Rob Browne

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.

If that is your first effort then you are going to go far real fast :)

Good advice above. I have spent a lot of time in the martial arts as both a student and instructor and the weapons training never comes in till just on the first black belt and that is to show the basics only.

Find a good instructor and get a good foundation first then build up.

Now that is really lucky. I live not far from one of Australia's coal mining centres BUT actually getting small amounts of coal for a forge is really hard. No-one want to deal in the trailer load or bag.

I am lucky in that my forge is a dedicated tin shed so fire is not a great threat BUT I have a tap and hose connected just outside the door incase its needed. Mainly for the roof insulation or the grass when its dry.

Welcome to the site. I suppose you will be dong the same as me and sitting a LOT going through all the info here :)

That is what is happening to me. The forging is starting to take over from the original hobby. I suppose that is healthy that we move around through a set of hobbies as we travel through life.

Welcome to I forgeiron from another newbie.

I wonder just how many get into this hobby by trying to make their own tools for another hobby. That is what has kept me going for years, just making tools.

I always make my kids wear jeans and boots when forging and wear my old farriers apron. Also it just looks awkward hammering while sitting.

As for the hook from the point, mine drew a point then proceeded to try to turn the pointed rod into a sword! Fairly good effort till he burnt the "blade" in half

They are both a bit less ambitious now and are getting their skills up on the mundane exercises of making pokers, hooks and modifying tongs.

Cheers

I'd have to agree. If I had a 188lb anvil that was in good nick there is no way I could justify selling it and getting another to do the same job. Unless you re into forging REALLY heavy iron.

Stick, Oxy, MIG and the forge :)