Robbie-G

Thank you for all the ideas and insight from experience.  I am hearing more and more about the side blast - I will have to research that some more just to be in-the-know. 

very nice!

My second welding project - getting better at it but plenty of room for improvement! This project was a Welding Cart to keep everything organized - this project is so me (I have a weird need to keep things in order - OCD I guess)! Will finish it with a coat of paint when it isn't 10 degrees out. It keeps my welder and plasma cutter "mobile" and everything I need all in one place. One less idea just banging around in my head now - hopefully it gives you an idea of something similiar you may find helpful.

BTW - it was all scrap yard finds.

Thank you men for the ideas!  Hopefully in the next couple months I will be able to post the end product! 

DSW - thank you for the link to your forge - that gave me some ideas!  You're a good man! 

arftist - thank you for the info and encouragement to give making my own a try.  When you say "use gasser most often", I'm not sure what you mean - can you explain that to me a little more?  Thank you.   

Yes, I am scheduled to take the intro course in Midland starting next Tuesday (Feb. 10). Looking forward to working in the great facility here.  I will further check out the MABA group.   

NJ - thank you for pointing me in the direction of the introduce yourself.

Greetings from Michigan - I am just starting out with blacksmithing and looking to tap into the knowledge and experience of the men and women in the forums.  I am an IT guy by trade and in my spare time I love to work with my hands and anything physical in nature.  My hobbies include photography, woodworking, building and most recently blacksmithing and metalworking (welding, ...).  I enjoy designing things and seeing creations come to life through hard work.  I work hard and play hard -- driven by the quote from Thomas Edison "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.".  I look forward to chatting with many of you and learn and give insight along the way!      

Building my own forge and going to use 1/4" plate for the table portion and thinking about a cast iron firepot but not sure which ones are best and where you suggest I pick one up.