ThorsHammer82

I don't know if you're going to find a cheaper to make forge than a brake drum forge. If you're resourceful you can source most of the stuff you need for next to nothing. If you just want to get up and running thats where it will cost money. Patience is a virture best learned quickly. lol.

choosing the right fuel is perimount in getting a good heat. especially in a solid fuel forge like you're trying to use right now. fire wood just doesn't cut it. get some lump charcoal or if you can find it coal. you'll be surprised how much it will help.

lol, wow, guess I nailed it. Looks great. I like the way it drafts off the hot side. Now you just need something to burn in it.

how much do you sell your knives for?

Rich,

I honestly don't think you started anything. more like you called someone out for their BS. an inherent side effect of certain ways of acting. Where as I agree it's sad if he decides that he was treated unfairly and decides to move on to "greener pastures" but at the same time, learning to live and interact with others is something that many people need to learn to do. People think because they aren't talking to someone in person they don't need to give them respect, or treat them kindly. It's the anonimity of the internet. It's a shield that people use to freely. In addition, it behooves someone to help themselves and to let people help them help themselves. To me, stating that you "like to protect your online security" is a statement that trust is not given and without trust there can be no free exchange of information. You can give enough information without risking your security and still be able to give poeple the information they need in order to help you. for example, I've got "Western Wa" as my location. I do not need more than that, but it gives people enough information to give me suggestions on places to start looking for something. A simple statement of I'm in the VT/NH area, or the DElaware/NJ area. or heaven forbid just to list a state, would give enough information for people to give you specific information, but not risk any security.

One must first play well with others before they can enter into a group. It is life.

I also just noticed the ridges in the piping under the forge that will mate to the slots in the bent U section. My guess is the bolts that old the cast peices on the U shaped angle act as a clamp to clamp the U onto those ridges and the blower to the U. I can't tell if you can or not, but the legs may be adjustable to the forge as well.

My guess, based souly on the pictures is that that bent U shaped section of angle iron slides into the two blocks on the bottom of the forge that look like they have nuts or bolts in the middle on either side of the ash dump, and the blower sits right in the U. the two sections of cast metal that are attached to the U look like they'll mate up to the two ridges cast into the blower shaft housing. so the blower should sit directly onto the tubing mounted to the bottom of the forge without any ducting.

Nice score.

get her up and running!

Old hard rock miners had a rule, if you missed and hit the guy holding th drill, it was his turn to swing the hammer.

Well, That has just become my new rule. If you miss and hit me, It's my turn to swing. Be it hammer, shovel, rake, etc.

I think I'm going to have to go down to the local metal recycle center....

I'm quickly running out of room for all my tools though. I may have to move some of them out of my shop and back to my garage.

it's more than likely just mild steel. no point in using a hardened steel for a stand. the coating is probably the same ceramic coating that was originally on the stove. it's a PITA to remove. but it can be done. Even if it's mild steel, that doesn't mean you can't make a knife out of it, it just wont hold an edge very well. it's good to use something like that to get used to making the shape you want. and to understand how to draw out the metal in the right proportions.

His user name says it all. He's a taker.

Best one I know of was a parent who demanded their toddler get a chance to hammer and was crouched behind the child "helping" when the child picked up the ballpeen in both hands, swung it up and *nailed* the guy right above his nose on the forehead with the peen.

LMAO! that one sounds like it was well deserved at least.

I'm sorry, but I think it was meant as an insult. You can list a state, or even a county and still protect your online safety. And I can assure you, no one from here is going to come knocking on your door. but to be frank, you come off crass and as discribed in the "insult" post. I would agree with Rich. in how he's less inclined to help you seeing as how you've proven yourself to be unwilling to help yourself by fulfilling a simple request as a general location.

I also find it hard to beleive that there are no metal supply places near you. Especially if you're in the NE of the US. Either you haven't looked hard enough, or you're not willing to look at all.

making metal into the shape of a sword does not a sword make. Without knowing the ins and outs of the metalurgy, the ins and outs of the full sword making process, and the proper balance and distribution of the material within a swords make up can you say you made a sword. and since you're having trouble finding stock to make a knife, I find it hard to beleive you made a real sword.

I'm not trying to stir the pot, I'm just calling it how my novice blacksmith eye see it. there may come a time when I try my hand and blade making, but I'm not there yet, and I understand that. One must first learn to walk before they run. and in this case, learning to source materials that you know are available is one of the first steps.

I apologize if you take offence to what I have to say. It is what it is. May your forge be ever hot and you anvil ever ringing.

Mosley,

Anything that can be built by welding  can be built with nuts and bolts, it will just be bulkier, and need to be sealed to prevent leaks.

I'd grab them in a heart beat. The more stuff you have to shape metal on, the better if you ask me. and if you're without an anvil right now, anything is better than nothing. but those sound like they are more than useable as anvils.

Those blowers look like what they moved too when the crank blower crapped out on them, or they got tired of cranking.

You may be able to find parts online... wouldn't know for certain as I've never looked for a hand cranked blower, or parts for one.

The grate is still functional and that's all that matters, a crack and some rust is nothing to worry about in a working forge. at least when it comes to the grate.

how much heat do you get at the Black PVC fitting? I know all the metal work on my forge gets pretty hot even that far from the fire pot, but then again, I don't have it clayed.

I'd say no.

You'll have a hell of a time getting holes drilled in it without cracking it. and to top that the coating isn't a good idea.

Brake drums can be gotten probably for free from a local brake shop. Just talk to the owner about what you're doing and you'd be surprised how easy it is to get what you're looking for. Or if you know anyone that does their own auto repairs they probably have one laying around collecting dust.

find a local metal supply. They should be able to get it in for you, and will probably be less than buying off the internet with shipping. Especially in the quantities that you need. (which FYI isn't much for a metal order) I've found that buying only, where it's convenient, is a waste of money. The only caviot is that you've got to have a way to transport smaller orders from your local supplier. If you're getting a large order of metal they will usually deliver if you're not to far away from them.

Not to mention it keeps the money in your area. buy local, grow local.

old mower blades are good starter knife material. and should be able to be gotten for free if you know the right way to ask.

You'll be surprised where you can find useful items. it's not all scrap yards and flee markets. I got a lot of metal and two anvils (large heavy hunks of metal) from a local rock quarry. A friend of mine knew the owner, and we got hooked up. Great guy by the way. other places to talk to are your local welding outfits, and heavy equipment repair places. A lot of them will have very large scrap piles, and may be willing to trade. You clean up the shop a little, they give you a shot at the scrap pile. stuff like that. Once you're up and running, making a few "thankyou" items for the places that helped you out is always a good idea. Best way to get them to let you visit again in the future too. Just talking to relitives can be helpful as well. Many people on here talk about how when they got started, their older relatives remembered that there was some RR spikes in the barn, or an anvil sitting un used in Grandpa's old shop. Etc. Your dad might know some people to talk to as well. It doesn't hurt to try at least. and if you involve him in it, he may be more willing to help you out in the process. Maybe even going so far as joining you in the search for tools and such. Knowing the people around you and what they are connnected to is a great thing to have. I'm 31 and have a house and kids of my own. but when I needed a good stump for my anvil I went straight to my dad who works in the lumber industry. it was a no brainer. You mentioned that your dad is a retired mechanic. I'd venture to guess he knows a lot of people that could help you out in this process. or at least help with sertain parts of the process.

you don't need money to start blacksmithing. you just need to be resourceful. I've sourced everything I needed for my forge build and my temporary anvil for $0. The only thing I'll have to buy is coal, and if you can find a supplier it doesn't have to be to expensive. I'm getting coal for $0.12 a lbs. and you don't need much space for a forge, just so long as it's outside and not near stuff that can catch fire. a driveway pad works great. or even just a gravel driveway/parking space.

You need to read through the posts. Use the search function, and don't put the cart before the horse. The items you're talking about making are the cart. you need to get the basics down first.

40" is really tall for an anvil. if you don't need it to be mobile I'd sink a stump into the ground low enoug that the post is at the right height  when placed into the stump. I wouldn't mess with the steel wheel at all. and get someone to weld a 15" across plate to the bottom with some gussets going up to the post if you want it mobile. You'll want to cut the length down a little though. just my thoughts.

carbon arch torches are used for cutting metal. I don't see it as a practicle way to just heat metal. Most carbon arch torches use air to blast away the puddle of melted metal, so basically without the air you're just going to get a puddle of metal that isn't any good for forging. With Temp control really being out of the picture, and the fact that you'll have to adjust for the melting carbon rod you're probably not going to get anything that is worth your effort.

The first projects on my new "anvil" a couple of bottle openers. Not perfect, but hey for someone who's only spent about 3 hours swinging a hammer so far with nothing but the internet as a teacher, I'm happy with them.