NickOHH

a little grip is nice, but you dont need to rough it up all to much, i usually just dont sand my handles to much just hit em with 60 or 80 grit and oil them and you get nice grip but still comfortable for long use.

From my little experience with forge design it seems like it s the way to go, im using a 2.3 inch pipe with a 50 cfm bathroom exhaust fan, i didnt want to go to crazy with amount/size of the holes tuyere so i started minimal on both aspects, but the more holes i got in it and the bigger they got, the more the size of the sweet spot has grown now with many holes 5/6 and some 3/8 on the sides and center, and the fan on high i get quite a big fire ball that will get some laregerish stock hot quick and can control the fire with fan speed or blocking the inlet off a bit.

a good beginning blacksmith should be able to stylishly hang all there possessions in only a few months :D

What size is the hole in your drum you may want to jump up to a. 2.5 inch pipe for air bigger cap more holes more air you don't really need the pressure just volume . Any kind of clay will work from creek clay to furnace cement mix it will some sand or vermiculight to shape the firepot and build up around the lip if you don't want to mount the drum from under the forge.

There are lots of recipes online for different refactory cements that will work for lining the forge. Just search diy refactory cement. You can take a tub furnace cement from lowes or homedepot and mix it with some silca sand or vermiculite. Shouldn't need a whole lot to line the forge.a bent blade is a likely cause you could throw some washer in the bolt holes to see if there is clearance and use automotive liquid gasket at any parts store to seal the case .

im gonna work on making a couple drifts this weekend the one for the hatchet will be first, see if i cant get it straitend out if not ill just bevel the one side and try again, i want to start doin punched eye heads anyway so thats the first step anyway, that and some hammer eye tongs probably.

i had good luck posting in the tailgating section on here, had an anvil in the car a few days later.

Thanks I'll give that a try next time I'm forging just have to make a drift first. :) but that's ok I wanna get into punching the eyes anyway. How big of a punch do you normally use for a ball peen size eye?

Those are nice looking tongs Ausfire, simple and to the point. Functions the most important and they look like they'll do just fine!

Nice to know I'm not the only one lol

Guess I should re grind it into a broad hatchet and I won't have to bend the handle! :)

I just recently forged my first hatchet/ tomahawk head from a ball peen hammer and it turned out nice. Could have planished alittle bit more but I like the hammer marks left it for a nice hand forged look, if yo look down the blade though it is slightly crooked I was wondering if anyone has a solution for it, or how to keep/ fix that one my next attempts.

I use all the shavings I have from my hand planes which is quite an endless supply a good handful packed tight. Lights up like an oil soaked rag and has a nice burn time throw a little of the old coke on top and I got a nice bed of coals by the time I'm all set up outside.

Great use Jim ! I'm gonna have to keep my eye out for a cheap one.

Nice smooth reigns definetly make a difference I am only working with a few pairs 2 that I have made one was from 1/2 inch round for small stock which I just left alone for the reigns and they feel great after using for awhile. The others were from. 5/8 which I drew out the reigns and are not nearly as smooth or even and after awhile your hands can feel the difference being a little more sore after.

The jaws arent the prettiest, but the question is do they work? if so then its a success. i guess i shoulda said first successful tongs lol had a couple tries that didnt work out, but hey i got it down, made another pair the next day for slightly bigger stock that turned out better. I would have a few post for a thread of failures lol i got plenty of them!

Very nice work compliments the glass well!

Just got done doin a little forging today, made some progress. Made my first pair of tongs, first bottle opener, and first tomahawk (although ive made a few adzes out of claw hammers), all in all a great day in the forge!

Hey guys Marcy wanted me to let you all know that she isn't able to get on her account, but she greatly appreciates all your advice and recommendations!

He does know metal though so I'm sure he may have some useful info that can be applied even if not directly to smithing . It's the most addictive thing around you may be doin it in public before you know it, have fun learning more about the art!

I may need a ride up there and have gas money!

Welcome aboard! I'm not terribly far from your neck of the woods just a little outside of philly the other direction. Still pretty new to this wonderful world of blacksmithing as well but have a little out door forge and some basic tools and making more all the time your more than welcome to come by or meet up somewhere and talk , swing some hammers build you a forge whatever let me know just send me a pm

Those are amazingly beautiful man. I would be scared of scratching one just hanging it let alone swingin one! Awesome work

Post a picture of the rail. If it's not to radioused ontop you can grind it flat and roll the edges off a bit if it's pretty round you can stand it up and use the edges but have limited surface . You could also flip it rail side down and use the base for the flat surface. I started with a rail anvil not hardened but it was plenty hard to start with. Some marks in it but nothin an angle grinder can't smooth out. You can cut a horn in it with cut off wheels or a oxy acetelyn torch or have a machine shop ruff it out for relatively cheap and just grind it out to a nice shape depending on what tools you have. If you use cut off wheels it will take some time and quite a few discs but it is possible. I would bolt it to a stump and start hammering away for the time being though. As a relatively new smith myself enjoy your new addiction.

The last week of the month me and my girlfriend are gonna be in the flint michigan area visiting her family for a week and was Wonderin if there any smiths in that area or not to far we could get together with one day while were out there from pa. And if there any good flea markets or similar places to look for some tools or metal etc .