Arkans

I am new to blacksmithing but I have been playing with an idea and design made from an old bench grinder. Still working on the design, but the short sweet version is buying the belts and wheels and using some 2 inch square tubing and plate steel, my problem I am working on is I want to be able the change the configuration for different grinding needs but still have the work deck for things like knife jigs and such. So if I ever get what's in my head on paper, I will share it. Honestly I have seen these grinders online, I thing I can make one cheaper than I can buy one.

I have been giving a lot of thought to what my first projects should be. Watching YouTube, and even on here, you come across a lot of cool projects, but one of the first things I have noticed is that most of those projects the first thing the smith does is reach for a tool. They are reaching for a bolster, a hardie tool of some kind, bending jigs, sweg blocks, tongs, drifts, punches, river blocks, and the list goes on forever. So, after watching god knows how many videos, I think I know where I need to start my blacksmithing journey. I need to make the tools, ultimately, these will help me develop skills, teach me how to draw out my metal, to shape, and should help me with basic skills. Now my question is, what tools do you most use at the forge. Please don't say hammer an anvil, that's a given, and forging a hammer requires a punch, hammer eye drift, bolsters if you want it to look fancy, and oh yeah a hammer to forge it with, and forging an anvil is a bit beyond beginner skill. But seriously as a beginners project. Would forging regularly used tools be beneficial to a new smith? Would this help him or her build needed skills? And other than those I listed, what would you suggest?

That old Anvil your wife's grand pa gave you probably would have some great stories to tell of all the metal forged on that welded surface. At one point I thought I was going to have to find a piece of hardened steel and weld it to a harbor freight anvil... but found out about these anvils and relaxed, they are within my price range. (Honestly I dont think my welding skills would have done the trick, last time I tried welding cast iron I just burned the cast iron...). I am still deciding on which of these to buy. The 66 lb is cheaper and gets me started, but the. There is 110 and 136 lb anvils. I know my self very well, I get the 66lb, and it won't be long before I am buying the larger anvil anyways... doesn't matter if I actually need it or not, my mind will justify it's purchase anyway, I know how I think.

Well I am starting off with a forge I am going to buy from Twisted... he has a round cast iron forge, it needs some work but I think I can get it going with little effort and a trip to a good scrap yard. He also has a blower that will work great with it...

I like that inner tube idea, I was actually thinking about that the other day. First I have to get an anvil, but I am going to line out my forge first. Twisted has one and a blower I am buying on Friday. Going to get them home and start figuring out how to fix the ash trap and blower connections. It is a large round cast iron forge and will need some work, but I am sure I can get it lined out.

I did see a nice Anvil stand build, again on YouTube. Used 4 6x6 blocks bolted and glued. The made a bolt down bracket and silicone to silence the ring, will that work?

Hey thanks for the information,and that is almost the same thing i was looking at doing, except I was adding a clinker breaker to mine, mainly cause i am lazy and don't want to have to pick out the clinker each time. Which knowing my luck i will have to do anyways.

I had my own idea for a Tempering oven, and was looking for a place to post this, and here we are... I have an old Air tank, and was thinking on setting it up like a BBQ grill, and use a BBQ grill burner, but connect that to a Thermocouple and regulator out of an oven so i could regulate the heat, then place a BBQ grill thermostat to make sure i am getting the temps i want. Honestly BBQ grill's reach 500 plus degrees regularly, depending on the steel, you only need between 450 and 500 to Temper. I figure this might keep the wife off my back when i run in the house to ummm cook a item in the oven. just would have to keep a propane tank around to fire it up. Any input is welcome input. (again folks, not on my immediate to do list, but when i start thinking on things it is hard to shut off my brain.)

Okay, so I am buying a used forge form a member on here, but that doesn't shut my brain off. So here is my question for all the world to see, So searching the internet Found Centaur Forge, and they have several Firepots for sale there for your forges. some are Cast Iron and some are Welded, Also I have seen several folks build Welded Firepots for forges else where on line. Soo, here is the question, If I design and build a large table forge say 32" x 36". is it better to design it around a pre-built cast iron firepot, or design a welded firepot to use with that table. Ii know welded firepots work, but as I only have access to a small flux core welder, would the high Heat form the forge burn out my welds, or would it work just fine after claying?

Frosty, traditionally the red food coloring is added but trust me they like it just fine with or without the food coloring..... before I stopped feeding them here they swarmed my feeders with out the coloring.

Frosty, I have seen the same sign for labor Rates and the one I seen tripled the previous rate, since you would usually have to go back behind them to correct their mistakes... I can not tell you how many times I bought something and had to fix the previous owners ummm modifications... last Harley I owned was like that... had to rebuild the motor completely due to improperly modified exhaust and burnt valves. I am sitting here now pencils, slide rulers, t-square, other implements of mental torment, designing a coal Forge. I sooo need to hit a scrap yard next Friday... and a pawn shop, think it is time to invest in a stick welder or maybe a cheap Mig welder if I can find one at the right price. My back is killing me bent over the table.

Thank you for the advice on this, and that I was thinking on the 110lb. I am going to try to find an old oak tree stump large enough to to cut to height. And I hear the ring on these is horrible so I think I am just going to wrap an old logging chain around the base several times. I have seen Old hickory's video as well, and I think that is what he did when he reviewed either the 110 or the 66 pound anvil.. Hammer control I know will come with time, and the hammers I am looking at are 2 lb range. From reading the forums on here, I am sure there are times where letting the hammer fly is required, but my grand father taught me something when I was young that holds true today. We was drilling through a tough piece of metal, and I had the drill and I just opened up with it full speed ahead. He stopped me and explained sometimes less is more.. he had me slow down the drill speed. He explained that the increased speed, increased the heat would dull the drill bit. That if I slowed down the bit it would take cleaner cuts, and not dull the blade. He went on the say that in life there is always time to speed up, and to start anything new light and slow, you learn more, and don't mess thing up along the way. I have found he is right throughout life. I fly model airplanes, light and easy on the controls or you lose control, backing a trailer, you make small corrections, other wise the trailer is all over the place. I plan on learning forging the same way, light swings, light hammer, and learn up. This way I don't tear up anything I can't afford to replace.

I have a lot to learn here it is obvious...

Okay looking at buy a VEVOR Anvil. the Prices are right for my budget, but I worry I am going to get a Lemon. I found a few reviews on Youtube.com but as I am new to this and know next to nothing about Anvils, I am asking before I buy. I am looking at the 110lb Anvil, On the Reviews it shows just about everyone stripping off the paint, and reshaping the horn, as well as dressing the edges. The reviews roughly put it between 50 and 55 hardness. Although they have found some Bondo covering minor casting imperfections. most complain about the location of the Bolster hole, and most i have seen have to clean up the hardy hole with a file. (i also seen the another review on here, and though the name is different, he seemed to have the same issues.) So VEVOR, good anvil for starting out with, or do I avoid these? I have a Harbor Freight Anvil, and already know not to use that. I am on limited funds, so any advice would be welcome. I will drop a link to the review video i found as well...Link removed due to advertising

Shania, that is the exact video I got my idea from! I made a few modifications, based the movement I seen from his as he used it. And I plan on using concrete to set mine in place if I ever build it. I am also thinking on modifying the hammer head as well to allow for different tooling shapes of the hammering head... just do not have that one figured out yet. Frosty I am starting to think your following me lol...

Frosty, thank you for the advice! I was at Billy's this morning and described to what i was thinking. I have been working today but my brain has been engaged and plan to talk with him about my new idea for a forge... after seeing his set up and what I have to work with here at home... I came up with a new design. (Go figure) that is similar to what he has, he has already messaged me about some items he has that he can sell so I plan on talking with him about what would be best. I am thinking about running coal like he does. ( the smell of a coal forge is awesome and has been teasing my nose all day since being there at his forge.)

Oh I am not going out and building a Treadle hammer right out the gate. On the things to build, buy, beg and barrow list, that's at the bottom... I have seen several designs on YouTube though and my question was more of a mental thought process. I see something and think how to apply the concept. starting out I plan on making tools. Tongs, chisels, punches, swedge blocks, hardie's, and who knows what else. Then I want to learn to layer and weld. Basically I want to work on my skills first. I know I have a lot to learn, but don't be surprised if I drop ideas I have on here. I have a huge collection of pencils and draw pads, so if an idea from something I have seen drops in my head, it can find it's way on paper for a later date or be filed away never to see daylight again.

Okay, building my first forge, took an old 20 gallon air tank and cut in half longwayscut a hole and ran 1"1/2 inch black pipe in the bottom with holes drilled in the center. I did buy some fittings to fit the hose of my shop vac to the end of the pipe, covered that in gravel then filled the tank with sand the dug out the center. Currently I am dressing hammers I bought from Harbor Freight. Using the engineers hammer to make a rounding hammer, and cleaning up the face of the cross pine hammer. For an Anvil, I am at a loss... I am looking at a couple I found on EBay. Seen a few reviews on you tube and they were favorable. One is 66lbs and the other 110lbs. Finding the funds for these won't be too bad. If anyone has any more information or input it is welcome. Just don't suggest I sink 2 grand into a new hobby right off. my plans, once I get my anvil is going to be to work on tools, tongs, Sweges, hardies, etc etc. so being new at this I am open to advice, suggestions, and I am always willing to learn. I have taken this as a hobby, and I am looking forward to expressing my creativity with steel and iron.

I guess this is as good a place for my first post. I am new to blacksmithing, still building my first forge. (solid fuel out of an old 20 gallon air tank) Any ways I watch a lot videos and have begun laying out my my forging area and seen a few treadle hammer designs on you tube. Since I know buying a power hammer of any kind is out of my foreseeable financial future, I was thinking on building a treadle hammer, basic design, with a 8x8 post set in the ground with the hammers pivot mounted on this post, using garage door springs to hold up the hammer. Anvil base under the hammer would be set up with a base plate with a hardy hole in the center. Figure to make the tools I would need to fit the hardy hole for various needs weather is is flat surface, or what ever else I would need. Just a thought for a poor man's replacement for a power hammer and since getting help will not be an option, having this set up would be helpful when an extra hand is needed. So here is the question for you older hands at the forge, would a heavier hammer be useful? Instead of an 8lb sledge, go with a massive 16lb, or make it where I can change the hammer from lighter to heavier as needed?