KingAether

All of this followed me home today! Also a few vice stands ill be putting the leg vice on finally, apparently there was a lot of blacksmithing stuff that had already been taken so i dug deep and most interested in the punches. rivet punches or eye punches anyone think?
 

Think westpoint would be a bit far but i might have a friend who still lives out that way and visits occasionally. Could you please link to the others you know of, as stated in the OP, westyork seems a little pricey in general. Thank you 

What production company ? 

Sorry if this is the wrong forum, i asked in UK sub to no replies and the general metals sub looks just as empty..
Im looking for anyone in the UK who can recommend the better place(s) to buy known steels. I only place somewhat locally that sells any tool or HS steels is Cromwells, its great that i finally found somewhere after months of searching but the website is a bit chaotic, and i don't really know UK steel grades as most of it online is US grades, ie- 1095. 
 I know of a few of the bigger names such a westyorksteel but it seems pricey even before considering postage across the country.
What recommendations would people make ? Bare-in-mind i don't have drive so i can only get so far and the only steel supplier in that range supplies mostly to construction so its all mild, generic stock.
Thank you 

Have a chance to take a free, working, treadmill and have a bunch of mild bar and box section stacking up in the shop so i figure ill give building a grinder a go. Looking on google it seems there is one layout used much more than the others but im curious if that's just monkey see, monkey do, or if its generally a better layout . Im guessing 4 wheels are better than 3, does 5 make any difference? Rectangle, square, tall, long..  does the general shape of it change much? i'm not so worried about the size, 2x60 is much more readily available in the UK so will be a smaller build.
If anyone has any reccommendations on simple, cheap builds i could check out that would be great, currently i plan to make something like this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8l8RdPm2OQ&lc=z22fixsytvjnxbcz104t1aokgxrmrbtqfsnplfrnqltdbk0h00410.1579562224435418
Its not pretty but it works and its probably the most simple to build one that iv'e come across so far
Thank you 

Thanks for the tips and pictures of the drifts, if you only had one, to make bottle openers, what would you pick, diameter wise ?

Ill be honest, i keep getting them all confused, i did mean a drift, any closer to that finished shape than a punch ?

Had a bit of a productive day in the shop but didn't get anything made, moved everything around to give myself some more room and put the anvil closer to the forge, cleaned up some hammers and started making a punch from a cold chisel, any tips on how to finish it from here ?

I have just been watching videos of people forging hatchets, its partly why i started getting into smithing to make my own camp gear and tools. Will have to find a small block to use for the rest

Friend gave me some stuff from the scrap bin in his shop, clearly someone tried to make a knife with one of the rasps and got scared by the grinder sparks 
Do tools such as rasps tend to make better chisels or blades, or something else ? Not super interested in knife making but no idea how i would go about chisels without the proper swage parts

Absolute score there Thomas! As a new smith that you don't know let me introduce myself  
My friend who supplies me with mild as gots a lot of scrap from work called me over today, gave me some more bar but because he had a bunch of tools in the scrap bin again that someone brought at a carboot and decided they didn't want.

Evening all, 
As per the title, what is your ideal work space size for, lets say roughly the amount of equipment you would take to do a show?  I'm already feeling the restrictions of a 10' x 10' x 7.5' enclosed room and have a chance at up-scaling with a lean to so i can work outside and make space for machinery inside; lathe, band saw, etc

 By a stroke of luck or three I've been given an 8m x 6m x 10ft lean-to that some gentleman only recently build as long as i dismantle and remove it Monday/Tuesday. I figure i don't have the space to erect half of it at home but i have the room to store what i don't use and it's a great semi-portable work area where ever i live in the future with a bit of effort; I'm blessed where i live currently and i wouldn't expect to find myself with a workshop added into my room cost again in rented accom. so its something i need to consider.

 Initially i was just going to switch a glass pane in a low window on the workshop with the shutters in another and build a small "room" outside to put the propane tank, dust extraction bin and vacuum all in arms reach but out of the way but i might as well use as much as i can without asking to much of  the landlady. So i ask those of you who have had a bit more time to figure out your space for opinions.

Thank you 

Thanks! To be honest after seeing it im half temped to do the anvil itself too, would be give an excuse to clean up the edges a little while im there. Any idea if this marking could be something from the manufacture? Its a different letter set but its not the initials of the previous two owners, noticed it this morning... Along with the area of rust i missed =|
"T . M"

evening of hard work and it looks a world of difference!

yup, made in England, i got a little excited as there is a Stourbridge near me but its not the place they where made and definitely, just waiting for someone to visit then ill be off to buy some wirey things to clean it up

Took my vice apart and threw it in vinegar over new years and got to it today, far from perfect still and ill be getting a wire wheel tomorrow to make it a quicker job but managed to find a markers mark which i didn't expect  
ATTWOOD's
BEST          STOURBRIDGE
WARRANTED 

Thanks for the information, i will keep my eyes out for the third too when im around town 

"In the Northlands, beleaguered by the ever-encroaching Ice and the marauding Ekwesh, a young cowherd, Alv, saved from the raiders by the mysterious Mastersmith, discovers in himself and uncanny power to shape metal - but it is a power that may easily be turned to evil ends, and on a dreadful night Alv flees the Mastersmith, and embarks on the quest to find both his own destiny, and a weapon that will let him stand against the Power of the Ice."

Found these two in a charity shop today, haven't read them so can't give a review right now but i'm sure my partner will only take a few days to blast through new books in the house so i will edit an update soon.

Thank you CGL, yes lots of fun, a little frustration but mostly fun. Thank you for all the support so far, really appreciate it

Thats Glenn, helped a bunch doing the ends first.. Definitely did not take measurements though lol Made another today and its equally to big as the first was to small, hopefully third times the charm and another tomorrow will be just right. Can definitely see a little progress though, better curve at least on one side :L

Had my first real time with the forge today and made this. Wanted to make it for my partner for Xmas but as we both have big hair its definitely to small; Will try again tomorrow and hopefully get it a little more symmetrical but a lot of fun and a good but of experience! 

That's the plan as soon as i've made the barrette. Though that would be a big bottle opener! It looks small but the green clipper is 3" for comparison.
Definitely did CGL, went from phoning around places for a week and nothing to 3 regular supplies today, happy man for sure! Im deciding what to do with the tools as they are rusty but maybe to useful to hammer; The bigger one is a Heller farriers rasp.

Yeah for sure, didn't realise the extent of my friends offer until i got there, They had 2 oil barrels full of 2-20mm mild and another full of old files and rasps and other tools, constantly being used and re-filled from there work and its an open offer.. Just got this as its all i could carry the distance home

I finally got to fire up the forge for the very first time today! Knew i would only get a few heats before the other half came home and we had dinner but i'm past my nervous disposition towards getting the gas wrong, lighting the place up in a fireball or melting the roof and I had a blast in the 20-30 minutes i had. I'd like to get my xxx in gear and make my partner a barrette hair clip for Xmas. I also had contact from an old friend who's back in the area and can supply mild steel from construction sites and a garage has said they leave the bins open at night so i'm free to salvage any springs i like and another said they will collect them and call me every few weeks, happy days! 

Are there any other places worth trying to contact other than fabrication companies? I live in a very business and don't drive, a lot of the craft bushiness are in the countryside down the motorway some