Jay.bro

Thank you I'm not sure what gave me the idea I just remember seeing something similar in an image search but it may have been a homemade propane forge but I just wondered about the appropriateness of the idea for solid fuel and thanks again man I have been reading several forums in here and I've already answered a few questions I had. I thought I had put it on my profile before but it may not have saved. I'd love some hands on training I just thought I'd do my research before diving head first plus I know brake drum forges are portable so it's a possibility to forge side by side if the teacher only has a single forge if I find someone to teach me. Again thank you for your knowledge and opinion on the ideas I was curious about.

Thank you for the knowledge u have a strange idea for the forge but it may work I been thinking about welding two drums together to make a covered top for it and cut out the side so I can do longer blades like machetes I do intend on learning the basics I've been reading the forums on this site I just hadn't seen a ton of posts on brake drum forges yet I may not have gotten far enough in the forums yet I just seen it to be a little faster to ask on here to get a few direct opinions and reviews on using drum forges I don't know much other than what I've read here and a few other ppl I've talked to I can't find any local smiths to learn from so I turn to this site

Hello all I am very interested in getting into bladesmithing and even posted a discussion awhile back about information on constructing a side draft forge but I have had an unfortunate lack of funds to do so. My current situationhas made me rethink my starter forge design. Since I still need to learn the hammering and heating techniques as well as heat treating I was looking for some info on brake drum forges and the pros and cons of using them as far as functionality I am mainly going to start out making knives. Any information and help would be appreciated. I know I intend to use a solid fuel forge probably making my own charcoal as well.

Thanks c1 out of curiosity what would you guys suggest for a fire pot cause I'm not sure of much on what I'm doing on any of this another quick question of I can't get an anvil right out the gate can I use a chunk of railroad track

okay i was wondering about that i am still trying to learn what i can before diving in head first i know i intend to use wood for fuel but i keep reading in my research most people use charcoal or propane

i have a forge idea and another question. my idea is im thinking about building the forge from stone instead of brick what are the pros and cons of that? and can you compress wood ash to make charcoal briquettes i keep searching the question but it keeps saying it can be used for annealing but nothing about forming briquettes

i fully understand i didnt mean as a literal first project i know im going to have to work out a lot of smaller projects before attempting something like that i meant as my first big project and like i said im nowhere near the knowledge id like to be for finding scrap materials that are good to use ive been wondering about using worn tamping bars and rebar but again im still trying to figure out the basic things i need to learn to do as much as i can. i really just need knowledge and what to start with for viable materials. also i thought about getting some steel and practicing rolling it and folding it. my grandfather told me that was how old time blacksmiths made the steel and metals they used stronger and removed impurities but he was a welder and never really messed with smithing, though he wanted to. i actually considered using brass to practice my hammering and shaping before moving up to steel but again being new and trying to research and finding very little information is causing questions to come to mind about the idea of that. and yes c-1tool steel i would appreciate the knowledge you can show me as to how you built your forge

as far as wood goes i was really wondering about large pine knots because in open fires they burn very hot and for a long time and i pulled up a diagram when i first started researching that seemed the easiest to build for my skill set and universally adaptable ill attach the image and ive been trying to research more but everything i find is about ordering steel online not using scrap steel and i dont know what scrap steels have the highest amount of carbon in them but i know you can use coil springs and leaf springs just from watching forged in fire but im not even sure where to start on finding materials from the scrap yard and i dont know if its legal to walk the railroad tracks to find materials since theres one right across the street from my house and i can visibly see spikes and chopped track and brackets laying along it from my yard and as far as the academy goes my wife is pregnant and due in a few months so i dont think thats really an option at this point but it could be a future one. but i really enjoy the idea of crafting blades. i used to design them for friends in high school most people used metal rasps to make them but i also want to get a stone grinding wheel and do things completely by hand and show complete dedication to my work. like i said i havent even built my forge yet so i just want to learn as much as i can before i am able to build it and end up wasting a lot of time and materials having no knowledge. anyways here is the forge design i found. oh and once i get everything set up i intend on attempting an iklwa as my first project

Get guys I'm just getting interested in bladesmithing and I'm wanting some more info on how to start out and if my plans for my forge will serve the purpose and what materials to use. I wanted to get some input on building a side draft forge, if I can use wood as a fuel, and what the best strongest steels I can get from my local scrapyard to use like what materials to get I've heard coil springs are good and I know I want a strong carbon steel but I do plan on building my forge to be manual bellows and I also would like to know what all tools I need to get to get started. any and all info is appreciated I plan on it just being a weekend hobby but I want to be able to craft any kind of blade by the time I'm done with everything.