Kaybee

Well I just bought the 1/4" before I read this ha ha! Oh well. Better too much than too little, right? Now I just need to wait for the firepot to come in. I probably could have made it a bit bigger, but I think 24"x36" should be good for my first forge. I don't think I will be making anything too big to start out.

Thank you all for your ideas and insight. For the sake of my sanity (and pocket book), I will probably just go with the 1/4" steel hearth and 2x4's idea to get started. Eventually I can fabricate a more permanent solution for the stand itself. Too true!

I have just purchased a fabricated steel firepot from a gentleman online. I am waiting for it to arrive and I am hoping to have the forge base completed soon. The problem? I don't have a welder and I am not looking to purchase one (at this time). I know I could find someone i know who welds, but I was curious if anyone had any ideas for possibly using angle iron/square tubing/ sheet metal to create a base for my firepot to sit in. I have an angle grinder for cutting, I am just unsure if a bolt together forge would hold up to the abuse that a forge goes through. If anyone has any ideas or opinions on the matter, I am all ears. Thank you!

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