DennisL
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Howdy everyone!
I've spent many, many hours pouring over the posts on this forum and figured it was about time I bit the bullet and signed up.
I'm just starting out in the craft. I've had a book for years called "Back To Basics" which I've all but memorized. I must credit it with planting the seed of Blacksmithing in my mind long ago. I have since acquired several books on blacksmithing which I read often. I've been toying around with giving it a try for a long time and recently decided to take the plunge!
I've worked at a motorcycle shop my whole life and I have a small fortune in my tool box. That being said, I don't have many that fit this craft, which is the best part... I get to make my own tools, rather than paying for the tool guy's kids to go to college!
I'm starting off low key... I've got a bounty of 55 gallon drums, a set of rotors off my shop truck and an old shop vac to make my forge and I got an old piece of railroad tie for an anvil. If all things go as planned, I'll build up from there. I hope to eventually make a set up that requires ZERO electricity... Call it the prepper in me!
Thanks for all the great info you have all already posted and thanks in advance for the help. I try to research the xxxx out of everything I take on and will do my best to keep my posts thoughtful and questions to a minimum. My apologies in advance if a dumb ass comment or question slips in here!
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Good Morning,
Welcome to our land of understanding. You will use the Tools you own, but not for their intended purpose. You will see different ways!! Don't paint yourself into a corner thinking only Coal, Propane is readily available and sometime it is a better choice for the Heat Source. I have multiple configurations from a 9 brick Forge to a commercial style Forge or two.
It is easy to cut a large hole in the side of a 45 gallon drum, in the upper half. The lower half can be used for your quench tank or Propane tank Heat Sink. Take a piece of Large expanded Metal to make a top in a frame. Sit this on top of the drum, make a Brick floor. Lay Bricks on their side to form a trough, with more fire-bricks across the top to make a Forge. Use a Barrel Dolly under your drum. Poof.....You have a portable Forge. Use any kind of Propane Burner, even a Tiger Torch in one end. You have Heat. No pile of dirty Coal, No dirty Coal smoke to annoy your Neighbours.
Get a container of Play-Doh from Wal-Mart for $1.00. Whatever you can make with Play-Doh, you can make with Steel. It works exactly the same manouvers.
Enjoy the Journey, there is no Final Destination. Join a Local Blacksmith Association and you will be on your way to a new way of Thinking and Looking.
Neil
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