sawbones21

wow thank you so much how could we work out getting here that would be insainly amazing 

On 1/6/2019 at 4:15 PM, ThomasPowers said:

Nate; have you started attending the local ABANA Affiliate meetings?  Looked into the ABA  bladesmithing classes in Texarkana? As Miles would say: "Forward Momentum!"

I haven't attended one yet but I am looking at the NTBA 

Thank you, and well honestly I don't want to get all deep or anything but since I graduated high school I've been working out and losing weight to join the military but I haven't really been happy I've just kinda been going along with the routine of (work-pay bills-exercise-sit and watch tv-sleep-repeat) and I saw a youtuber working a beautiful blade on a shoulder tie for an anvil and a hole in the ground for a forge and that really inspired me, I've always thought that smithing was really cool and that kinda just made me realize that I would love to do this and finally have something I can call my craft 

And I really want to make anything I can although the first thing I'm going to attempt is a pair of tongs, I've read and watched a lot of videos on how to do it the only problem right now is that I need to get my forge made haha, but overall I want to make anything and everything I can, I collect knives so  I'll probably learn to make those as well as tools maybe rings or ornaments of some sort but I've Finally started to build my forge.. well kinda I've started extracting clay from a patch of dirt in my yard to use for the forge and my brother has a tree stump he said I could cut from his yard to set my non-existing anvil on 

anyways Thank you for your insight and you will definitely see more from me in a little while, and if you have any kind of advice at all and on any matters id be more than grateful to hear it 

-nate or sawbones 

18 hours ago, Glenn said:

 

So I followed the guide on buing an anvil and I think I found a decent fly wheel anvil made of cast steel that will work, Thank you for all of the information 

8 hours ago, marcusb said:

I second Al...knowledge is the best investment you can make. Ask yourself this question..how can you set up anything when you don't know what you need? Take some time to learn the processes involved. Then figure out what part of the trade you enjoy doing and that will guide you in the direction you need to go.

very true thank you 

Alright so I've been wanting to make my own forge/shop (still not sure on all the proper terminology ) For quite some time but the problem is that I  am usually broke most of the time is there a way for me to make my own forge and anvil for under $200 ?? if so please leave recommendations or just tell me about your experience doing so. I'm 19 and finally have a little bit of money to start my own hobby, I've heard about going to a scrap yard and finding a block of steel to use as an anvil, any  recommendations on what to look for any and all advice on smithing at all will be a massive help, Thank you