David

For instance the chapter on BUILDING A FORGE...Since it is a beginning blacksmith book one would think that that chapter is going to give you some suggestions and/or photos on forge building. This entire chapter is about one page long and does not give any specifics on forge building. Most of the chapter covers the chimney then it ends with a suggestion to purchase a forge on Ebay or other auctions. There is one photo of an old Buffalo Forge Co. Forge. A lot of the information in the chapters quotes other blacksmithing books...mainly PRACTICAL BLACKSMITHING by M T Richardson. The cover states that there are 21 lessons in the book...well there are some lessons in there but either no photos or poor quality photos of the process accompany the scant written instructions. Many of the photos are POOR quality computer graphics of the process and/or blacksmithing tools used. Also, there is a lot of the following statements from the author...."I've never tried this but.........." I could give more examples but I didn't want to write a novel. In my opinion novice blacksmithing students would be better served by purchasing another book that would actually be helpful to a beginning blacksmith. I don't have an "ax to grind" with the author because the book was shipped to me promptly and as far as I know he is a great guy but maybe he is better at actual blacksmithing than he is at writing a book about blacksmithing instruction. This book appears to be hastily put together to capitalize on the current interest in the blacksmithing art.

Just an FYI for those of you thinking about purchasing the following book; A Complete Working Guide for the Beginning Blacksmith

What is the thickness of the steel that you used for your hearth?

I've got an old cast iron forge that I want to modify to accept a firepot. This particular forge that I have wasn't made to use a firepot. Could anybody give me some suggestions as to how to go about cutting the cast iron so I can put a cast iron firepot in the forge? Thanks David

My wife and I just got back from attending some classes at the John C Campbell Folk School. My wife had a great class and a great teacher. I wasn't so lucky with my blacksmith class. My teacher was a 28 year old who you would have thought invented blacksmithing as he thought he knew everything about it. He was also habitually late for class times. Meals were kinda skimpy too!!! Not nearly worth what they charge you for them.

Get a copy of THE BACKYARD BLACKSMITH it was just published in 2006. You get this one and NEW EDGE OF THE ANVIL and those will be the only books that you need.

Ralph, One of the blowers that I have is one of the small rivet forge style Champion blowers and the other one is a larger style blower but not a #400. The gearbox on both them are almost identical. Neither of the blowers have a model number and the only numbers that I have found on the larger blower is the number 53 stamped on the gearbox. That number appears to be a part number instead of a model number. If anyone ever assembled a good reference book on Champion Blower & Forge equipment they would probably sell quite a few copies since there appears to be a definite need for that info. THanks David

Ed, Thanks a million for posting that link to the machinists forum concerning taking Champion blowers apart. You can find just about any info you want on the internet EXCEPT info on Champion equipment. The only way that his reply could have been more helpful was if it had had photos too. I have two Champion blowers and the second one I decided to "experiment" on since, at the time, I couldn't find any info. I wanted that Champion Catalog CD Rom that they have listed on the Anvilfire site but it is out of stock and my e-mails inquiring on when it might be back in stock have all gone unanswered. Now, my question....The Champion blower that I disassembled seems to have a hard rubber sleeve that surrounds the (non-crank handle) gear shaft and the fan shaft. I can still use the original ones but I thought if there was a modern replacement part that I would do that. Any suggestions? I also need to find a gearbox cover for it too. David