Ben chip

Hi Frosty Cheers for the feedback. I realise that the wedge for the bracket is meant to be the horizontal piece behind the keyed wedge, but for some reason it won't lock and hold the bracket in place. Is the keyed wedge meant to be facing the mounting point or the body of the vice? It was never my intention to make a knife when I started. It was just to practice hammering on. Squared one end off to make a better grip and the other end was just to beat on and flatten out. It got to a point that it started to look like a knife. Just decided to go with it and try to put a shoulder in and turn it into a knife. My next session is going to square off another piece and put some shoulders in and try to make a leaf. Blade smithing is something I know I need to hold off on doing until I've got some semblance of control.

Hi everyone! After having a fascination with knives, swords and blades for some years, I discovered Alec Steele on YouTube who took my fascination from a low burn, to a roaring flame! The stuff he made has me hooked, but I heard the odd mention of a show called 'Forged in Fire'. Seeing some of the amatuer smiths that went on there and how basic and simple their setups were, convinced me that it's not 'too' difficult to get started. This lead to me finally getting my xxx in gear and start getting the bits I need to start. After a year of a slow start, I finally have a working setup!! I have finally joined you lot! This is my first backyard setup! Basic, but proud of it! Had some coil spring from a van ready to get started on, got it heated and started hammering away at it. had to make a spring for my post vice and a wedge for the bracket that holds it to the stump and finally the last I shall touch of my first piece (spring and wedge were made after) Not gonna attempt to fit a handle as I feel that would be a RIGHT pain xx xxx xxx to try to attempt a hidden tang handle on what started as a "lets just heat and beat on this and see just how bad my aim is" practice piece So all in all, I'm pretty xxxx happy with myself for my first setup and VERY FIRST FORGING SESSION!! Compulsory fail pic: don't yet have soft fire bricks to block one end of the forge for heat retention. Turns out cinder blocks melt........these are used in buildings......... concern.