rhornback

thanks everyone for the feedback, i haven't been out in a few days and as soon as this ice thaws out a little i plan on going back out and creating something beautiful. as far as the technical aspects of the projects, i learned very early to start simple. most of the issues i have are limited by the equipment and the space i have to work in. i rent a duplex, so turning the already shop into a proper forge is impossible. most of the projects i have "started" are simple ones that implement a lot fundamentals that are both educational while still filling the self-gratification that i gain from this hobby.(firepoker, feeder hanging rack, exc.) it doesn't feel like a chore at all. its enjoyment and i dream about lighting the fire most nights. i feel most of my issues are like most of you said from lack of proper planning. ive planned 1 project of the 5-6 ive started and the 1 actually worked and turned out a set of tongs. i appreciate the comments and the encouragement from everyone, thank you. ill let ya know if the time off helped any when i get out there later this week.

Hey everyone, I just wanted to get some feedback on a problem I’m currently facing. I’m new to smiting as most can see, and recently have had a hard time at my forge. I can’t focus on a project and see it through. I get bored with that project and start something else, and end up having 3-4 things started with no direction and no end in sight. I fear that I brunt myself out early as I was out “tinkering” every day when I first started, any suggestions? I want to be out there but I’ve been keeping myself away thinking that maybe a few days off with get the creative juices flowing again. Anyone had a problem like this?

Thanks Vaughn, I'd post a pic of the tongs, but as i said they are ugly. i went yesterday and got some mid-steel to make a nicer set. im having an issue tho and maybe yo can help. i cant get the jaws to look right, they end up looking funny. I need to really focus on my techniques, and slow down. any suggestions for beginner projects that can assist on this, and any good reading materials/videos, ive looked all over the YouTube but everything is about a spcific project.

Hey guys, I’m a new beginner from KY and am trying to make my obsession mirror my skill, lol if that’s possible. I’ve been tinkering around heating, bending, flattening, and twisting for a few months now. I’ve produced a few tools, a knife and a sweet looking fire poker thus far, I’ve made 3 different forges and finally settled on a design that I feel will fit most of my needs. I am a college student, a full time personal trainer with a wife and 1 beautiful daughter who is very interested with “Daddy’s big fire”. I’m also a Marine Corps vet, so Oorah to any brothers that stumble across this. Blacksmithing gives me more than something to do with my time, it give me a feeling of accomplishment and keeps me busy, which in the corps we always say guns don’t kill marines, boredom does. If any of my fellow ky-ians see these please message me. I have a 3rd generation mentor but unfortunately his health is not well, and hasn’t been for a few years since his massive heart attack so the only instruction from him has been verbal and a few tours around his amazing old smithy. So being he is the only blacksmith in my town, from what I can tell, networking is my best bet for further education and instruction, if anyone lives within an hr. or so of Murray KY please PM me so I can get to know you and hopefully gain some knowledge from your years of experience. Thanks and God bless.

wish y'all were closer to Murray......

Thanks for the advice everyone, Andy funny you mentioned the “bushcraft” knife as a first, I have already produced a rough image of the one in the link, it was a fun project and I intend on making a few more. I made a set of tongs, they are not pretty but serve the purpose well, I made a punch from an old hex key I found in my old wood shop. It worked well w/o hardening it. My wife who despises my costly hobbies was even impressed with the turn out. I’m not starting out w/o any knowledge of the basics of hand crafted work; I’ve spent some hours with advanced smiths so I understand the principals of techniques in this trade. VaghnT if I came off as rude I apologize, my forge was being a pain in my drum that day, so my frustration might have come out in my writing. But thank you again everyone for your ideas and mentoring.

Hey Arbalist, I'm new as well and just turned out a set of tongs from re-bar. i thought it wold be super difficult being i too am short on tools. now i'm not saying they are pretty by any means but they serve their purpose and do so very well. I didn't have a punch so i made one from an old hex wrench, it worked fine on hot steel for me anyways, and i didn't even harden it.

Craigslist

and yes to the T in the intake, the ash falls freely into my one of a kind fitted cambles tomato soup can.

looks great man :-)

Thanks Jim for the encouragement as well as the advice. Very well john the ashes in the pic is from charcoal. I typically use coal, but was out at the time I took this photo. Does the 6 in rule apply for coal as well? I got some fresh coal this afternoon and it seemed to be working a bit better than before, must have been a weird batch or something. All in all thank you for the advice. And good eye.. :D

So I built this forge from a break drum and pan, then concrete the drum to make that nice slope and keep coal from hiding in the sides of the drum. I am using an air mattress pump for my blower, and from what I’ve seen produces a good amount of pressure when compared to a hand crank blower (insert brand). The problem I’m having is the heat wants to stay right in the middle and doesn’t spread out evenly like I feel it should. Any suggestions, or cause for this?

VaghnT you would be correct in assuming that, I most likely am jumping the gun a little bit. I have made and practiced a few items now, and am currently trying to make a hawk for a family member for Christmas. Like mentioned above my tools are limited, as well as experience. But one must first try before he can fail, am I right? From what I’ve learned in the little experience I’ve had smiting is that the most important this about smiting is you have to do it. So that’s what I’m doing. I can watch YouTube and read until my head hurts but w/o ever touching fire to steel ill learn everything that I put into it, how to read better and how to enlarge videos. Thanks for the comments everyone, ill post some pics as soon as i can.

Hey everyone, I am planning on starting my first set of tongs this weekend if the weather allows. Based on availability and cheapness I’m planning on using re-bar, now with limited tools and resources, what would anyone suggest as far as making these bad boys. Mostly going to be used to pick up ax heads and blades? Any help is beyond appreciated. I’m most concerned about punching a hole for the rivet, and I don’t really have any punches, which I intend to make using the tongs.

Awesome feedback guys learned a lot and I’ll bet you guys didn’t even know that you had taught me anything… Thomas, thank you I didn’t in fact know that at all, most likely going to avoid the peanut oil though however, unless the knife I finish is to be my last. Sever allergy. As for the metal guys, I honestly don’t know I picked it up from a scrap yard, its tough as nails, and also made an awesome cutting chisel. Tantrum the forge is on solid ground I assure you I’m a safety major so that always a concern for myself as well. If those blocked go over I will be the first to say you were right though. Now Thomas when you say vinegar will get the scale off, does this apply to metals that haven’t been heat treated? I haven’t heat treated it yet, whats the best method?