redd1981

Thanks , the forge will be drying overnight and into tomorrow but I will light a small fire with twigs and things just in case. I only did a tad bit on the cross pein. I will have to address that.

First and foremost thank you to everyone who has ever contributed info to this site. SOOOOO....... I got my forge put together.. Got my RR anvil ready to go... And have some hammers (just dressed all the faces today), material and some lump charcoal... I cant wait to get to bangin around. Im pretty convinced the first thing Im going to make is a simple small coal rake from the rebar. Any suggestions as what to try to make next judging by the stock in the coffee can?

Since I am new to all the terminology would those be considered "cold shuts"?

Smooth bore. I actually never intend to make pattern welded billets. I found a pretty new HC spike last summer in a customers yard that the water dept. had left,almost ran over it with the mower (ya that would have meant buying a brand new set of blades). Picked it up and thought to myself well DARN!! now I have to make another forge and turn this into a knife. My plan is to screw up all kinds of trinkets and fire pokers and things like that (not self defeating just realistic) as gifts (some for people,some for the scrap bucket) to get my hammer strength and skill up to par before I try to turn the spike into a knife I can put on one of the bookshelves. Im no stranger to a hammer but I have never actually forged anything and Iv been alive long enough to understand that patience and practice makes perfect. Im not saying I will never attempt it but Its just not my intention. I do have a propane forge but I HAVE to have it to HT my knives. It is kind of delicate so I dont want to be banging around rebar,RR spikes,horseshoes etc in it. BTW Thanks for the advice about the soak I will definitely have to read into that and do my homework if I ever try it.

Thanks again everyone for the advice,it is very encouraging. I got a deeper rotor which also has a bigger lip to set into the table. Cant wait to get the last few things I need and get to making a mockery out of my first few well intended project ideas. Does anyone know what is wrong with the BAM website? Or can anyone contact someone and let them know the site is down? I would like to join and pick up some coal but it has been down for days. BTW WOW is 2 inch pipe and fittings EXPENSIVE!

Thanks for the reply Frosty..I plan on using lump charcoal until I can grab some coal and then learning from there. I am in st. louis MO and there is a coal pick up in moscow mills once I ready. I have a propane paint can forge with an extention to HT my 1084 blades and it works great. I am looking to do ALOT of simple practice things with rebar and scrap before I even try to do anything knife related. but the the propane forge is for HT only. I am try to get ahold of him tonight to pick it up and will try to post some pics of the difference. Ok well not going to happen tonight,but would still like more opinions and FACTS. Thanks for the advice turbo7

Hey guys my name is andrew and I have been doing stock removal knives for a few years and knew from the beginning I would be getting into forging at some point....IM READY. I came here from blade forums and can tell this is a different type of atmosphere,more encouragement and less nit-picking. But I am used to the nitpicking so that wont bother me if it happens here,as I know it is in good faith and have learned that listening to the pros the first time will save time and frustration. So anyway I have taken a piece of track and formed it the best I could, (I KNOW) and am building a "brake drum forge" (I KNOW) Ok on to questions.. My buddy works at a tire place and brought me 3 different shaped drums (Im not trying to start an argument about mechanical terminology) and I chose the shallowest one but after doing a little reading it seems like I chose the wrong one. its only about 2 in deep and from what I have read while lurking this is not ideal once you you get the basics down and try an attempt at forge welding. Would I be better using the deeper dish or using the more shallow one and building a circle with fire brick to create to create fuel depth? Thank you for any and all replies.