Lendlas

I started on a 4" diamiter round slug of mild sunk into a stump, then I used a $50 Harbor freight junker, and after that I graduated to a 90# fisher. I have since moved on to a 150# finsher with a few anvils in between.
When I first started I thought that the face of the anvil had to be like glass but it does not. I love that my anvil has a nice grove worn into it. It actually helps with forging a convex blade.
You don't need anything fancy really, although that is never a bad thing to have. Some people say that the horn does not get used by a knife maker, but i use the horn when forging the rough bevel on my knives and then smooth it out on the face. Really, anything will do though.
I have a new 150# Emerson sitting in the shop that i never use, I forge on the old fisher instead. I just like it better.
I'm not sure if you have any experience forging but old work anvils offers a 4x4x4 chunk of steel, which would be a decent start if you are totally new to this. I'm not sure how far into the Adirondacks you are but if you don't mind driving you are welcome to stop over at my shop sometime, in Orange County.

Thank you wolverine.

yeah that's a good point vaughn..

only an hour..?  huh you must be not to far south of albany.. that isn't far... that is way more feasible... 

knives85 i will have to research the area to see if i can find scrap yard.. there is A1 in albany ny.. i sold a car to them for $400 once , for scrap metal..i'll start there..

I have no experience smithing... thanks for the invite, if i ever am able to drive down that way i will definitely hit you up on here.. i live near Exit 15 off of I87... so it would be a bit of a drive...

i think i should start as simple as i can .. and learn the fundamentals and hone basic skills for a few years.. before i reward myself with better equipment...i feel like i need to earn it..i feel like i need to learn to do it with bare minimums....

nice, thanks guys....I'd say the general consensus is, that one burner is more than enough.

thank you very much.... i think i will cross that bridge when i come to it..  the sword bridge that is...stick with quirky art and knives for a couple years...thanks for the tips

nice, I actually live not too far from ya...Gary... I bought a house in Corinth....

Originally from the Pottersville/ Schroon Lake Area

I would love to come check things out ... when I can manage the time..

Thanks for the tip Larry...I will check it out.

I appreciate the replies....

Hello everyone,

  My name is Beau, I am from (up)Upstate New York in the Southern Adirondacks.. I'm married with a 6 mos old son. Avid adventurer, Backpacking,mountaineering, kayaking. Spent half my life thus far in Wyoming.  Took an interest in metal work out west, where I took an adult Boces course on machining and welding.. I loved MIG welding , started to get the hang of Stick welding (it was still ugly) and really struggled with TIG.  Played around with torches, and plasma cutters. I also had a lot of fun with the lathes.. he taught us how to grind out our own cutting tool bits, in fact he wouldn't let us use the lathe until we proved we could grind them out consistently.  we never got a chance to work with the Mills.  Ever since then I have wanted to get into smithing.  I never had the space until now. We recently bought a house. now I have a garage.. and plan to build a dedicated out building for a shop..now it's about saving the money. I am eager to pick everyone's brain.. and perhaps someday down the line i will be able to offer some knowledge to future newcomers..

see ya in the threads.

that's good to hear... single burner are cheaper. i am not in the position to make my own yet.. someday i might want to do that.. but i want to get a handle on using them for a couple years... then i might know what i am looking to get out of my forge , and can make a more sound decision regarding design.  i was looking at the diamondback forges.. they seem to be the cheapest i can find .. single burner knife forge $350

thanks for the reply.

oh no , i am not opposed to a used anvil.. i saw some on craigs list,, they were banged up though...i'll keep searching... do you know of good places to find used anvils?

I figured, i just don't have the dough to drop 1000 bucks on an anvil , ya know?....

Has anyone had any experience with cliff carol anvils?

Hello,

I plan on learning to work steel on a little knife making forge.  and then begin to make knifes and small art.

Can someone enlighten me as to the pro's and cons of 1 burner vs. 2 burners.

I am assuming it is more evenly heated over a greater surface area? Eliminating hot spots. 

  Would one burner suffice, or would it be more of a headache than it is worth?

Hello all, 

What would you recommend for a knife making anvil?  By that, I mean weight wise?

77lb?  More?

Thanks

Ok, I see what you mean. That does make sense. The answers will present themselves.  I did plan on going the knife route for a few years.. I was just curious.

Thank you for the reply.

Hello Everyone,

  I'm an aspiring metalsmith. Hoping to acquire the necessary equipment, gradually over the next few years, and more than likely throughout the rest of my life..(lol)

  I had a question about forges. Gas forges in particular.  I actually plan on starting small, with knives. But, I was curious.  Lets say I wanted to make a 56 inch overall length( including length of tang) Great Sword (I just broke a sweat thinking about that chore).  What size forge would be necessary for such a task?  I figured if the forge was able to tackle that feat, it would be able to handle any sword shorter.

  Does anyone make a gas forge that can handle that size project?  Or would it require a coal forge?  I am just not so sure coal is readily available in my area, also, I am not so sure my neighbors would appreciate me burning it. 

Or is there some detail I am missing about forges. Like only needing to heat sections of the blade at a time. Flipping it around and doing the other half.  That way, to accomodate a 56 inch sword, a forge that is 28-30 inches deep?..

Thanks for the help.