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I Forge Iron

backyardsmithing

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  1. A few years ago, I came on here and got some wonderful advice about anvils and books to get my husband for Christmas. Well, he has reached the point that he wants a forge that doesn't use coal, so he's looking at a propane fueled one. I would love to either get him a gas forge or the equipment to build one for Father's Day, but again I have no clue what I am looking for. So here's what I know about what he does: He makes knives, trinkets ect... from railroad spikes, rebar, I "think" he's used lawnmower blades (so it would have to get hot enough to work those metals) At the moment, he doesn't make anything real big, but who knows in the future I also "think" he will be using this outdoors (probably storing it inside, but using it out), but he works on this stuff more in the winter because we live in the south and it's just too hot to do much blacksmithing in the summer here. Any advice, tips, tricks or any of that would be extremely appreciated. Also, at one time, he was looking for something (sorry, I don't remember what it was) to make a fitting to build one and couldn't find it at the home improvement store, if he decides to build one, where would be a good place to get the supplies? We live in Alabama and there are several home improvement type stores close to us, but I'm not sure about anything else, so I might have to buy online. P.S.--I am going to see if he wants to look on here at some of the plans to build one-- he said he might want to make one himself, but hasn't had time to research it much, and from my looking around here, it looks like maybe he could find out all he needs to know in these forums. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!
  2. I am in central Alabama. And from what I was told, it was a couple of old anvils, but you know how that goes.
  3. Hi everyone, I posted earlier about advice on books, now I am looking for some advice on an anvil. I don't do the blacksmithing, but the hubby does and I am looking for a GREAT Christmas present. I have been told our local scrapyard had two anvils last week, so was going to try to get by there and see. However, since I am clueless and the hubby has steered away from buying a "new" "cheap" anvil because he says he's not sure of quality, I am puzzled (I probably would have just bought him one from Harbor Freight had he not said he wasn't sure of them). I also know they can be quite expensive. He currently uses one that was my grandfather's but it has no horn. He also has a piece of railroad track that he uses as well. So, I am looking for any help you could give me as to what to look for ect... since I want this to be a surprise. If it matters, so far he has only been playing around with blacksmithing and forging for a few months. He's made some railroad spike knives and some tomahawks but I think he wants to expand on some more stuff (and since his wife loves this stuff and the look of iron and old stuff, he will probably be stuck doing stuff for me as well). We have a 15 year old that wants him to do more knives ect.... maybe the youngun will take up an interest as well. Anyway I didn't know if what he was doing made a difference with the type of anvil, so included it just in case. Thanks for any advice you can give.
  4. Since he has the Wygers, it looks like I will be going with The Complete Bladesmith and Backyard Blacksmithing. Thanks so much for all the help!!! I really appreciate it.
  5. Thanks for all the great responses. I have looked at all those books on amazon, and just didn't know where to go from there. Two others I was looking at were Bladesmithing with Murray Carter and A Blacksmithing Primer They both seemed to get pretty good reviews, but again, I know nothing about it and would rather have a person who actually does blacksmithing and/or knives advise me than someone who just reads the books So I guess my "new" question would be, if you were to be able to choose only one knifemaking book and one blacksmithing book, which ones would it be? Thanks again for all your help! It is greatly appreciated.
  6. First off, let me say that I am not the blacksmith. My husband started playing around with blacksmith knives out of railroad spikes several months ago and seems to really enjoy it. He has the book The Complete Modern Blacksmith by Alexander Weygers and has learned a good deal from it. My son is pushing him to do more knives/tomahawks ect... and I think he would enjoy "branching" out. Since it is Christmas, I was wanting to order him a book or two, but there are soooo many and I just don't know enough about it to know what to get. I am hoping I can get some advice here. The basics of what I know. He built a forge and uses coal for heat (I'm sorry, I know it's pathetic that I don't know more). I am leaning towards a knife making book or weapon making type book. I know he enjoys doing the railroad spike knives and has even played around with other metals, but these were mainly made as a gift for nieces and nephews and not really for use. I think he would enjoy being able to make a functional knife and other, as my 15 year old would say "cool" weapons. He hasn't gotten around to building his big forge yet, so I don't think he would be ready to do swords yet. Can anyone offer any book advice? Also, he doesn't like to read, so it would really need to keep his attention. Thank you so much for your help.
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