VoluntaryBryce

As stated, I'm brand new, just getting into blacksmithing. I'm looking for an anvil and found this. Can anyone tell me who made it and if it's a good deal for $325? The seller says it's 100 lbs. Thanks in advance!

On 12/30/2017 at 2:43 AM, Frosty said:

Fumed sillica is less expensive and more effective as a ceramic blanket rigidizer

Do you know where this can be purchased and the process by which you rigidize?

I'm looking to purchase my first forge and this one seems pretty solid to me.

<Commercial link removed>

Anyone have any knowledge of it? My biggest concern is the insulation, and these are supposed to be rigidized, sealed and coated with cement. Seems like a really solid forge. Is one burner fine or should I look for one with two? Thanks in advance!

37 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said:

I'd ask local smiths where to find local supplies..

When I take some classes in the next couple months, I plan on picking the instructors' brains the best I can. My goal is to learn absolutely as much as I possibly can, even if I'm the only person with a notebook writing things down frantically. 

10 minutes ago, JHCC said:

click the little "quote this" popup that will appear.

My apologies! That's a nice feature and I'll be sure to use it in the future. 

Hi Thomas, thanks for responding! I'm located in SE Ohio (Sorry, should have included that). And I should have been more specific in my original post. Bladesmithing is my long-term goal. I fully understand that it takes YEARS of experience. I'm doing more research each day and looking for some advice from experienced blacksmiths with where to start. What are some more simple projects to start with to learn some basic fundamentals?

Thanks again, I really appreciate the help!

3 hours ago, JHCC said:

Welcome aboard!

Thank you for your response and the great advice. I'll be sure to follow it. I'll check out the threads you referenced. As far as bladesmithing, I should have been a little more specific in my original post. I fully understand that bladesmithing takes years of experience. I SHOULD have stated that knives and blades are what I want to eventually learn, not start with.

Hi everyone! Been interested in blacksmithing for a few months now, and the more I read, the more interested I become. I've been reading quite a bit on this forum and have decided that I'm going to jump in. First of all, thanks to all you veteran blacksmiths for your great advice and knowledge! 

As I start on this journey, I'm hoping to get some advice from the get-go. I'm fortunate enough to have a blacksmithing school about 15 minutes away from me. I plan on taking a couple classes there ASAP. Hopefully that will equip me with some basic skills that I can grow into a craft.  The area where I need advice is my personal forge. I honestly don't know where to begin.  I will have roughly a thousand to spend initially. Will this be enough to get me a rudimentary set-up? Also, I want to mostly forge knives and swords. Would a propane or coal forge be most beneficial? Where are the best places to buy supplies, like steel and tools? Locally or online?

Thanks in advance! I look forward to engaging with everyone on here!