Hello! I am almost entirely new to blacksmithing and forging (I assume they are different?) The only experience I have was from a Boy Scout festival a few years ago where I was guided through every step in the process. So far I have built a super simple charcoal forge and flattened a few door hinge pins. Through this experience I have decided that it is not the best idea to work with 8" pliers, or so my arm hair says. So, back on topic here, I am a high school student which pretty much says that anything I build will be ultra budgeted until I get to where I can sell some of my work.Take my charcoal forge for example, a grand total of $15 has gone into it's construction and fuel so far. Plan to see me mostly lurking tutorials and info posts with the occasional post of my own looking for info on some obscure way to do something super simple. Over complication is what I do.

I do have a few questions here that I figured would best be posted here to keep clutter down on other sub forums. As making knives is what I plan to do until I have funds to take on a bigger task, I think I may want to make a coffee can gas forge and I have two questions on this. First of all, would a Burnzomatic TS2000 be enough for a coffee can forge? Secondly, what is going to be the best option price wise for an insulator for the gas forge? Any feedback is appreciated, thanks.

Probbably wouldn't start with knives, forging tool steel and heat treating are rather advanced skills as are the fit and finish. Hooks, brakets, nails.... Thats a good place to start

I for sure will be building skill on simpler things before tackling a small knife, thanks.

Welcome aboard, glad to have you.

We all had to start somewhere and charcoal is an outstanding forge fuel. Forging is one area of blacksmithing as is bending, cutting, joinery, sinking, raising, etc. In essence forging is altering the volume of the stock by  smooshing it into various forms. And yes, smoosh, smooshed and smooshing is proper blacksmith jargon, the first bit of secret lore you've been entrusted with. <SHHHH>

Everyone seems to want to start by making blades but that's a ways down the road. Everything a blacksmith makes is a series of basic processes in the right order. Learning then mastering the basics allows you to make virtually any darned thing though a number of projects require specialized operations, heat treat being high on the list.

Welcome to your new addiction, your life of obsessive tool accumulation begins.

Frosty The Lucky.

 

Welcome from just across the border in Arkansas. I'm also a beginner but I must say you've found the right place. These fellers have helped me a bunch in my short time here. Frosty is right about the obsessive tool collection. I've also aquired obsessive scrap metal collecting. I find I drive slower these days and always have my eyes open for somthing to smoosh on the anvil. I belong to an antique tractor club not all that far from you that has a good blacksmith shop with demonstrations during the spring and fall shows. The next one will be in Sept if you're interested.

Where is the demonstration going to be? I may have to go and check it out if I can get away.

Where is the demonstration going to be? I may have to go and check it out if I can get away.

Gentry Arkansas. It's just north of Siloam Springs. The club is called Tired Iron of the Ozarks.

Spanish treasure cave!  Is the trout ranch still in Cave Springs?

Thomas I'm not sure. I live an hr and a half east of Cave. I worked in that area a lot several years back. Most of that area is covered with subdivisions now. It's nothing like it used to be.