IWordsForgot Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 Hello. My name is Greg and I have been interested in blacksmithing as a hobby for a long time. Though I've not really come into too much contact with it so I'm not sure if I'm ready to go whole hog with it. I am 22 and currently live in central Ohio and really am just a little lost with what I should be looking at in terms of starting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 Contact and join SOFA. Read IForgeIron cover to cover. By then you will answers to most of your question. Make plans to go to Quad State in Troy Ohio in the fall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 Welcome aboard Greg, glad to have you. Central Ohio is a great place for finding blacksmithing tools by comparison to most of the US. Like Glenn suggests hook up with the local organization, they're a great bunch of folk. They'll not only have good contacts for tools, equipment, fuel and materials they'll have open forges, hammer ins and classes. A day at the anvil with an experienced smith is worth weeks or more learning on your own. Just watching will show you more than you'd believe. Blacksmiths like getting together and talking the craft, swapping tricks, solving problems and telling tall tales. Getting a newcomer addicted is a reward of the highest order. Seriously, we're like that, really we are. <wink> Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 Stop by the Idea Foundry in Columbus OH and ask for Adlai Stein or Terry Griner and ask them if the Mid Ohio Blacksmiths are still a group Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobody Special Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 First join a group, or at least attend some meetings, you'll make contacts and be able to see if ya like it. If you're in a hurry to hit hot metal, you can build a 55 forge (plans in forums) in maybe 2 hours flat with a little pipe, a brake drum and a 55 gallon drum. Short term makeshift anvils may include rr track, sledgehammer heads, large rocks (with eyepro and cautions, splinters!!!), or big chunks of scrap steel. Lump charcoal might be the easiest fuel to start with (not briquettes). Pliers and channel locks with the teeth on the end ground down will get ya started as tongs, but you'll want the real deal soon. Safety gear is a must. Eye protection, leather (only) gloves, i'm a little lax about hearing protection, but you might want to not be deaf at 30. Wear closed toe shoes, and clothing made from natural fibers like cotton. (no shorts!) And finally, read read read! Forums here are great resources, but you can also pick up a copy of The Blackyard Blacksmith, The Art of Blacksmithing, or any number of good books for beginners. Welcome and good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWordsForgot Posted June 19, 2014 Author Share Posted June 19, 2014 THank you everyone for the advice. I'm mostly just dipping my toes in here though I do plan on finding some groups and visiting a few times to see how I fancy it. I'm really in a place financially where I can spend money on hobbies at the moment, but I've been using the "I'll get into it when I'm done with school" as an excuse for 3 years now and decided I should probably at least read places like here or book. Thanks again for the tips. Edit: Oh another question I had, I'm in the city and not super sure about places besides the yard to set up. Thing is I'm concerned about the sound. How loud does working tend to be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 I worked for 15 years just off of south high street, just south of German Village; Taught a fellow who was still in school at OSU, he had a gas forge built into a gas grill and "hidden" out back of his dorm... With a Fisher anvil forging is pretty quiet; smoke is the bigger issue and a propane forge deals nicely with that. (Had the fire department called on me 4 times and by shear luck all 4 was when I was using the BBQ. I was told my "neighbor" was told the next false alarm was a 1k+ fine...) OTOH one of my students living by OSU was shut down and told he had to get a "burning permit 10 working days before *each* time and pay a $25 fee each time. Being discrete is suggested as going over to the Idea Foundry and seeing the blacksmithing classes and set up they have. Tell Adlai that the guy in the disreputable red hat sent you! Got tons of tools from the old South High Fleamarket at the drive in theater---doubt it's still there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWordsForgot Posted June 19, 2014 Author Share Posted June 19, 2014 Got tons of tools from the old South High Fleamarket at the drive in theater---doubt it's still there. Actually it still is. I was out that way a while back. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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