mcaldwell

Hi all... I've been interested in blacksmithing for a long while, but just recently decided to take the leap and get involved. I also ride horses (for nearly a year now, taking weekly lessons), so farrier work interests me as well. I'm planning to take a 2-week course in January at the Kentucky Horseshoeing School. But in the meantime, I'm hoping to get some experience and hopefully learn some things, to make sure this is something I want to pursue. Is there anybody in the area who I could watch work, or maybe help out? I'm afraid I don't have much money to pay for training, as I'm saving for the horseshoeing class, but neither do I expect compensation for working (other than the experience that is gained in the process). I work as a computer programmer during the day, so nights and weekends are my "free time." Thanks!

Well I picked up a couple of 55 gallon steel drums today (they were used to store food items, so they should be clean). They look pretty nice and they were cheap. Came with lids and rings. I think I'll combine some of the ideas I've been getting from you guys and hope it works out. Wish me luck!

Thanks Frosty, I do tend to over-engineer things... I'd intended to line the chiminea with refractory, so as to avoid the "breaking apart", but maybe that wouldn't have worked. In any case, I see that there are cheaper alternatives that will work just as well. I'll keep you all posted on my progress (it may take a while to gather all the materials). Thanks!

Thanks Glenn. I'm not sure where I'd be able to gather the parts for that design. Also sounds kinda dangerous. I don't have much experience with scrap-yarding or anything like that... I'd be willing to try, but if I can pay a little more to get off to a bit of an easier start, that's probably what I'll do.

Hi all! Looks like a nice forum ya got here. I'm excited to begin my blacksmithing journey and am eager to get started. I'm in "tool-gathering" mode currently, but would like to begin building a forge to get the ball rolling. I'm not looking to spend much money. Less than $200 on the forge itself, hopefully much less than that. I've narrowed it down to 2 designs (unless somebody has a better recommendation): 1. A design based on a chiminea (from Lowe's, looks something like this. I guess I would add an air source underneath the flame and coat the inside of the furnace with some type of refractory... and probably set some fire bricks underneath the charcoal and around the sides... 2. An in-ground design based on a classical Japanese sword forge (described here: Forge Building ). Basically I guess I'm looking for feedback on either of these 2 designs... I've not seen any forges built from a chiminea (as in #1), but it seems like it would work. Also, any tips for getting started would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Looking forward to learning from you all...