Happy Saturday IFI Community!
I am still preparing for my newest venture into metal-working, and I am excited to start working.
*I will have pictures of my setup as soon as I have some time to organize the workshop
I have been doing research for the last 6 months and have collected most of what I will need. Here is a short list:
Anvil - 84# Hay-Budden (smaller than I had hoped, but in really good condition and hard to pass up on seen as how I drove 3 1/2 hours to look at it!)
Anvil Stand - 100# (give or take) wood block I carved out of a 75 year old tree that feel down in a storm 6 months ago
Hammer - Hand-me-down from the gentleman I bought the anvil from
Swage Block - 60#, old decrepit thing that will have to do for now
Forge - Small build out of a 20# propane tank. Has a 1" burner and is lined with Kao-wool covered in refractory cement.
My goal is to start out by making some basic tools (a variety of tongs, bending forks, fuller, etc) and eventually get into making small, household type items.
A list of some ideas I have been tossing around:
Jewelry
Door knockers
Cabinet Hardware
Bottle Openers
Small Knickknacks
(Potentially) Kitchen Knives
Wine Bottle Holders
I have 6 years until retirement and I am keeping this in mind as a possible means of extra income/something to do.
I found this forum and thought it looked like a great resources to get started and to get some pointers.
I look forward to reading all of the great info you guys have collected here over the years, and hope to contribute after I have something worth contributing.
-Ross