Rob Browne

I was thinking about the rule not to overheat tool steel past bright red otherwise you wreck it. If this is the "rule" then how are you supposed to weld it in the forge? I usually get it up to welding temperature and go for it with no really obvious effects but then I have only ever welded handles onto tongs like this which are not really under any significant stress.

I find that if I have a good hot fire with the green coal coking around the sides and keep gradually adding the coke the smoke is really minimal. I constantly keep adding the coke and try not to have to rebuild the fire very often although, you will have to do this every so often to keep your fire clean. Keep the fire bright and add the new fuel slowly is the answer :)

I'll second that thought. So much work that is easily taken for granted.

Welcome to the site Highlander. Lots of info here for you to trawl through, it never ends :)

You are off and running. But not for long if you don't get the safety gear Enjoy

Welcome from Down Under :)

Another forger that stands the right way up!! Welcome to the site from across the ditch :)

If your forge is near a wall I would be placing a small vent in the wall behind the forge. That way the cold air would be drawn in past the forge and heated a bit. You must have good ventillation, all the detectors in the world will only tell you that you have a problem, not fix the problem.

Glad I don't have some of those views, I would never get anything done. I see my vegie patch and fruit trees one way and a valley full of gum trees for miles the other.

Sounds like you are having great fun. Keep it up :)

Can't you just use the anvil during the day or are there laws there about noise? Here we can do almost anything during the day, its just the night time that noise is monitored.

Its a bit like riding a bike. You never forget, but you may be a bit rusty

Welcome to the site Frank. Any tips on armour would be most welcome, my boys will be continually pestering me about it soon.

Welcome from Downunder Mark :)

Welcome to the site Simon. Now for some serious input from you for us triers and wannabes :)

Welcome Craig. What is with all the Mexican smiths in Ossie??

Nice forge and a great job on the cleanup. the first projects are fantastic, its amazing just how many people want to make a sword as their first project and not start with the basics. Keep it up :)

Those compressed beads kind of work but you had better have a good supply handy. You go through them at a VERY rapid rate. Cheers

Part of this game is that it is VERY unforgiving when things go pear shaped.

If you have to use new/raw coal to start the fire try getting a bright wood fire going and put the coal around the edges so it cokes a bit then slowly add it to the fire. Keep the wood going till you have a bright coal fire then keep it surrounded by coal that is coking and add the coke as its needed. Make sure you have some coked coal when you finish so you can use that to start next time and the smoke will be less. Once any fire gets enough heat in it it will somke less.

How did it happen? Were your tongs adjusted to the job or were they a lose fit?

Just wondering how many Australian members there are and where they are located.

If you have a scrap metal yard near you then you are made. Redimensioning stock is one of the basic skills you will need to master so initially I would find some mild steel and forge up some fire pokers, rakes and shovels. Remember to work it hot (yellow) and keep it hot. As for hardies, etc old springs are good for these. Bit different to handle to the mild steel. Don't heat is as much, up to bright red, and definitely don't beat it when it is cold as you could crack it. When working this metal the anvil can actually have a hardening effect on it as it cools the metal quickly, a bit like a quench. If you keep beating it then it can crack easily. Above all else, have fun and learn :)

Welcome to IFI Borderman. You will be like me now, spending LOTS of time going through the posts and Blue Prints. Lots of info here :)

If you do grind your hammer make sure the edges are not sharp but are left a bit rounded otherwise you will end up with lots of sharp edges on your work that are rolled over like waves making a scrappy surface which will have to be ground away.