New axe maker

I need one of the those wrenches just drift the hole out make it a bottle opener and it would be the perfect tool.

If you put liquid white out in the canister let it dry before you add your metals. It will prevent the billed for welding to the canister. So peeling off the canister will much easier. 

My original plan was to.make a fish tail scroll on the end. But I cut it too short. Maybe the next one.

Well I fired up a brick pile forge to tune my t burners. They seem to be running good and I finished up a candle snuffer I was making at the last meet up. 

They were in a junk bin at work being the weren't labeled we could use them. I work for a military contractor on jber. 

They won't come into direct contact with anyfire. There will be soft fire brick between the fasteners and the fire. But they will be holding the t burner the is screwed into a floor flange on the forge. 

It will only be being used out side. Landlord is ok with me blacksmithing just not in the garage. So I'll have plenty of ventilation. 

Well there highly magnetic so I'm not going to use them. Thank you everyone for the info.

Look at the frosty t burner plans they are a great burner and easy to use also look into soft fire brick. Hard brick steals heat from the forge while soft brick doesn't 

57 minutes ago, Darious said:

In the meantime until you can upload pictures why don't you provide us with some basic information: Do you know what the original use for the metal was? Do you know if it is food grade? does it flake, peel, or have a different color/material underneath the coating? (If it is coated) These can help guide us to the right questions to determine that it is safe to use. Generally if your unsure it is always safer to err on the side of caution and just get something that you can be 100% certain of the material. Chances are if you are using it as the frame of a forge then it will potentially heat up and release fumes if it is Zinc.

These are going to hold plate metal to the angle iron that's holding the fire brick.

These will be used to hold the skeleton of the forge together. 

Having problems posting pictures at the moment 

I'm looking to put my propane forge together this weekend. All I've been able to find around my shop is what I think is stainless but might be zinc. I was going to use them to hold the outside of my brick pile forge together. I wanted to know if there is a safe way to test if it's zinc or stainless? And if it's zinc is it safe to use on the outside of the forge?

Thank you for all the advice. I'm probably going to get a couple truck axles practice on those for a bit and than see if I can hopefully not destroy the a2.

Thank you all try some 4140. 

Any easier tool steels you'd recommend?

I'm fairly new to blacksmithing. I pick up about 20lbs of a2 for almost $0.50/lb was hoping to make some slits punches drifts and maybe a hammer with some of the bigger chunks but I'm not sure if I have the equipment or the skills to do it. 

I got some a2 the other day. But I've been researching info on it. It seems fairly complicated to work with. Is it easier to work with than I've been reading?

As it was described to me. If you have the blowing the same direction they will swirl and heat more air before leaving the forge. And if they are facing opposite they will fight each other and just blow out of the forge. 

Welcome aboard. I don't know your financial situation but it isn't that expensive of a hobby to get into. Unless you want a 100% anvil not some railroad rail creation. You can build a couple of frosty t burners and a brick pile forge for less than $100. Depends on the size of course. I'm building my forge and anvil for under $150 if you want to check out what you can do with very little money I can show you.

Alright I'll try and make it. Message me the address and all the small details and everythkng. 

I don't have much material or tools but I'd like to join and learn something. Anything I should bring of my own or anything you guys would need?

I'd be interested in 2 18" lengths and 1 24" lengths. 

Thank you for all this information. I'm not sure what 90% of it means I'm going to have to do a lot of research. 

Merry Christmas 

Best place to get a hold of kaowool and refactory cement for a propane forge.

Best place to get a hold of kaowool and refactory cement for a propane forge.

1 hour ago, mcostello said:

Watch out for the train!

I had to work fast to snag these before the train came through!

I was just driving down the road for work when I come across a pile of rail spikes and a rail clip laying on the sidewalk. Early Christmas for me!