Nick Owen

God bless hoarders!! I could only wish for such luck!

Funny you say that, it was from him that I was going to buy And then here is the man himself It's a small and very helpful world Coke seems reasonable, if more difficult to get hold of. Do you just need to stack the burning coke up to make a deeper pile to forge in (as the bottom is flat). Does the sand just help with heat retention?

Thanks for looking over it. I did notice the foot which might make it a little harder to secure and damp noise out of I assume?

Conincidentally one just popped up close to me. I've posted it in the anvil section for review. Looks pretty beat up but of a manageable size. No idea if it would be any good but hopefully someone in the anvil section will have some idea. No doubt as its the first local one I've seen for a while it will probably go for an overpriced amount! A 300 anvil collection... man that's a lorra lorra heavy metal! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Blacksmiths-Anvil/183201236288?hash=item2aa7a50540:g:8LUAAOSwq-1a5ZWG

Hi, Looking to buy my first anvil to get set up. Most of the anvils that come up for sale are a long way from me and I would have to collect by myself in a small car. This one is relatively close by and I have friends/family nearby that could at least help me load it if I won. It looks pretty rusty and beat up. I have sent some messages for clarification and there is no text/numbers on it, the top face measures about 15.5" x 4". Any suggestions/information appreciated, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Blacksmiths-Anvil/183201236288?hash=item2aa7a50540:g:8LUAAOSwq-1a5ZWG Nick

Thanks and I have read the mentioned post I have been looking through gumtree. Wasn't aware of an alert feature so will look into that, thanks! 50-80kg seems about the size that I would like and could indeed get in my car. It doesn't help that a lot of folk post anvils and just say 'very heavy', I understand that not everyone can pop them on some scales but I don't want to drive cross country and it turns out to be 20kg or perhaps worse, 150kg and I can't lift it into my boot without taking my bumper off Thanks again for the help

On review of my thinking, really just the anvil at the moment. Pretty sure I'll be buying a solid fuel forge from Iron Dwarf as he is quite near to me and offers demos prior to sale which is nice. Anvils don't often come up in my area, London is the closest and I don't forsee me being able to heft one into the back of my tiny car so will probably need to hire a van . I can't imagine that I will be buying an enormous PW or something off the bat but I would like to start with something that it more traditionally shaped that has a hardy hole. I am looking at basic railroad etc but I whenever I start a hobby I always just upgrade quickly on whatever my main tools are so it seems like it would be a wasted journey if I didn't go for the midground. I checked your website out Dave.. you have a baller of a workshop! The rest of the tools I would probably like to have a stab at making myself

Equipment does come up a little but nothing compared to what is in the states. If I search for anything on eBay a few items come up in the UK but then it offers a bazillion US products I don't know what or why but for some reason my area is a crafting dead spot. Smithing seems a lot more common in the South West in Devon/Somerset/Cornwall etc but nothing here. Some items come up in London but if there are smiths around here they are not easy to find or are fully commercialised smiths that wouldn't want a pain the backside hanging around I checked the regional ones but there is only one for the South West and that seems pretty inactive. I just really want to get set up, spend a while making tools and learning how to use them. Eventually I would love to make kitchen knives. I love bladesmithing but there are only so many bowies a man needs (MOAARR I here someone cry..) so kitchen knives seems like a great way to keep practising the art whilst making useful things for friends/family (and perhaps eventually sell?). I have no delusions of grandeur in becoming some kind of profitable smith but I have a lot of dead time as a teacher during the summer months and it would also be great to use that time to make things that might sell in the future, if only to cover some expenses of the hobby

Good, tip! Will do, thank you! Is there a way to search for other UK members within the forum?

Thanks for the replies. I think after spending the last few hours of research (including a number of posts here) I will just go coal/coke. The only issue that I'm getting is that being in the UK the only reasonably priced kit doesn't seem to have a fire pot but is flat bottomed so will need to do some reading on how well that works/how to best work it if I'm going to purchase one. I am aware of the health issues with being around coal/coke burning as well but ceramic fibres/dust just scare the xxxx out of me and they are just so pervasive. As I will be working in an area that my daughter also plays in (not at the same time) I will feel better not using refractory.

Hi, I'm Nick and I have been dreaming of setting up a forge since I was a kid, have followed as much youtube/TV and reading as I can and I'm finally at the point that I want to get cracking. Managed to convince the missus and I'm off. I was hoping that I might also be able to find some UK smiths on here (perhaps even close to Northamptonshire!?) for advice on UK specific purchases etc. If you are (or even not) from the UK I would seriously appreciate a shout! Thanks all!!

Good morning, afternoon and night to all! I am trying to get a forge set up (UK) and keep tossing between gas and coal/coke. I would prefer gas but I have serious issue with inhalation of refractory. Clearly coal/coke has it's own health issues but I had a health scare with spending days carrying/cutting huge quantities of what was likely asbestos (turned out otherwise after lab tests thankfully) and now I really don't like dealing with ceramic fibres. Are there any refractory materials that are body safe and could be used in a gas forge or should I just go with coal/coke and deal with what would likely be just as bad but less anxiety inducing? Thanks in advance and go gentle, I am very aware of how absurd this anxiety is but I'm sure there are plenty of you out there that have fears of things I couldn't give a toss about either