Puck

Help! I don't have a vice. I am looking for a stump vise (don't want to buy one off eBay) but in the mean time, I have this railspike knife I'm making. So far it's coming out great but I want to add details to the doghead I'm putting on the handle. Any ideas on how I can do this without a vice (or a welder if that matters any)? I have one of those small 55lb blue anvils from harbor freight. I was thinking that somehow the hardy hole might be able to help. But I'm afraid the edge of the hole will put creases in the metal.

Good idea. I have a bunch of crap rebar laying around. I'll try it tomorrow. My goal is to get at least 15 hours of practice a week. I need to mess up a lot of metal before I can start making nice things. That's how it works right?

I had that feeling. Each time I fire up the forge, I'm a little better at gauging the heat. I'm tired of melting my metal. Its depressing to start feeling good about something I'm pounding on only to leave it in 2 seconds longer than it should, turning into a 4th of July sparkler and crumble into lava sand if I hit it. I read as much as I could about blacksmithing before I ever fired the forge. I like to think I have a bunch of useful info in my brain. I'm just having a tough time applying it to the real world. YouTube blacksmithing videos are fantastic (the God's only know how many of them I have watched) but I also feel like they give you an unrealistic view on the trade and make it look way to easy. I knew what I was getting into. There are just some things that I find extremely frustrating. I wish I had the means to have formal training. But I have had the noodle dream (kung fu panda reference) wayyyy to many times to let my frustrations get me down. For the last 3 months every time I go to sleep, in my dreams I'm standing at an anvil making a spoon or a fork and 100% happy with life. When I'm awake, I can't even think of doing anything else until I have done something for the smithy or fired up the forge and heated the anvil (coffee has never been my thing). That told me 2 things.. 1. Blacksmithing is what eases my soul. Its what I'm meant to do. It is my obsession. And 2. I need to stop going to sleep hungry. And just for the record.. "puck" is the sound I make when i drop my crosspein on my foot.

I have tried. They told me that when they order a truck load, then end up sitting on it for a year or more (which makes no sense seeing how I watched them sell out in 4 days). They also charge me twice as much for blacksmith coal ($15 for a 40lb bag). is this a decent price? Its only $7 for a bag of the anthracite.

Thank you. I take it, mixing is a bad idea?

I'm sorry if I put this in the wrong category. Please move this post if it has a better home. I have been thinking about a way to control my airflow better (using a hair dryer at the moment). I was considering several choices, from adding a T valve to adding in a dimmer switch. They would all get the job done but I like to know that when I build or modify something, it will have more than one use. Anyways.. I was watching one of my favorite YouTube people (The King Of Random) and I came across this video https://youtu.be/P9UjxG8sN1c And thought that there were others here who would benefit from my find. I plan on building a scariac but your thoughts are always welcome. I hope this was helpful. Happy hitting

You could make a Japanese bellows box.

First and foremost, I'm a noob (major noob). I've only fired my forge maybe a dozen times. So I'm still trying different fuel options. In my area (northern Rhode island) I'm limited to one coal supplier. They specialize in anthracite coal but from time to time they get bituminous coal. Yesterday I went to buy a few more bags of coal in varying sizes (1 40lb bag of peat size and 1 40lb bag of nut sized coal). When I got there I was surprised to find they had gotten a small supply of blacksmith coal so I grabbed a bag of that as well (can't have to much right?). I have since found out that this stuff is awesome (the metal even feels like it responds better). here is my problem.. My chances of going back and finding more blacksmith coal for purchase are slim (they sell out FAST). Can I mix anthracite coal and blacksmith coal together to extend my supply? I don't really like the anthracite coal. I feel like it gets to hot. I'm always melting what I'm practicing on. But I didn't have that problem with the blacksmith coal. I'm currently using a hair dryer as my bellows because the anthracite coal is a pain to keep hot with my hand crank blower (it's not the best). Any advice would be most appreciated. Thank you Oh yeah.. Hello! I'm new if you haven't noticed.