Steel Serpent Smithy

This is exactly what happened! I had to bail out because the entire enclosure filled up really fast! I actually haven't been out there since because of that experience. I have multiple fans and the enclosure has a bunch of hooks I could hang one on. So I'll give that a try. From what everyone's saying, I have a few tweaks to make but overall it's a solid start. I have plenty of all the PPE listed. I even got several sets of all-cotton outfits for the dangers that George listed. I just need to remember to take the extinguisher out with me. Really just need to purchase one to dedicate to it. And about the pavers under the stump, I put them there so that the stump wouldn't be resting on the ground to prevent rot. Would 2x4's accomplish the same thing? I guess they would if they were treated lumber, right? I'll have to look into metal buckets. Apparently a nearby auto shop is selling barrels. Drove past and the missus said she thought that's what the sign said. Wasn't a good spot to turn around and we were ready to get home, though. So I'll probably look them up and call for more info. I just need to get out there and practice and learn, now. For some reason I am extremely nervous and anxious about it and I keep thinking I should just cut my losses and move on. I know once I get started actually making stuff that feeling will go away. It's all the prepping and planning and initiating that drives me nuts! Just getting out there and starting is the hardest part for me. The missus is pestering me to just get started because she's seen how much I enjoyed it when we took that class together. It's good weather today so I'm going to push myself to get out there. Thanks for all the guidance, y'all!

Ok that makes sense. I hadn't thought of it that way. I guess my thought process was that I really wanted to make things in time and this was a gesture to show willingness despite the outcome. I hadn't actually thought about giving them to not-close acquaintances. So obvious now that I think about it. Already have several people in mind. But here I go again overthinking things way before I get there

I hope this is the right place for this post. I've never been that good at figuring out where things go. I also hope this isn't an old discussion, I didn't find any with a google search. Short background: I really wanted to get out and make some stuff for friends and family before this weekend, because that's when the family Christmas gatherings are in my family. But it didn't happen for various reasons. So now I am stuck without any handmade gifts that I was planning. So I had an idea. But I'm not sure if it's a good idea, or if it would be in poor taste, socially. I'm not that smart socially, so I wanted to get opinions. I also thought it might make for a fun discussion. Anyway, my idea: coupons! At some point, I want to start selling my work. So I mocked up some coupons for one free item to give out to friends and family. That way they can pick what they want out of anything I'm offering once I get things started. We're not really exchanging gifts this year, since a lot of us are pretty broke. So it's not like it will be taking the place of a "real" gift. Just a little extra. Is this in poor taste? Other thoughts on the idea?

Hey folks, thanks for all the tips! I'm glad I was on the right train of thought with the lump charcoal. Sorry I've taken so long to reply, I've been in a bit of a funk and kept thinking about giving up on this project. Really wanted to have it all figured out and ready to make stuff for friends & family by Christmas time, and it didn't end up happening, and it was extremely discouraging. But I'm over it now. Talking to folks here is always helpful for that. Anyway... I went outside and took some closer pics earlier. I also dug out the firepot since it was full of green coal. I've moved the blower closer and it is definitely more comfortable, just from mock testing. The ammo can is what I'm using as a quench tank. Just water for now. The budget has run out, so no quench oil for high carbon items yet. Was surprised how expensive that stuff gets. I have another ammo can ready for it when I get some, though. Going to paint them different colors to differentiate them at a glance. And to answer Dawsulf's question, the forge is a rivet forge from Centaur Forge. Also got the hose and blower from them. A lot of other stuff was thrifted or purchased locally. Even the stump came from someone local. I tried to purchase locally as much as possible when figuring out my setup. It just feels right for this sort of project. I went with the rivet forge so I would have more budget for material. I don't plan on working on anything large for a long time, so it made the most sense to me.

Thanks for the thorough description, George! From what you're saying, I think part of my problem is that I piled green coal on top rather than let it bake on the sides. Got impatient, I think. I'm ready to start working and be done with trying to figure out how to start. Would another method be starting a pile of charcoal and then baking the bituminous coal around that? I don't really have kindling available, but I have natural lump charcoal and a chimney starter.

Looking for advice on how I can improve my setup. Last time I tried starting up the coal forge, I smoked up the entire backyard somehow. Not sure if that was an issue with coal quality, technique, or the heavy wind that day. Going to try charcoal next time, and then add bituminous little by little until I have plenty of coke. The plastic bag covering the forge was intended to stop or slow down rusting since I can't get out every single day and don't feel like lugging it in and out of the shed. I can't get out even on days I have time but that's a mental thing and not really relevant here. It doesn't appear to have slowed down any rusting, especially since I sprinkled some water on the coal in the forge because I have seen a lot of people say it helps it coke up. But it never got fully lit, so I guess the water never got burned off and just rusted it all up. Not sure if a rusted firepot is fine to use, but that's a question for a different post. My anvil is under the yellow apron. Trying to prevent it from getting too rusty as well. It's one of those blue harbor freight anvils that people say aren't the best. But it, like most of my setup, was a generous gift from well meaning parents who are excited to see me interested in a craft. Along with a vevor propane forge but that thing honestly kinda scares me. My main concern with this setup is ventilation. I know it looks like it should have a ton of ventilation. More than enough, really. But somehow when I tried starting a coal fire, I got smoked out. Even with the wind, it was producing smoke faster than it was clearing out. I had to run out of the shelter and up to the house. I've done my due diligence with a google search with the "site:iforgeiron.com" tag, but didn't come up with a lot. As usual, I've found unique ways to screw things up. I've over-explained enough, for now, any thoughts? Hints, tips? Admonitions? pics:

Shainarue, Over the past year I've been using my Outlook calendar more and more for every little thing. I went with that one because it's integrated directly into Windows and will sync between my phone and desktop easily. Ease of use is absolutely essential! For a while I even scheduled creative projects but I'd never get the momentum to get started on them. It gets really frustrating wanting to work on something and having a lot of ideas but your brain says "I say we doin this other thing now!" Frosty (I almost typed Lucky), That's a wonderful way to remind yourself. I'll have to find a way to keep encouraging myself, as well.

Frosty, The guy I took a class with also said he taught a lot of autistic students. I find it very interesting since we tend to have difficulty with intense sensory input, and blacksmithing has a ton of that, yet it's not a problem. I think you've figured out at least part of it with the control bit. I know the anvil is about to make a loud noise because I'm about to whack it with a hammer. If it gets to be too much, I just stop hitting it for a while. It's not like being in public where the overstimulation comes from other people. I've also been mentally exploring how my motor control issues don't seem to translate over to smithing (at least for me). I think it's because smithing involves big movements. There's very little of what I call "fiddly stuff." I guess my only concern is whether my executive dysfunction will allow me to start and finish projects on a regular basis. JHCC, Thanks! I'll do that.

It's a reference to Moses' brass serpent. I wanted to have a biblically based name for my forge. I thought that "brass serpent forge" would confuse people into thinking I worked solely with brass. I plan to work with it eventually, but my primary focus is iron and steel. I played with the name in my head for a while and realized that I could alliterate the name if I call it "smithy" rather than "forge." The acronym is also the sound a snake makes! SSS

Well since I've gone through the trouble of finally making an account after lurking for close to a year, I guess I should do the socially acceptable thing and introduce myself. My interest in blacksmithing has been around since I was a kid. It started as an interest in swords and melee weaponry typical of a young male. It is one of the very few interests I've had that has never changed or gone away. I've always thought blacksmithing was cool but somehow it never connected in my mind that it's something I could do in "modern times." Fast forward 20ish years, I've struggled to maintain gainful employment thanks to issues with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. My mom invites me and my girlfriend to the highland games at Grandfather Mountain. I found the blacksmith demo tent and basically sat there the entire weekend. The apprentice at the tent makes me a "troll cross" and says he'll give it to me if I promise to come take a class with them. I accept. Fast forward again about 5 years. Mental issues become worse, I can't keep any job longer than a month. I start marathoning Forged in Fire with the girlfriend, and she's somehow interested in it. I suddenly recall my promise to take a class with the guys that were demonstrating at the highland games. I look them up and convince the missus to take a class with me. I'm hooked, instantly. Pun intended, as the first thing I made was a decorative hook. Working with fire and metal brought me joy and purpose I hadn't felt in years. I've always struggled with trying to find what my talents are. I've always been very creative, but everything I'd try I could never get the hang of. Blacksmithing was the first thing I've tried that just felt natural to me. The instructor gave the explanation and I completed every step on the first try. That never happens for me. Obviously I wasn't creating a masterpiece, but I'm used to making huge mistakes any time I try something new. Since that class last December, I've spent what is probably far too much time figuring out how I'll be able to do this for a living. I know you don't get into blacksmithing to make it rich, I don't expect to. If I can just help lighten the financial burden of the household a little bit, I'll consider it a success. Personal finances and lack of tools and equipment have made it very difficult for me to figure out how to get my first setup going. Every solution I found I either lacked the finances or tools to pull off. This next part may seem tangential, but it's related, I promise. Another interest of mine is disability advocacy with a focus on autism. I was recently forwarded an opportunity to be a self-advocate helping medical students of various backgrounds learn about Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. I was already excited about the opportunity, but then they also said I'd be paid a stipend. "Neat," I thought, "I'll probably be able to get an anvil to get a start on building my setup. Or maybe a cheap blower. Or a pair of tongs." Then I found out the stipend was way more than I had anticipated. It was enough to put together a pretty decent setup. Not fancy, but decent. I also acquired some railroad track anvils for the low low price of the gas it took to drive to the mountains to pick them up. The guy I picked them up from was a Forged in Fire finalist, making the 2nd one I've met. It's not a lot, and not that important, but it's strange to me that it's happened twice. Anyways, I plan to place the order for my forge setup this week. I am very excited to get started and to share my progress with the fine people of this forum. TL;DR: Howdy folks! Attached: the first hook I made in the class, and the railroad anvils I acquired.

See, there's my problem. I am very good at conceiving how things can go wrong. In fact that is how I spend most of my day! I think I may just go for the hose they sell for the sake of simplicity. The more I think about it, the more obvious it is that it really couldn't heat up enough. I appreciate everyone's input!

Thanks for the tips, Frosty! I already have a few people and places in mind that I can call. I guess now my decision is do I go the easy route and face my fears regarding the galvanized hose, or face my fears regarding social interaction to call around.. Such is life with generalized anxiety disorder.

I've been lurking a long time and I've never felt the need to post since I have been able to easily find answers to any questions I've had. But I've finally gotten confused about something I have been unable to find a suitable answer to even after a few evenings spent searching. Apologies if this has been asked before, I couldn't find it anywhere. First, a little background. I was going to build my own coal forge to get started, but I have been blessed and my budget has grown exponentially. So I decided to buy a decent one, instead. Going for the Centaur Forge Handy Forge and the active #35 hand crank blower. And that's where my problem is. The Centaur Forge site has a kit to attach the blower to their forges. But the hose is galvanized. I am not willing to have anything galvanized within 100' of my forge. Call me paranoid, that's fine, I may be. But I have struggled to find metal hose that isn't galvanized for a price that isn't extravagant. I was considering getting black iron pipe to attach it, but then couldn't figure out how I would attach the pipe to the blower. The outlet is smooth, and I don't see anywhere to bolt anything to it. TL;DR- So I guess I have several questions: What can I use to attach the blower to the forge intake, and how do I attach it? Thanks.