I just found this forum tonight and I am excited. I started like others; with just a desire. 11 years ago I wanted to make knives. I found a 15" chevy rim, a canister vac from the Good Will, a 10" chunk of rail road track and some home made charcoal. It wasn't even close to being adiquate. I found out though that I loved it. over the years I built a forge from a break drum and found a 75# anvil that is in rough shape. Later I found a better anvil and a buffalo forge. I sold the buffalo forge and kept the home built one. I've taken a couple classes and read a ton of books and am still fumbling through it. 3 years ago I tried to turn my hpbby into a living and burned out right away. I made good money, but it made it so unenjoyable that I jsut completely quit. About 2 months ago a lady came into my shop (I own a High Performance Saw Shop) and asked if I wanted to buy an anvil. What she had for sale was a 120# Peter Wright for $100. I almost broke my thumb off trying to get to the bill in my pocket. Well that got me fired up again. My sons who are 12, 8, and 4 needed to spend more time with dad so I decided to start bending some steel again. Over the years we have moved several times and I have lost most of my tools. So the first 2 projects that we have done together was a coal rake and tonight we got half way done with the coal shovel. i can not believe how much I missed it. The smell of coal, the wirr of the blowier and the warmth of the flame is intoxicating. I hope to learn a lot from those on here that have knowledge and just be able to spend some time talking with others who love this as much as I do.

Welcome to the site!
Ask questions, and don't be suprised when you get ten different answers, offer up your own experiences, the mistakes are always fun to read (I know I've dropped some real clangers) but mostly have fun beating the stuffing out of some iron. This place is fast becoming THE place to educate yourself about an old and noble craft. Enjoy it.

:D

Atta boy on the anvil!! And good for you for getting your boys out in the shop and spending time with them...they'll be gone WAY before you want them to be!! Teach them good, safe, work habits, they'll thank you later! AND you don't have to just "sit and soak", you are welcomed and encouraged to comment on any subject. Look forward to seeing some of your work also.
Welcome aboard!

Welcome klickitat. You've come to the right place. Jump in to the chat. Its great source of information. We even talk about blacksmithing from time to time. LOL :)

Thanks for the welcome guys. I have my camera at the saw shop so I will have to remember to bring stuff from home to post pics. Here is a couple of links though to the anvil I just bought. It is sitting here at the shop. The water pump is out of my truck and until I get the time to fix it, the anvil will stay here. Bums me out man.


If I get my coal shovel done tonight I will take some pictures of it in the morning. I am making it out of a horse shoe rasp. I finnished the handle and shaft last night and tonight if I get the time I will try and get the scoop finnished. I am also going to have to find some good coal in the area. The heating coal I am using now is crap; clinkers galore.