Georgia. You can also find many blacksmiths near the North Georgia mountains--I have watched and heard of maybe five or six Smiths demonstrating in Dahlonega Georgia, Blairsville Georgia, and Helen, Georgia. Those are all I can think of just now, so there they are, for those in need of associations near these states :) Matt~

Yes, I have read that I can make my own--and I'm sure I could do it if I just worked hard on it--but I am a little concerned about the cost--leather (for the bellows) is pretty expensive, and I have limited funds (I'm fifteen, so that might explain it..). However, I would love to see how you made yours--unfortunately I don't have a FaceBook account, so I can't access your tutorials--is there any way you could attach them here? Thanks! Matt~

K, I'm a new member here, and I was looking at the T-Shirts in the Store section; what sizes to they come in? does anyone know? Matt~

Hey everyone! I have another question. Someday when I'm a multi-million dollar blacksmith (Ok, I know...the blacksmith make-a very little moneys no?), I want to have an old-fashioned bellows at my disposal--does anyone know where to find them? I've searched eBay, Amazon, Craigslist.com, etc., but haven't found a one. Any ideas? Thanks! Matt~

Mr. Krankowski, I was actually just thinking that, as I went to Home Depot earlier and found that a single three foot rod of steel costs over 7$, compared to the fact that I could go find used metal for free or cheaper if I wanted to. My only concern is if I want consistent, new metal to work with--however, I've got some ideas, so I think I'm headed the right way! Plus I'm getting in a good load of coal soon, so if I can just work with what I've got now until I find a cheap place to find some more metal, I'll be in good shape. Thanks! Matt~

Thanks! I will try Lowes and Home Depot out! Matt~

Thanks guys! Especially you, Mr. Don, for looking those things up for me--that was much appreciated--I will be going to steel-mart soon! Thanks! Matt~

Thanks! I'll keep your suggestions in mind when I get back to lighting some coal :)

Hi everyone! I have recently made my own forge, and have coal on the way, but I have a question: where best can I look for metal? Junkyards? Steel companies? If anyone has any suggestions, please share! Thanks! Matt~

Thanks! I will have to try that and see--I've also been interested in trying corn out for fuel, after reading what other members here have said about it. I hope to get some teaching from an experienced blacksmith someday soon--I've studied a good bit, but that can't equal actual experience. I've heard of a few veteran smiths I might be interested in learning from someday... :D

Thanks! unfortunately, I'm not able to turn my blower down, as it has only one function: blow. But hey, so far it works for charcoal--dunno about coal though... :D

Definitely Gobber and Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon--Knight's Tale is not my best-est movie. Also the Elves in Lord of the Rings--they act out a great example of using rocks for anvils!

Just wanted to say that today I finally got my feet wet in this trade: I got some charcoal, put it in my forge, lit it, and after a struggle to keep it aflame, turned on my blower, put a small steel rod in the heat and presto! I got a thrill as I pulled the rod out of the fire and saw cherry red-heat! I quickly brought it to my makeshift anvil, hammered it, and after a few tries, had a piece of metal shaped like a candy-cane, which I will use to scrape and shift the coals. Thanks all! :D Matt~

Alright, I got it up. Also, I wanted to inform you all that if you're in my neighborhood, snack and nap are a given, but...eh...me age be fifteen, so...Negative on the beer, OK? But hey, I've got plenty of H2O, if you can handle that! B) Matt~

K, thanks! I think I know how to put that on my header....

Yes, that definitely answered my question--I was thinking of using charcoal for starters, so that helped a lot. Thank you!

Hi everyone, the names Matt--I'm a new member here and have recently become interested in blacksmithing. I have already built my own brake drum forge, and I've got a solid block of steel, a little over a foot long on all four sides, and plan to use it as a starter anvil. I'm hoping to get to the banging of certain shiny objects soon, so I need to ask a question: how much air is needed to get your fuel (I don't have any coal yet) hot enough? I actually had planned on using just a recently-replaced bathroom vent fan as a starter blower, but I'm wondering if that would generate enough air? I know that blacksmiths have used anything from a hair dryer to intense leather lung bellows and champion 400 blowers, so I just don't know exactly how much air flow will be needed to actually get the metal hot enough. If anyone has any answers for me, it would be very appreciated. Thanks! Matt, 15~