Camerican

Hi millhand, yeah I was planning on adding crossbracing around the firepot hole. I am still undecided if I want to center the hole or if it should be closer to the nearside of the forge which is why I have not put them in yet. As well I haven't confirmed the firepot size. I was thinking 8" ×8" and 3.5" deep but I am wondering if that is too deep. I have seen a lot of homemade firepot being rectangular so the other option is to go 8"x10" but that is getting pretty big

Greetings all, been a lurker for 3 years now, finally decided to make an account and join the discussion. Been running a really small what I like to call a Franken forge for 3 years. Basically an old charcoal bbq converted to a forge with a hair dryer to make the whole thing chooch. It worked alright for a while. Pretty right? Well it is time to say adieu to the Franken forge. She served me well while I lived in the city. New job finds me back in my hometown, on 15 acres and lots of room to play! So I got the go ahead from my beautiful lady to get all set up! And here we go. Will post pics as I get progress done. Day 1 had me really not knowing what the heck I was doing. Bought a bunch of metal at the metal supermarket in the city and decided it was time to put it to use. Cut all the pieces for putting it all together. The table that is. Doesn't look like much yet right? Here is the space I can call my own with a bunch of metal on my makers table. Day 2 ended with something that resembled a table top. Got my feet wet with welding. Never done that before. I don't think I will ever call myself a welder, but I can make metal stick together. And that brings us to today. Only able to be out in the shop for 3 hours today as we are in the middle of demolition on the basement and that is apparently the priority. Lol oh well, more welding and have a decent table now. Next will be to build the firepot, cut a hole in the table to insert it, build the tuyere with clinkerbreaker and build a side draft hood, then a mounting bracket for my vintage Thompson hand crank blower. Another month or so and I will have a nice little forge. Here are some details for you all Table built with 1.5 x 1.5 angle iron 36 x 48" total size Table plate is 1/8" lower shelf on the left not yet put in but will be 12 ga. For projects to cool on. If it looks a little backwards to some of you i'm a south paw so it will all be set up for a lefty. I added an extra 1.5" on 2 sides of the table so I can have a little extra coal on the bench.

I am also interested in the tool making aspect of blacksmithing. Haven't taken any courses yet but I am building a brand new coal forge. Will post it all with pictures soon as it is done. Been using an old charcoal bbq as a forge for 3 years now. You will learn a lot from Shawn. Just talking to him for a half hour when I picked up my hammer from him upped my game drastically. Can't even imagine what a weekend course would do.

Shawn Cunningham is a great blacksmith. I have bought one of his rounding hammers. Top notch work.

Lol, at least a few of you old timers have a sense of humor. It really is one of those things you never stop learning. I can assume that there are some of you that have probably forgotten more about blacksmithing than I will ever know as a hobbyist. My response was tongue-in-cheek. I just feel that I will be a blacksmith when people start calling me one. you just never really know until you get there you eh?

Welcome! I am a couple hours north east of you. Setting up a small smithy with a coal forge. What sort of blacksmithing are you in to?

I have had a focused hobby in blacksmithing for almost 3 years now and I still call myself a beginner. Once I get to the point that I don't need to make another tool to do what I need to do will I call myself a blacksmith... long way to go yet.

Greeting all! Just wanted to say hey. I have been creeping IFI for about 2 years, and then finally made an account about 3 months ago. Hobby blacksmith here. Have a small shop set up with a 132# Buckworth anvil from my Grandfather. Coal forge. Just hear to learn and find some others with like minds. I don't talk too much, mostly read and comment only if i know exactly what is needed being said. If you are within 100km of Lakeland County, would love to hear from you. Only know 2 other blacksmiths personally. Lyons Creek Forge down in Crowsnest Pass, and Frontstep Forge in Edmonton. Would really like to have another couple people closer by to bounce ideas off of....