Nathan Kraft

Also wondering what I can use for handle scales. More specifically can I just use a piece of scrap wood or do I need specific types of wood or wood prepared in specific ways? Is it best to just order scales online?

I am planning to just hand sand to high grit. I'm not sure what else i could do to it with my current resources.

I am working with 1084 steel. I am going to grind the bevels (specifically file with a jig). Also, the order is drill handle + scales, grind bevels, heat treat, finishing sanding and such, attach handle,scales, finish handle and put finish on blade right? Lastly, I know heat treat for 1084 is pretty simple, but if I'm using my coal forge rather than a propane forge does that change it at all? And how do you heat the oil for the quench?

Any modifications you would make/things that look weird? Also should I do bevels first or quench first?

Not sure if this is the right site to post this (it not being forged) so sorry if this is the wrong place. I started my first knife today; my own design (by which I mean I didn’t copy something off the internet- obviously it is influenced by common knife shaped and such). I only finished the blank, but what do y’all think of the profile so far?

Thanks for that! If I hadn’t read that I would’ve made tons of mistakes. I’m even more excited to be able to afford a membership to Saltfork Craftsmen So I can have a good source of bituminous coal

Ah, that makes a lot more sense

Thanks! Hopefully I will see you at one of the upcoming meetings (if I can convince my parents to drive me there lol) I was also wondering how the trade item works (if I can go without bringing one and just look at other smith's work, what level of quality would be expected, etc). And can I bring other random work and ask people there to critique it for me?

Bill, Thanks for answering my question on Saltforkcraftsmen. If it's not too much hassle i was wondering what most meetings are like so i know what to prepare for. Also, is it something where as other have said, I can attend a few meetings before I'm able to afford a membership. Lastly, is there an age requirement for meetings, memberships, or classes? Update: to all y'all who helped me with my forge, in case you haven't seen, I have now built my forge. It is in this post for anyone wondering. I ultimately did decide on a side blast forge.

Thanks for all your help!

Anybody know what i should search online to get a piece of flexible tubing to connect the conduit to the tuyere? (or a place to get it in person?)

You're good on the rotation, but my display is messing up the quality of the image. I have been able to decipher all but the bottom left two labels. What do those two say? Sorry if I'm being somewhat of a pain

Thanks, I’ll make sure to remember that. I was mainly referring to that being the best source of bituminous for my area, and they only sell to members. The AVANA chapter here in Oklahoma from what I can tell doesn’t have a dedicated meeting place and sometimes does not have meetings because they don’t have a person who volunteered to host. I was wondering if I was just misunderstanding the website. Does anyone here from Oklahoma have any insight into that?

David, I am having a little bit of trouble picturing this. What exactly are you suggesting as an air gate, and how would you suggest actually mounting the hairdryer?

How do you differentiate the side from the front? That is not a blacksmithing power tool, I just built the forge in my dads woodworking shop. This is not its final place- I’m getting kicked outside lol. Thanks for the idea, I didn’t even think about the idea of larger stock later on lol.

Just built my first forge. What do y’all think? The cardboard is just a mock up- I plan to use a piece of a soup can lid as my airgate. I am planning to use a hair dryer not my bellows. Any suggestions for how to support it on the end of or otherwise attach it to the tuyere? Especially thanks to Glenn, IDF&C, and BillyBones for your help and suggestions on my forge. I also wanted to say for all of y’all complaining about the price of starting the total price of this was $10, though I know others have done it cheaper. Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

Unfortunately my parents did say I could only have one forge lol. So I will have to start with my forge and then evolve it as I see fit based on my needs. As others have said, that’s why I like the idea of the JABOD forge, as it can be redug to suit different purposes. Thank you also for the tips on making a bottom-blast forge. I guess it’s not as complicated as I thought

Thanks for all the help y’all. I’m glad there’s a community willing to help anyone who wants to start the craft.

Idf&c what do you mean by configuring the firepot? Is there an optimal way to dig it for coal?

Alright thanks. I am still wondering however if that would be better than the v shaped firepot with the pipe along the bottom?

Billybones you said that a bottom blast forge works well for coal, but would a side blast forge work also? I’m just asking because I somewhat doubt my technical ability to make a properly working bottom blast forge. Another option I could do for sure would be the firepot in a shape of a v with a pipe running along the bottom perforated with holes. Would that work also? I know that it wouldn’t be super complicated to build but I still have a lot to learn in that Field and wouldn’t trust myself. with the little money I have left I can’t afford to buy new materials and rebuild.

Alright. I was not sure whether or not to do this because I read somewhere that if you do that you destroy the heat treat on the sledge. Also I know this is a little bit off topic but it goes along with the new forge. I am going to be using a JABOD forge with coal (anthracite now, though I plan to use bituminous once I can get my hands on some- I currently can not afford a membership to my local ABANA chapter). I am trying to save as much money as I can, and I was wondering what would work well as an electric blower. The current ideas I am debating on are an air mattress inflator and a hairdryer. What advice would y'all have on those two options, or other suggestions? Again thanks very much. I know y’all answer a lot of questions about blowers So sorry if I’m annoying you with this question, but I wasn’t able to find anything super specific on air mattress pumps.

I am brand new to the craft and am currently building my first forge. What do y’all think of my anvil? (The sledge head is 10lb HF sledge; I am aware HF isn’t the best option but it’s the best my broke self could do lol). p.s. yes frosty I have read the READ THIS FIRST post (oops I hope I didn’t sound rude there); sorry if this is in the wrong place-I wasn’t sure whether to put it here or in the beginners place section