norrin_radd

Man, I like that clothes dryer forge! Here is the forge I made from a plow disc, Link to video

I made a hood from a stainless trash can and the back of a smoker I'm using coal but it should work for charcoal I guess. I made a video of it working.

This is just a quick video demo of my forge and chimney I made mostly from stuff I already had. The highlight of the video is making part of my chimney out of a stainless trash can (woohoo!). This is also my first Youtube channel/video. I figured I'd start to take video of the things I'm learning to make as more of a personal historical document. Anyway I'm not a pro but it was fun and maybe it will give somebody some ideas. Anyway let me know what you think.

This was my first "Anvil" http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/38038-side2/ Just a piece of 2" plate on end, with a few customization's, its a drop from a local steel fabricator. Since I did eventually find a "real anvil" I may turn this into a striking anvil. Don't limit yourself.

Its really hard to beat Autocad but it is pricey. I have had some success with sketchup, I liked the older version better, 8 I think. I have demo'd Microsoft Visio years ago and it had potential but I dont think its as good as sketchup for the money. If you're going to buy something Id go with AutoCAD LT.

Welcome from another novice. There is alot of info here and a great place to learn. Have fun.

I found this at an antique mall for a buck. I say tong(ish) because they may not be tongs at all. Figured I'd try to find out before I turned them into something else. The ends are shaped differently.

thanks for all the advice. Ill see what I can do with it.

That is a great idea. Might be my next tool to try to make. thanks

Member Kette commented on the pic in my gallery about the hot cut possibly damaging the hardy hole by using it diagonally. Should I try to upset it more at the base and try to make fit the entire hardy better or sit flatter on the anvil? When I insert it in at 90 degrees its just a little too narrow and has alot of slop. I used it, and it cuts just fine and wasn't hard to make, but I dont want to damage my anvil in the long run. Any advice would be appreciated.

Co worker gave me an auger tooth he found. I made a hot cut out of it. My first attempt at forge welding was to get those pegs together and I think it came out pretty good. Tapered the edge, and heat treated in oil. Works good so far, fits better on a diagonal. http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/38678-hot-cut-hardy-tool-from-auger-tooth-ready-for-action/ http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/38677-hot-cut-hardy-tool-from-auger-tooth/ I haven't posted much lately but I have been in the process of building a shop. I basically got it built just laying out the inside now. You can kind of see my forge that I just got finished in one of those pics. Just rigged a dimmer switch to the fan this week. One day soon I'll have to post some pics of the forge and my new shop.

Saw this one yesterday, seemed kinda funny to me: "vtg tool miniature railroad spike hammer sales sample / blacksmith hole puncher" Just kinda throwing anything in there to get views I guess, asking 199.99, unless I'm missing something I just don't see it.

Great vid and nice tongs. I liked the "kiss" blocks too. I am planning on building a guillotine tool and had wondered if something like that would work. Nice to see some in action.

I'm just a newb but I bought a bathroom exhaust fan from a big box hardware store for about 20 bucks to use in my coal forge. It works well enough to burn the tip off of a rr spike. :( I did have one of those bounce around things for kids to jump in with what I think would be an awesome blower, but I sold it like a month before I got into this, doh!

Thanks, the length on that crank shaft was perfect and it adds a lot of weight. I have been eyeballin that crank shaft in a scrap pile for years. I probably should take some better pics of it and post in the vise section. The angle in that anvil pic may make it look a little weird, it may be that the distinct Star anvil shape makes it seem that way too. I made a base for it from an old creosote pole and some 2x6's screwed to the top of it to get support out to the anvil feet, the pole was just a little shy of being big enough. Its kind of ugly but gets it off the floor. I have a possible line on some large oak blocks that I may switch to.

The main reason I went back for it is because I had researched it on this site and found out its history, thanks for the info. I took a my drill with a wire brush to it a little bit and the face does look a lot better. Cant wait to get a stand made and start using it. Thanks again for all the advice.

I finally bit the bullet and bought me an anvil. Its a 150+lb Star I think its in pretty good shape. It is probably in the best shape of any I've seen in person. But the top is not very smooth, and the edges don't have a real uniform radius, no radius at all mostly. What should I do to this anvil, if anything, before I start to use it? http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/38405-americanstar150/ Thanks

This is my first real anvil. 150lb Star with the oval hole in the bottom. Edges are nice a little pitting and the horn tip is a little messed up. But I like it. http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/38405-americanstar150/ Here it is next to my vise and homemade stand. http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/38406-vise-with-homemad-stand/