Aral Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Hey guys I am new to blacksmithing, so i have a few questions id like to ask. What tools/equipment is essential, what should i have for beginners blacksmithing? I have a brake drum forge, and a RR anvil, and i am planning to get a real anvil soon i hope. I have a small hammer (not sure about the weight, but its pretty light) that needs its handle replaced, and a larger one (around 1-1.5kg i would say) with no handle. Both of them are the same shape, something like this. I haven't got a pair of tongs, i plan to make them as soon as i have access to a real anvil, so im using something like this. So, what do you suggest me to get as the next piece of equipment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Svarttrost Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Well, to me it seems you have all you need to start making everything else you might need :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drako11 Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Here is what I started with and used for quite some time. 1 Hammer, 1 tong , 1 Forge, 1 Anvil, 1 Cutter (Small axe works, I used a draw knife for some time as well) and metal to beat on. That's all you need! : ) Don't even really need the cutter at that, although I do use it a lot.... Looks like you have all that, although if your "tongs" are like those in the picture I would recommend getting yourself a set of long handles pliers of channel locks like this. That is what I have been using. The one's you have pictured are hoof clippers that farriers use. I think they will be hard to grip anything properly with. If you use long stock you don't even need tongs, I actually prefer working like that, but eventually you always have to use the tongs at some point when the piece gets smaller. I wish you the best of luck and feel free to ask questions we have a lot of very experienced smiths here who are happy to help! Although I'm not one of the very experienced one's I'll still help when I can! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aral Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 Yea, i know its enough to get started, but what would you recommend getting next? I thought of making a chisel, when i tried forging a bit, i noticed a need to cut a piece of metal, and couldn't do it, so i found a "stone chisel" (in the lack of better words), made from a car axle, its pretty big, so i don't know if i can heat it up in my little forge, but by the time i get home and start forging again, ill get a better forge probably. The worst part is an anvil, since i don't have a lot of money to spend on blacksmithing at the moment, new one is out of the question, and most people in my hometown don't want to sell their anvils, though they dont use them. I found out that one of my friends had not one, but TWO anvils, i was totally thrilled when he told me, and xxxxxx a bit, i was like: WHY THE xxxx DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT BEFORE??? and he said he never knew i needed an anvil. So we went to his place, he showed me the anvil, (looked great to me) and said that the other one is rotting outside, well it looks like his old man gave it to someone... and he needs the other one for himself... so i was xxxxxx that day, but he promised he will lend it to me for 2 weeks in the winter holidays, i cant forge sooner anyway, since my college started now. Ill post a pic of that chisel thingy once my sister gets up and mails it to me, for some advice on how to make a hardy tool out of it Oh, and another question, i noticed when forging, an oxide layer forms on the surface of the metal, and when i hammer it, it makes marks on the metal, and it tends to have little cracks from it... how do i remove it? Using a "steel brush" (again, lack of better words)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 I have a beginning video posted on my web sight. Good basic blacksmithing 101 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 (edited) A piece or RR rail, hammer, forge and something to cut with. Can you afford a hack saw? You can also forge or file an edge on a piece of stock with a flat profile, edge of a piece of angle iron for instance. This way it will stand on edge while you cut with it. If you mount the rail on end you can sharpen the web or flange to make a hot cut, you can put a radius on another part for a fuller too. Lots of options for cutting with or without het. Frosty Edited August 27, 2009 by Frosty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_leland Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 I have a beginning video posted on my web sight. Good basic blacksmithing 101 That video was great, I got alot of my questions answered thanks for putting that up there for us beginners.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bnewberry Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 I'd say all you need now is some metal to put in your fire and an idea on what to make with it. I'd start by modifying your tongs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aral Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 I can borrow a hacksaw for now, and yes i have thought about sharpening a part of the RR, you suggest i do it with an angle grinder? So, the part that i would sharpen, it doesn't need to be hardened? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aral Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 And, bnew, i dont want to modify the "tongs" since those are not tongs, and have their purpose (cutting wire) so i dont wanna ruin a tool that is good for nothing, i should rather make new tongs myself Though i think you need an anvil to make them, because i cant think of a way of forming the rounded parts without the horn? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unkle spike Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 If you are cutting hot metal there are various things you could use. An old discarded axe head clamped in a vice would work. Biggest thing is use something you have control over so you don't cut a hand, finger or arm. And safety glasses always :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 use a piece of pipe for the time being,to be a anvil or horn it dosen't have to be/look "traditional". you will, over time gather/make tools and you will see uses of ordanary things that will workto your advantage. get going and make it happen,bol, jimmy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aral Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 Also, could this "stone chisel" i mentioned before be used as a fuller? or modified into a cutting tool maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Looks like a piece of drive shaft, so you could make most things from it, If you just sharpen it it should make a decent cut off and chasing chisel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Also, could this "stone chisel" i mentioned before be used as a fuller? or modified into a cutting tool maybe? Sure, either one take your pick. Probably work better as a cut-off hardy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Svarttrost Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Somewhat off-topic here but talking about cutting stuff: Just few days ago at a blacksmithing festival I saw one of the blacksmiths use one of the sharp corners of the anvil to cut the stock. seemed to be working just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 I would get a vice next if I were you. A post vice would be better, but a machinists vice suffice. Get as large and heavy a vice as you can find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkC Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 definitely get a vice next. you can do a lot with the vice to make up for not having a "proper" anvil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonteCristo Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Bolt cutters also work quite well for cutting stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 I can borrow a hacksaw for now, and yes i have thought about sharpening a part of the RR, you suggest i do it with an angle grinder? So, the part that i would sharpen, it doesn't need to be hardened? Sure you can use an angle grinder or even a file if you have a good supply of sweat. No, it doesn't need to be heat treated at all, cut only hot steel on it and it'll hold up fine. If you heat treat it, driving yellow hot steel down on it will ruin the heat treat in short order so don't bother. The stone cutter's chisel will work fine as a cut off. A hatchet and cutting plate will work too. The chisel plate is a piece of sacrificial steel, aluminum, etc. laid over your anvil to protect the cut off and the anvil from damage while you're cutting. I've used the corner of my anvil to cut with too but being a 90* "edge" it isn't as good as a proper hardy or hot set. Frosty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aral Posted August 28, 2009 Author Share Posted August 28, 2009 Thanks for the info guys Unfortunately, as i said before, this is all theoretical for now, since i don't have access to my forge, and wont have until around Christmas, but I'm trying to gather as much information I can for now, so I can just start forging once i have the opportunity :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 That's fine, gathering information while you can't actually do a thing is a good practice. Take notes, bookmark things, make sketches, think on stuff and ask more questions. Few things in life are as rewarding as a good question. Frosty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aral Posted August 29, 2009 Author Share Posted August 29, 2009 A new question: I noticed, when talking about temperature, people describe them in the color shades, but, wouldn't an Infrared thermometer (non-contact thermometer) be a better idea to correctly measure the temperature of the steel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yea3114u Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 (edited) yes. colors are a general way to talk about the heat of the steel. but they are just general since one mans dark red could be another mans blood red or another mans cherry red. Also the ambient light effects the colors you are able to see. Standing outside on a sunny day with a hot piece of steel and it may look like a black heat but take it into a dark room and it will be faintly glowing. Check out this site talks a bit about colors. edit: oh and check out this article and thread as well LB0007 critical temps Edited August 29, 2009 by yea3114u Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aral Posted August 29, 2009 Author Share Posted August 29, 2009 Yes, i know about the magnet test, and the colors, i was just wondering, isn't it better to use a thermometer if available? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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