Info Request

[nutinauniversalshell]

I mention reasons in my post from this thread:

http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/30928-yet-another-anvil-id/#entry316088

 

I request a tutorial sticky or actually stickies (I read through one already but some pictures were out of place and it got confusing with an overload of info on too many tools).

 

If someone would take the time to make info/tutorials for some of us super newbies that would be awesome. I shall give an example in a second (I apologize if this is a bit long winded).

 

Example stickies could include: hammers, tongs, hardee hole accessories, punches, and other general tool categories.

 

I would request a layout that could be great for beginners to experts. Starting with the most common types, names, uses, and general pricing and working down to more specialized. Even in different working types like general blacksmithing, tinsmithing, etc.

 

For me a really helpful one would be tongs (hammers too). I bought 2 tongs today to help me get started. I know from my little previous experience one set is for round bar (no idea if there is a specific name or if I did well on price though I assume $5 for about anything is a decent deal). I also picked up something that seems like it would be for flat stock (rounded ends with a flat profile but has an indention like it would hold a marble in the center)...it might be for something special but I am unsure (no pic as I left it in my uncle's jeep). I also bought some hammers and couldnt tell you if any are for special uses (with the exception of the lead hammer)...I am very frugal generally but I purchased quite a few tools and the hammers were basically free ($5 ea but I got a good deal on the lot or hammers, punches, bench vise, c clamps, etc).

 

Anyway, I have researched in different places (and am reading through here with great enthusiasm), but simpler intro/tutorials are not found very easy. The details start to get in the way and it can be hard to pic up the basics at first. Hence, I make this request.

 

This site seems like a great wealth of information, and I hope I continue to roam, post, and learn here for a good long while (make it my 4th forum that gets a daily read). Maybe I can contribute some cool stuff one day, but for now I have to sit back and try to learn more.

In an unrelated note, I recommend to anyone looking for additional stuff that they check local antique shops.   My uncle is looking for cast iron cookware and this blacksmithing bug bit me as the right stuff popped up to rekindle the interest (when I was little I did some with my grandpa but havent had tools ro anything for years to try again). So far in about a week, I have acquired an anvil & ASO (thread above), bufco hand crank blower (like my grandpa's forge used), 2 bench vises, 2 tongs, various hammers, punches (for marking stuff), and other tools not related directly to this craft (c clamps, solder bars 60-40, and glass canisters for my wife)...plus one shop took my number as they know a couple people that may have blacksmith stuff to sell. While I am out about $400, I think I got some great tools and the 10" c clamp alone is worth much more than I am out.

 

Thanks for any info.

[Charles R. Stevens]

The flat tong you describe sounds like farrier tongs, as for the lead hammer, to the best of my knowledge they have ben superseded by the deadblow hammer. As you already know it can be nasty stuff, a machinist I know used to have a buisness supplying them (picking up the mashed up ones and replacing them with recast ones) and his wife was poisoned.

[ThomasPowers]

Wow; you know that people have been writing books on those subjects; books that you can access on the net like the COSIRA ones; or ones you can ILL at your local public library.

Why don't you go ILL "The Complete Modern Blacksmith", "The Backyard Blacksmith", "The Edge of the Anvil" or any of the dozens listed in the books section rather than asking folks to spend hours typing in information that already exists!

Why folks think a couple of pages on a website written by "who knows" is better than hundreds to thousands of pages in books written by someone who was respected enough that a publisher was willing to bet their money on them---I will never understand.

Guess this gets to be my going away rant! Thanks for the lead in.

[thingmaker3]

http://www.iforgeiron.com/page/index.html/_/blueprints/

 

...and you get two more wishes!

[nutinauniversalshell]

Fair enough. I dont want people to spend hours doing this, just a simple tutorial would be great. Maybe once I find out enough info Ill make a nice tutorial. I can=me in not knowing a cross pein from a claw hammer. Now I can identify a cross pein at least. I spend some time with google looking for simpler stuff to little avail. Local library would probably be good, but then Id just buy more books to keep and it gets expensive buying books for every craft. I did learn a bit in the chat with a whats this and whats it for picture id session, but that only helped me. There are some blacksmithing classes close by too but dont have the money and its a couple months away.

Anyway, it was a general request/suggestion that I think would make the forums even better especially for new guys. Just my experience from other forums with tutorials.





oh and thingmaker, thanks. I didnt notice those before. there is alot of info here and hopefully I can make some good use from much of it.




for my second wish can I have some gold bars? :) lead would be fine too if you are low on gold ;)

[Rich Hale]

Simple tutorials do take hours. Those of us that do them do it in the interest of helping folks such as yourself get a good start.

Please forgive us,,(me) if we get a little testy when fols ask us to write even more information in this little window,

and once again try and abbreviate information so it will not take us "hours" We both know that when we cut things short it will not be the outcome we both want.

Everything you have asked for has been covered in the bps and in the forums at one time or another....And no I am not going to look each item up and post a link.

[yesteryearforge]

:)

[nutinauniversalshell]

I understand and there are so many threads its hard to find some things. I made a little tutorial and put it in the anvil section. I will likely make more for other topics but Ill have to do some learning on different subjects first (hammers and tongs definately would be good to know the types and general uses).

Youtube videos are great too but often something made into an image that can get copied and pasted  will make a better impression on someone.

I didnt mean to make this thread to annoy anyone, just a suggestion, and I have no objections to helping with this also. Stickies (pinned topics) for information helps too since its right at the top with no digging.

EDIT to add: Oh and I get a little testy too, and tend to come off harsh, but I mean well and hopefully can both pester and inform as long as topics come up on which I have any insight. Afterall, the whole reason to get on forums is to learn and have fun right?  B)

[Glenn]

Not knowing a cross pein from a claw hammer. 

 

This should be an interesting read, and provide the answer to some of your questions about hammers.

Lessons in Blacksmithing - Hammers

[Rich Hale]

You certainly are motivated and that will take you far in your life. Would be nice if you could see the big picture here:
It will suerly be a challenge for anyone to do a little learning on any of the smithing subjects and post something that is in the same league as the ones already posted on the site.
You could spend the time and do it right,,,however i am thinking that the time it takes you to learn the subject will be longer than if you searched a little harder here to find info that would help you shorten the learning curve. And that does not even include the types of books and how to get them free listed above....Keep us posted and take lots of pics!

[56FordGuy]

The absolute best way for you to learn what you want to know is to work with some other blacksmiths. 

 

There are a handful of smithing groups around middle TN, including the FIddler's Grove Blacksmith Association in Lebanon/ Wilson County. They hold beginner's classes every Tuesday night (excluding holidays) from 7:00-9:00 PM in the blacksmith shop at the Wilson County Fairgrounds. 

 

I believe there is also a smith's group in Murfreesboro, and one near Smithville. Those would be worth checking into as well, if you're closer to those areas. 

[nutinauniversalshell]

Good read. Thought there would be way more hammers, but many are probably specialty and not even related to blacksmithing. Im going to have to try the practice suggested (I keep bending nails when installing crown molding but I was using a pretty crappy hammer too).

 

I definitely need to get better at searching because I couldnt find that the first time I went through the articles.

[Charles R. Stevens]

Some times it is easyer to google a subject, and 9 times out of 10 you will find your self back on IFI. At least it works for me, as IFI's search function doesn't like me.

[nutinauniversalshell]

I found that most forums have an internal search....that hate's me. I didnt think about the google search to get back here but I did find another sight where a guy is making awesome info tutorials....iust just incomplete (dead links or coming soon/under construction).

I read through some articles and both learned some and had a good laugh (I have used many of the techniques mentioned with the wife, but generally I just buy it and say "dont be mad, its worth X which is nowhere near what I paid"....is she mad, of course, but she gets over it...especially when I add something she likes to my pile of tools ;) a $20 set of glass canisters (cobalt blue) on top of $150 in tools gets you much more off the hook than you might expect :D

[thingmaker3]

 

 

 

http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/2006-free-blacksmithing-books-on-the-web/

 

 

 

 

I usually go to a tire place and cut a deal for used balancing weights. Best price I've found so far is five pounds for free.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an appointment with a kid over in Arabia. Something about wanting a princess...

[Ridgewayforge]

When you're searching IFI, go to Google and search your query, followed by Site:Iforgeiron.com

There ya go. Now try it.

 

We have already written the tutorials. Unfortunately, they're spread out over several hundred pages of information. Perhaps, nutinauniversalshell, you'd be willing to gather it all up and boil it down a little bit and then post it for future newbie blacksmiths, so that they'll get what you're asking for.

 

~Rf

[nutinauniversalshell]

I probably will work on some other tutorials, just want to get the shop setup so I can play/learn first.

I get free wheel weights too....or at least use to. Some of the places aren't cutting loose with them anymore, and one place wants a little for theirs ($20 for a 5 gal bucket full if they have a bucket full). Still a deal and makes CHEAP bullets for reloading. I still take any free lead I can get though as I need MORE and MORE to stick back.