hi yall well ive been looking around to get some info but a little bit about myself first imm new here and kinda new to blacksmithing my main goal is to make knifes by forging them out the old way im a welder by trade and a diesel mechanic and other stuff more like a jack of all trades so i found me a 150 # vulcan anvil and built a gas forge out of 3/16 stainless steel and lined it with 2" kae wool blanket and coat it with ITC the forge is 12"X 8" built my own bunner and when i fired it up got a temp reading of 2000 deg but it gets hotter melted my temp probe lol anyways im getting set up at home and soon to post some of the stuff im working on been reading up on some of the post here and have found a lot of usefull information also built a 2X72 belt grinder that ive got running at 90% it is all welded made out of square tubeing mostly scrap but runs rally good ill try to post some pics of it soon thanks yall and see ya soon

here is the belt grinder, anvil and forge

Are you near El Paso? I get down that way on a regular basis and there's a great smithing group based in Las Cruces NM including a great pattern welder named Pep!

South Texas is fairly large... if you are near the San Antonio area there is the Balcones Forge blacksmith group www.balconesforge.org if near the Houston area then try the HABA group www.habairon.org Both groups are excellent and welcome newbies with open arms. Check each site for info on meeting dates and locations. (also, for us older folks, could you maybe put in some punctuation marks where needed....makes your thoughts easier to follow.) BTW, Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! you will love this site, tons of info and friendly folk.

im in laredo tx guys thanks for the info ill be looking up the san antonio group

That is really a nice looking grinder...glad you joined us...

thanks will be soaking up every bit of Knowledge

Hey there and welcome to IFI. This, as you already have stated, is an awesome sight. I have only been at this craft a short while and the help I've received since joining is OVERWHELMING. This is an understatement! If there's anyway I can offer any insight feel free to ask!

thanks and i sure will im getting set up at home been busy building my shop once i get it all in place ive always liked blacksmithing and working with metal i like the fact that with metal i can always fix it shape it cut it and weld it back together thats why im a bad carpenter lol

If I could forge weld sawdust back into boards I may have a different outlook!

Lol so true