K. Bryan Morgan

Here's my shop in its current incarnation. Part of it outside and part of it inside. I'm using a RR rail anvil at the moment but a better one will be here end of the week or so. I'll post picks of it when I get it on a stump.

My coal forge is a break drum design. Metal 2x4 stud for the frame and 1/8th inch floor plate for the hearth. I use a Bucket Head small shop vac for my air blast with an inexpensive dimmer switch for blast control. It works very very well. And now that the weather has warmed up a little bit, I actually get to use it.

Here's my vise. I don't know what brand it is there are no markings on it. I don't have it mounted at the moment.

Here you go lots of information here.

I think what I would do is, stand the bar on end and weld the round to it.. then bury the rest of the bar in the ground to the right height for hammering. Say, knuckle high as I have been taught. At least for me it's a comfortable height. As big as it is you could cut in a pritchel hole and a hardy hole no problem.

Hey there Junker hadn't seen you in a while. Great runes, that will make a very cool touch mark. Good to see your getting stuff done. Have a great day.

I didn't dismiss anything out of hand, I just said I hadn't heard of it. I also searched the pdf article for the word flux,it is never mentioned, and re-read it. I doesn't say what you seem to think it says...At least not to me it doesn't. Maybe its a matter of semantics. I never once claimed to be an expert. Just shared my experience.

Well done. For me making tongs helps me understand several different things. Drawing, fullering, twisting, punching and riveting to name a few. I think they teach a lot to a beginning smith like me. So, that's about all I've made. Tongs, tongs and another set of tongs. Like my football coach used to say, "Keep running that play till you get it right."

I have to admit that I for one do not see anywhere in the pdf article submitted about making Japanese swords, any mention of straw ash as a flux. As part of a way to prevent decarburization yes, but not as a flux. As far as the facebook article is concerned that is the very first time I have ever heard of using rice straw, or any straw as a flux, and grass as a flux too. After reading 20 odd books, researching for over a year and studying continuously, I would have seen that....hmmm.

http://www.centaurforge.com/Firepots/products/167/ Centaur Forge has 6 different types in stock. Square, Round, with sliding or dumping ash gates. Prices seem very reasonable to me compared to other sites I've looked at. Personally I use a break drum. It was free. Free is always good. Oops, didn't see that you were replacing a Centaur forge fire pot till I reread your post. My bad. :unsure:

There are a lot of very good new anvils being made these days. And, after tons of research and thinking, I have decided to get the Texas Farrier Supply 200# blacksmithing anvil. It's a basic english pattern anvil. For the price, plus shipping, plus my ability to pick up that much weight. I am gonna get that one. http://texasfarriersupply.com/proddetail.php?prod=anvblacksmith200%23&cat=41 If anvils were easier to find here I would get a used one but after almost 6 mo. of hunting and no luck...time to get new.

Glenn, thank you so much for spending the time to get the forum up and running well. I know you spent time doing this when I am sure you would have rather spent it with your family. Your dedication to the dissemination of information for us gives us the ability to be the best smiths we can be. I for one am grateful. Have a great holiday.

That was the advice I received when I first got started. My tool set is basic and works very well for me. I use a piece of rail road rail for an anvil. My most used tongs are a large set of vise grips. They were invented by a blacksmith to make a better set of tongs. My forge is a break drum forge. Very easy to build. I use 2" black iron pipe for the ash dump and air blast. Purchased from a local plumbing supplier. For my air blast I use a small shop vac called a bucket head. Cost $20 at Home Depot. Just put it on any 5 gallon bucket. To control my blast I use a light dimmer. Again, purchased at the Home Depot. Hammers are easy to find. Use ball peen hammers. I have 3 sizes 16 oz., 24 oz., and a 32 oz. Also I have a good set of files I scrounged and a couple on Nicholson files I purchased at a local store that sells welding and steel working supplies. I have an inexpensive cross peen that I purchased at a farm supplier that is 3 pounds. An angle peen that is 2.25 pounds and a straight peen that is 2.2 pounds that a very nice smith here on the forum sent me to help get me started. And a couple of others that I use for driving or cold work. For a hot cut hardy I use an old hatchet head locked in a small bench vise. Works great. I found a nice post vise at an antique dealer for $40, he wanted $45 but I talked him down $5. I've made 3 pairs of tongs so far. I work hard to make them as nice as I can. But, they are ugly. Functional, but not pretty. I forge as often as weather and time will permit. Study when I can't forge. All together I probably spent about $120 and have about $400 total in value in tools. So a good but basic set can be had for not a lot of money. If your a better scrounger than I am you can reduce that even more. I know people here have started with less. Don't be discouraged, keep working towards your goal and keep hammering.

Isn't Railroad track steel 1070 or there abouts? Don't think you would need it.

Thomas, by smoking do you mean to put a layer of soot on the screw to act as a lubricant?

Things don't have to be complicated. I use an old hatchet head in a small bench vise for my hot cut. Works very very well. I don't have an anvil. No hardy hole, just have to make do with what I have. Piece of rail screwed to a stump to hit hot iron on, my vise hot cut, channel locks and vise grips for tongs. 3 small but functioning tongs I've made, (ugly buggers). Just keep hammeren on.

For myself, I have made 3 pair of tongs so far, a small set that holds 1/8" to 1/4" square or round, a large set of flat tongs for flat stock of various sizes, and a medium set that holds 1/4" to 3/8" round or square. All made with vise grips. Personally I like the vise grips. My third pair most definitely looks better than my first. But all three are still ugly. Not like Mr. Sarvers at all. However they work. By, the way that reminds me. Need to buy a few sets of yours Grant.

Those are some great videos Joe. Very well done. Thanks bunches for showing them.

Bentiron, I understand what your saying. I've dealt with inspectors like that too. However, the majority that I have had dealings with were good men and women that were doing their jobs to the best of their abilities. Every job has its jerks. I just don't let them upset me. Where's the good in that. I just consider the source and move on from there.

Hey Frosty, not that far out. But not in the city limits either. Just far enough. And I agree with you about the politicians. Dang pesky folk.

One nice thing about living in rural Alaska is, no building codes. One bad thing about living in rural Alaska is, no building codes. You should see what passes for a house here sometimes. That being said. No one tells me what to do on my land. And I like that. But, also I have worked in construction most of my adult life and I know how to build well. I haven't had to build any out structures here. I have a 12'x16' shed and a 6'x12' chicken coop. Not to mention the pole barn for the cars. Codes and code enforcement can be a pain. But, they are there for a reason. The laws of Hammurabi (sp) said that if a builder builds a house and it falls and kills the owner the builders life is forfit. They have been with us a long time. If I ever do build a structure here on the property it will be built to a strict building code, even though one is not needed. Safety first. Personally I think your smithing space is well built and thought out. Looks good to me. I'm working under a tent as I am trying to get the shed heated and insulated And in these temps that's not fun. Note to self, gasser.

Salt water freezes at 28.58 degrees F. So it will still freeze just at a lower temp. The cow troth warmer sounds like a really good solution to me...personally I just use the snow. Its everywhere here and not going away anytime soon. :D

Hey Joe, I always love your videos. Sounds like a good idea to me. Make a video of how you make your nails and also how you make the nail header would be good too.

Frosty, you betcha, we can bang steel anytime you like. I would love it. But, for now just get better. We have plenty of time to hammer iron.