JW513

^That is very true. Like I said, I haven't forged since my 9 week course 2 months ago. But I've learned a lot in these last two months just  examining what I've made. I look at everything I've made and noted where I went wrong.. I look at mistakes as lessons... Repeated mistakes are still mistakes. But every mistake I've made, I've also learned some valuable information... 

I haven't forged in 2 months since, I finished my class. I have all the tools, smithing coal, forge, anvil... Anyways, everything I made in class was decent but I kick myself for all the mistakes I made (never got burnt yet, though), but I'm very hard on myself, I'm not really a perfectionist but I like to do things right, if that makes sense.... Well, it takes a lot of practice to make things look good...

Anyways, this older friend of mine who's a welder, did a lot of smithing when he was a kid, now he does mostly railings. He's literally a genius, when it comes to physics, the properties of metal, and welding.   He has given me a lot of tongs, punches, chisels, a buffalo forge blower, and basically all the scrap stock I want. Last night he said I got another blacksmithing thing for you.. He pulled it out, t was a spoon he made when he was younger. He said "you know what this is for?"  I said, its a flux spoon...  Anyways, he did a decent job making it, but like everything I made it isn't perfect.  I know its kinda obvious, but everyone does start somewhere. 

I dressed my first hammer.  I've a nice Peddinghaus crosspein and diamond rounding hammer, but I got an Estwing to practice on.. I got an angel grinder and flap disc, but decided last minute to dress it with a file.  Yes it took longer and I've used an angle grinder a lot, but I wanted to take my time.

Haven't done any forging since I finished my 9 week class  9 weeks ago.. But I have ALL the basics, 300lbs of blacksmithing coal, 80lbs of anthracite and some mild steel..

Just need a base for my anvil and time... 

Like I said, I will remember that and when I know something, I will let you know. But its going to be for a year probably because he's keeping it up to keep people out. 

Stop quoting the immediately preceding comments. You are using up bandwidth and making the forum harder to read. Please read The Quote Feature.

You guys are right. I probably wouldn't off cut it apart anyways.. I don't like ruining old beautiful things...  Luckily, I have a place to keep it... I will just end up reselling it. It wont be for year or so....Might be a good project for me to repair myself because it is in pretty good shape. 

7 hours ago, jlpservicesinc said:

No reason to quote what we just read.

I'll let you know. It might not be for a year or two, this is a big job a fellow friend/contractor is working on, i've already done some work at this place.. Obviously if he can sell it thats great, but he did say the gates are gonna be trash.

He knows i'm an aspiring blacksmith, he already has given me a Wilson vise and a oxy acetylene torch. 

I only have limited time forging... I took a 9 week course, so I DONT know much...  We started our forges with coke, and spread green coal around the perimeter of it , but not over it, that kills it. As the coke/coal  burns down,  you add the fuel closest to the fire, and keep the green coal mounded around it.  Also when getting it lit, you need to find the right speed for the air, too slow isn't good and too fast is't either.. 

Long story short, don't add green coal on top of already lit coke.. Put it around it, as it burns, add it to fire.

1 hour ago, Irondragon Forge & Clay said:

Absolutely that fencing is worth saving, especially if you can get it for scrap prices.

I'm 99% sure i can get it for free, but it might not be for a year.

Sorry, these are just crappy screen shots off google map... All the bushes are cut back now... When I get time, I'll go by the mansion and take nice close up pics... 

I may have a chance to get (i'm just guessing) 150 feet of beautiful fencing off a mansion that was built on waterfront property in 1914. I don't have pictures but can provide some. Its real nice, not the most elaborate design but its nice. Anyways its painted so, i'm not sure if its wrought iron but its real nice. I'm still new to the blacksmithing trade.  Without pics, is the fencing off an old mansion worth saving?

That is one of the coolest things i've seen. 

Yes, there are safety glasses included... But your right, I always need like 5 pair of them. They are the most important tool and the easiest to lose.

I'm just starting..... This will be a hobby, but one I want to make money at... Even if its just grocery money. If it every turns into something bigger i'lll have to re-evaluate, but thats the plan.

Thats exactly it. I'm young, no girl, no kids, but very busy with work. I have a decent amount saved up, and plan on selling off about 2 or 3 grand worth of guitar equipment, which which is twice what i have invested in blacksmithing... The key was my uncle giving me his anvil.... Well I worked for it and that was his payment.

I just want to get started smithing.

I'd like to buy this tool kit. 

[Commercial link removed per TOS. Feel free to name the vendor and list the items included.]

I have bunch OLD tongs and one set  I made for 5/8'' stock... But i'd like some nice ones too. Everything here is stuff I could use, and I want that book.  I can get 10% off as well. I'm just wondering if this is a good buy?  If i bought this, all I'd need is stock... Got my Rivet Forge, coal, 221lbs Peter Wright Anvil, and 31 hours of forge time.

I know a lot of guys talk about how they start from scratch. I'm already in the trades, and I view blacksmithing as a very serious trade. I want all the basics, so I can practice, practice, practice and not worry about not having the right tool (s).... And if I don't have them I'll be able to make them.

I've gotten sorta sick from heat a few times.. The worst was 4 years back.... Prepping for a concrete pad, no shade, tying down rebar and wire mesh, and then pouring the concrete ... All in direct sunlight on a very hot day, no shade, then after work,  I went to another job, and I don't remember what I did but I was still in the sun (evening sun but still sun)....   I do remember shoveling and pushing  a wheel barrel, I'm pretty fit but I remember being dizzy and struggling to push  it towards the end. I went home, and fell asleep on the couch which I never do. I had cramps in my feet and was beat and weak.... Hasn't happened since, maybe i've learned to pace myself and drink more water.. I really think I was on the brink of needing medical treatment...    Anyways drink water, stay cool, heat sickness sneaks up on you, kinda like shots of bourbon does......

9 hours ago, MC Hammer said:

I recommend taking it all apart and cleaning out the screw and box, greasing or oiling the threads (there's been whole threads discussing which is better - I used bearing grease)and reassembling it.  While apart, taking a wire wheel on an angle grinder will help clean it up, but cleaning the outside rust off is not necessary for it to function correctly.  For $80, unless the threads are stripped and terrible, you done good.  Shoot us a picture of the threads.

I will... sometime this weekend.... I really appreciate all the input guys. 

Its funny you made this thread.  I've been planning on going to go to my class early on Sunday and ask my teacher a question pertaining forges, and secondly....Dressing hammers..... I plan on starting forging real soon and I want to do everything right... My problem is I hate screwing up and doing things wrong... But doing things wrong is part of learning how to do things right. So I say watch a video on youtube learn how to do it. I did a few days ago...

 I've only been to 5 classes...Thats all the experience I have.  But I'm gonna go ahead and say, if you can dress them, do it..  I plan too, once I have  a few hammers.

Its something you/me/any rookie needs to learn sooner or later and it makes the items your forging much cleaner looking.

No... But i've thought about using a tree stump..  I'm still learning, and i want to bring my vise to my next blacksmithing class. and ask my instructor what they think  of it. 

My bad, I meant to put that info.. its 38 and 3/4 inches long.  The jaws are 4 inches wide. It seems to open smooth, but could use some grease. I'm also curious how old it could be,. I cant find anything written on it. 

Bought it on craigslist.... Only paid $80 for it. I don't know much about them, because i'm still new to blacksmithing.. But I know enough to know I need one.. Can't find any writing on it. Its probably 35-40lbs... Not huge, but it will suffice. 

Anyone know what kind this is? 

Thank you guys for the responses. There are so many different ways to go with a forge, its just a little over whelming...

.I'm not sure how to edit my posts, but I meant to say no swords.. Not  no AXES in my first post. 

I've considered building a forge, once I'm done with the class. But right now I'm leaning towards buying one. Mainly because of fire management.. If the fire isn't staying lit or hot enough, its user error, not the way I built it.  I used one in school last week. I enjoyed it, but I don't have much expirence, to really form an opinion one way or another. 

The price seems good, although I do like hand cranked blower better.. It keeps me more focused on fire management.. ('I've used both styles in class)...  Anyways just looking for opinions on both rivet forges and this one in particular as well if anyone knows anything about them. Also, do I need a hood if i will be doing it outside? I'm mainly interested in forging simple thing like hooks, bottle openers, tools., maybe a small knife but no axes or anything.........  I also might travel a little bit, so I want something portable.

I want to do it, because of the family history and the for the practice. I'm not even sentimental type,  but i think it would be cool. ... My grandparents owned it for 30 years. My grandfather put the foundation for the house in after they moved it. I'm also pulling up an old floor original to the house, I'm going to de nail those and save those nails too.