ray.whittington50

I just made a little one out of an old bolt for a pipe flange, nothing special but I heat treated it using the directions here and ground it smooth. Works pretty good but if I don't do it quick it tries to bend on me. 

Thank y'all, I appreciate the feed back. I have finally made me a set of tongs, not the greatest by any means but they serve their purpose. 

I've been doing this for 8 weeks every other week because of work, so 4 weeks actually, and this is what I've done so far. The fire poker was my very first project, then the Love Cross, then the heart, then the Hope Cross, the knife, and finally the hot cut. I've also been trying to do some tongs but that isn't going so well. Let me know what y'all think. Thanks

That's a skill I want to learn, but can't right now, and in my current position at work I won't be able to take any classes for it either, I do 12hr shift work. 

On another note something I didn't mention before, the duct/hood will vent out the side of the shop, not the roof, if that matters. 

No skills, not yet. I'll research some and see if I can't figure something out. I appreciate the info. 

I'm new to all this and I've just managed to get almost everything I need to start working metal. I've read tons on these forums and other sites but I'm struggling with one kinda important aspect of my shop.  I haven't measured it but I'd say it's probably 12X20, not real big. Just a little metal building I'm going to be using as my shop. I live in South Texas where it is very very hot and humid so I'm trying to figure out how to get good ventilation above my forge. Duct and all that seems cheap enough, but I can't find an actual hood, and as of yet I don't have the tools to even attempt to build one. I thought about getting a range hood and just use that but I haven't had any luck finding an old one that would work and new ones are quite pricey. So I came here hoping that someone can give me some advice on how to do this cheaply and effectively. 

I forgot to mention that the duct/hood will vent out the side of the shop, not the roof, if that matters. 

Thanks. 

That's still months away if not years (hopefully not) but thank you, I'll try and remember the offer. Though your actually like 6 hours I think, I've made the drive twice and can't remember for sure. 

Be patient in your search. If you think $5-6/lb is too spendy, how do you figure $850/118lb anvil? Most of the rest isn't going to do you any good. Stands aren't worth buying, rasps can usually be had for next to nothing if you ask a working farrier, nippers and tack hammers aren't a general smith's tools nor are hoof stands, creasers, etc. they're ALL specialty farrier's tools.

 

Anvils are just heavy hard things you can hammer hot iron/steel on, horns are recent additions in the history of blacksmithing and not that necessary.

 

Be patient brother. How many years have you wanted to learn the craft? Rushing now is just going to paint you in a corner you don't have the skill sets to get out of without spending a lot of money. Just find something heavy and hard, preferably made of steel to use for now, build or buy a forge and get to hammering. NO tool will be perfect, it's a waste of time trying to find or make a perfect tool. The tools don't forge anything, the SMITH does, tools are just highly refined dirt.

 

Patience is your friend, get to hammering on whatever's available NOW, the tools will come or you'll make them. Heck, nothing fits your hand or means more to you than using a tool you made with your own hands.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

I'm trying, but dang it if I'm not excited about all this. I've been interested in this since before I got out of school. My back up plan is/was this, http://www.oldworldanvils.com/anvils/4x4.html

I figure that is a great place to start but again, I don't want to learn bad habits or waste time and money. I think I have a pretty good mind for this, I just have to get started. In a few months I want to take some welding classes and I've been looking at a couple schools like Brain Brazeal's or Turley Forge to attend to get me a good foundation. Other than that just practice. But as always y'all are the elders and my teachers so I'm more than happy to take any and all advice.  

I did pass on that anvil, and the reason I considered the $850 was because of the tools. Now I know better. 

Yea I looked at the TPAAAT, and I've been searching some. I've always been interested in blacksmithing but I've never had a house or rather that just the opportunity to finally do it, and that will change Friday so I've been looking for a couple weeks now. 

I called those folks that have that collection Black Frog, and they do have some really nice ones. and would probably be worth every cent, but they want $5-6 dollars a pound for anything they consider good or better condition. Maybe not a bad price, but out of my league right now. 

Thank y'all for the info, I think I will take y'all's advice. 

I've been searching for an anvil for a little while now, like alot of folks and I came across this. The guy wants $850 for it all which seems reasonable but I'm not real sure it's what I need. I am at the beginner of beginner stage of all this so I I just don't have the knowledge to say if it this is what I need. I want to do normal blacksmith work, of course a few knives and such, but I want to make door and drawer pulls, and stuff like that and on to bigger and better things. So on that as far as I've read a farrier anvils are meant for light forging I believe, so would this be good for me? And lastly if it is, is it worth all that? The anvil is 118lbs I believe and it's a Big Tex make. 

Thanks beforehand for any info and advice. 

This is the list of stuff. 

Big Tex 118# A.P. Anvil 
One AP Tac Hammer
One Jack Stand
One Finishing Stand
One Pair Hoof Nippers
Two Shoe Pullers
Clinchers
Three Rasp with Handles
Two (RH) Knives; One (LH) Knife 
One Shoeing Apron
One Shoeing Box
Assorted Shoes (6) & One Box of Nails