tatertatum

Anyone know of blacksmith in western Iowa willing to give some fire control lessons?

i am having trouble getting the heart of the fire up higher in my forge. Anyone have some trick to lift the heart higher and still keep the air flow?

hhmmm lets see been divorced 2 times and am engaged now, lost every penny i had in both divorces, lost my business, homes, cars, everything. And i still smile and say it was worth every penny. I happen to make a lot of money for a living and recovery was quick both times. Oh and my fianc

ok thanks everyone i dont use coal but if I start I like the idea of making coke at the end of the day. I would like to thank Glenn too he gave me loads of info on this and welding all in one post. thanks for taking the time for the simple questions.

I was wondering how thoses of you who use corn or coal put out your fire at the end of the day? I've been using corn only in my new forge and its nice once it starts going. still working on fire control and proper air flow for a good welding temp but that will come with time. I am wondering about putting it out at the end of the day though. Dont want to hurt my cast forge.:D

well I spent the money and bought a forge instead of making one(so far) I'm a little confused on the clinker breaker does it need the little plate that goes over the air feed hole and if so how then does the clinker breaker do any good? If not then will i lose a lot of coal or corn down that hole when i clean out clinker. Got this one for 350 and good deal or not I'm happy with it.:D

My new fatherin law was taking to me about bilding a corn forge/coal forge from a brake drum and says he can get me a used one at work so i say ok i'll see what i can do with it after i get it. LOL ok so here is what i get!! i dont want to tell its a little big and to deep but oh my, what am i going to do with it it must weigh 50 pounds LOL

if your looking for the ren time period it will be peasant clothing like sweat pants without elastic as i describe it. I'll try to put in pics of common examples but most fairs have artisans selling the cloths you need just tell them 100% cotton peasant clothes and you'll fit right in.

I've been searching thread after thread and now I'm confused even worse. Some times people say work the steel at an orange heat others say work at a yellow heat and all the videos Ive bought and watched show the steel being worked at white hot. If I'm not welding just drawing out say 1/2 round stock to a point do i need it white hot. I know this is like the most basic question but Ive worked steel at all three and white hot goes faster but it takes alot more fuel. Can i do basics at Orange or am i just doing damage to my self working it at such low temps.:confused:

I was kind of hoping for someone to say thank god someone who does not want make a sword on day one. Then hear something like (make ____ 30 times and post the 30th one so we can tell what your doing wrong). I don't know i guess i expected to hear simple things I'm hopeful to get into Renaissance fairs showing things from wall hangers to dinnerware. but i don't want a skilled smith walking up and saying your doing that at the wrong temp or if you did it like this it would be better because i didn't spend the time learning the basics.

Ok hears what I'm asking, some of you started out as kids learning the very basics from your mom or dad. Sooo what was it they had you make first to get you interested in smithing, a spike, a ring? i want to start at the beginning but i don't have anyone to tell me were to start. ya I can go out and bang on steel all day and try to copy other people but were should i start. what did they hand you and say here is how you do it now you do it till it looks like mine.

I too am a new anvil denter and I don't post much because I don't know _hit. I've had one problem solving post and it took no time for it to get answered with all the knowledge on this sight and funny thing i don't remember one time reading "go search for it, it's been discussed before". anyway this was a chance for me to add to my post count instead of logging in 4 times a day just to lurk. Oh and if I had been told to go search for it I would have with no complaints even though I didn't know _rap about what i was looking for. You know that gives me a good idea for a search so got to go and thanks for your Patience with us anvil denters.:rolleyes:

well i took the ideas and this what happened I put a fire brick along the back on the inside and i split a brick in half (almost) and filled the front space now it only has a 3x4 opening in the front. then i fired it up and i let it set a half hour and put some 1/2" round stock in to let it soak it got real close the what i was wanting but not quite. I reset my pressure to 15 and tried again and guess what BAM white hot in no time. So i will bring it down a little at a time till i find the right spot to set the pressure on my gauge. I knew i asked the right people thank you to everyone for the input but now that i can get all the heat ranges i was wanting I'm going back out to the garage and do some work! LOL

this is a purchased forge by a well known forge maker with a good size following, its is fire brick inside and the two i put in the front are fire brick as well. i don't know if fire wool will help much the brick are very tight together inside, i think I'm going to cut down the front fire brick and put them in permanent and cut down another piece to cover the pass though door in the back when I'm not using it. all i need is little more i heat to get to welding temp and wife to be is just wanting me to scrap the gas forge and buy a coal forge. I think I'll play with this a little longer but if cant get the heat i need with a little redesign I'll just go buy the coal forge.

Ok here are the pictures of my forge running and the color of the steel at full temp only the metal is alot more yellow in person than in the photos.

I did put two bricks in the front opening making it the same size as the back door when I get how from work tonight I'll take pictures so everyone can see what it looks like running I'll even throw in some 1/2" round stock and heat it up so everyone can see how hot I can cant get it. :confused: