ironstein

wow, that sounds pretty labor intensive! Glad to see youre helping others. People like you helping others get through the hard times are what make this country great.

Thanks Ian! I haven't turned on that tv in a long time! when i am out there, i am all about forging. Two things i really need is a good post vise, and a belt grinder. i think i am gonna get an attachment for my bench grinder, and i think a buddy of mine has a post vise to sell me.
Your set up look great too, i like that forge, looks cool with the eyes drawn in!

heres some pics of it in action, and some pics of my new blower. I'm lucky i got a good blower, i bought it off ebay, and you never know with blowers.http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gif

I can't compete with you guys, but heres some pics of my stuff. Welders, the shed next to the shop with some junk, and the back of my shop where i store wood and coke.http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gif

Good job! You DID get a ton of detail into that ring.

I built it from scrap pieces of angle iron and some sheet steel i had laying around. I modeled it after Brian Brazeals set up. It just made sense when i worked with him. The side draft i made from scratch as well. I started with a sheet metal box i had left from a propane forge i was making, and i welded the expansion on the top, and fitted the 12" tube. Now that i have been forging with it, i love it, the side draft has excellent draw, no smoke in the shop. Brian showed me his set up and told me that it is better to have "loose" pieces of sheet for the table due to heat expansion. Thanks for all the compliments.

It will be dirty soon enough! Its only clean because i have been making adjustments to my arrangement, not forging. I just got my blower, and its a beauty, i will be forging like crazy all day tomorrow. I am so excited. Thanks for the comment drifter, i always am drawn to your posts, you and Grant aka naked anvil. He cracks me up.

http://www.iforhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gif

Didn't see this thread until i already posted my own about the coke forge i just finished. Has a Lorance fire pot. I also installed an adjustable support on the fron for large pieces. The side draft is 12" tube, and the fire box has fire brick at an angle on the bottom as a sort of smoke shelf, it draws super well. The tube stands about five feet above the peak of the shop.http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gif

Thanks guys! My blower is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I will be having fun this weekend for sure, the wife will barely see me!

I built this forge and have been waiting for a hand cranked cannedy otto blower purchased off ebay. I wanted to take pictures of it in action because the side draft hood works great, but the electric blower i got from craigs list died a day after i got it! I have a Roger Lorance firepot. I got to use it for a full day, and i like it way better than my gasser. Just some thing about working the fire that really gives me satisfaction. I stole an idea from Brian Brazeal and made an adjustable arm on the front of the forge for supporting large work pieces at different angles. I should have my blower this weekend, and i will post some pics of it in action.http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/images/attach/jpg.gif

Tape measure: Used to measure once and cut, and measure twice and cut three times. Never to be found where you assume, usually hiding with center punches and pencils and surfacing just long enough to cause another inaccurate cut.

Nice job! Looks great.

3 pound sledge hammer commonly used to bend and mushroom metal stakes while simultaneously crushing fingers and bruising shins.

Why not switch to coke? A lot less smoke.

I think it depends on how much you forge. When i visited Brian Brazeal, he told me he would go through like a ton or more coke a month. That is alot of forging. I just got a Roger Lorance fire pot for my coke forge. That thing is heavy, very thick and durable. I too am using free coke from an analysis business that deals with refineries. I have never used coal, but i know the coke is relatively smoke free. There certainly is an intense heat, when i turn the fire, the radiant heat feels like its gonna burn my beard off! Of course that may have some thing to do with it being 100 degrees outside. The side draft hood i built works great at getting the heat out of the shop though.

Thanks Brian! I had an awesome teacher.

Why thank you all!

Brian Brazeal showed me how he makes his horse heads the last time i visited him. I decided to make a gift of a horse head door knocker for my moms birthday. I also made a bottle opener, unfortunately drifting the hole left too little material so it bent when i tried to use it! I kind of like the door knocker though. These are my first projects on my own at my new coke forge so go easy on me!

Anyone have a good source of coke near the Los Angeles area? Any ideas would be a big help. I know of one place that sells blacksmithing "coke" coal. I would like to use coke so as not to disturb my neighbors.

I have a lincoln electric mig wirefeeder. Small one, only flux core wire. I'm afraid my other two welders are worth way more than i would pay for an anvil. The little welder i have would work great for sheet metal, but i think you may be looking for a mig welder that uses argon gas.

I talked to him about the forum, he told me that he doesn't know anything about computers, about all he does is look over the posts, he doesn't want to post. He says he cant keep up with the computer. I suspect he spends his time BLACKSMTHING, not on the computer, like Brian! I talked to him for quite a while and told him if i got out his way i wanted to come meet him. Super nice guy.

I ordered a complete firepot from Roger, and we spoke on the phone a few times, he is a super nice guy, been blacksmithing since the early seventies. He told me that he makes these products so that blacksmiths can work with a superior product. I really enjoyed talking with him.

Thanks guys, all these posts made me feel better. I am so happy that i found blacksmithing. Not only is it extremely interesting, but i have met nothing short of spectacular people, including the people on this site.

It truly was a life changing experience to work with Brian Brazeal. Everything he does seems so effortless, and his teaching style is so absent of ego, he just really wants people to understand the easy way to make steel move under your hammer! I am more upset due to the sentimental value of the tools. I will definitely meet up with him again in the future. I feel like i've made a true friend. I'm going to re-trace my steps this weekend and see if i find them, wish me luck fellas!