Hello All - 27 year old from the States here, new to blacksmithing and the DIY philosophy in general.
Some months ago, I found myself bored and endlessly perusing Youtube, and stumbled upon a (presumably) talented smith generously helping YouTube history buff Lindybeige create a sword. After watching that captivating process, something about the sound and seeing the metal move "stirred the dwarven blood" in me, as my brother amicably put it.
Since then, I've been utterly fascinated (mayhap even obsessed) with blacksmithing as a craft - and compelled by it in a way unlike anything I've experienced before. I'm not yet striking hot iron (funds and resources being what they are) but I'm determined to be at it soon - before December, with any luck. I've already purchased my first set of cross peen and ball peen hammers, and my brother has a shop that he's graciously allowing me to set up in.
Next steps are the forge - I want to get a semi transportable propane set up with firebrick. After that I'd ideally like a new 70ish lb anvil ( estimates I've seen online is for about $300-400) but until then it seems there are plenty of cheap alternatives (and the off-chance of stumbling into a good deal for a used one). When I do get started, I want to work my way up to knifemaking - but I understand one must crawl before they can walk.
My brothers shop is an hour drive away, so it'll take time to set up. In the meantime, I've been hammering penny nails into stumps - an exercise recommended to me to build both strength and hammer control. Added to this is an insatiable thirst to read and watch all I can about the craft. Which brings me here. I've been lurking for a month, and I am pleasantly overwhelmed by all the information archived here. Currently reading a copy of Gas Burners for Forges, Furnaces, and Kilns (again at the recommendation of this site). So thank you all for providing a path for others to walk and learn from.