So it's been about a month now since I got my forge setup and I've been practicing with my hammers and anvil and thought I'd share what I've learned so far.

 

1. Don't wear shorts

2. Wear pants (leg hair doesn't count, see #1)

3. It's not as easy as it looks.

4. Coal seems to burn faster when people are talking.

5. Post vices are hard to find in California. (And harbor freight vices are terrible)

6. It is as fun as it looks. 

7. Wives and neighbors are not as excited about the sound of hammer on anvil as you might be.

Then you'll soon learn the following;

1, shorts are fine, as long as they reach your boots.

2, See #1.

3. It will be.

4. So does steel.

5. Not when you have one.

6. You're not wrong there!

7. But they're gonna love the products.

Good Morning,

The necessities of Blacksmithing;

1. Something to do

2. Something to heat it with

3. Something to hold it with

4. Something to hit it with

5. Something to hit it on

6. If your pants catch on Fire, they will become Shorts!

7. Enjoy the Journey. We all have the same Destination!!

Neil

1.  Try it in a kilt - nothing manlier than blacksmithing in a kilt!

2.  After #1, the second part of #2 is no longer an issue.

3.  Nope, but's that's half the fun.

4.  Ditto Smoggy

5.  They turn up, keep your eyes open and be ready to buy when you find one.

6.  Absolutely!

7.  Nor the smell of hot iron and coal, nor the sooty footprints/handprints!

2 minutes ago, Chris Comtois said:

1.  Try it in a kilt - nothing manlier than blacksmithing in a kilt!

Hah! My neighbors already think I'm crazy. That would put the poor people over the edge. 

Shoot I forge on a fairly regular basis wearing just a tunic, (or a tunic and trews in cold weather).  Few people make a comment about you wearing a dress when you are bearded and holding a sparking hot bar of steel in one hand and a 1500 gm hammer in the other!

6 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said:

Shoot I forge on a fairly regular basis wearing just a tunic, (or a tunic and trews in cold weather).  Few people make a comment about you wearing a dress when you are bearded and holding a sparking hot bar of steel in one hand and a 1500 gm hammer in the other!

That'd make for a picture.  put that on an IFI shirt! 

Shorts are for TOURIST.

But then I grew up in the 60s and 70s

I have never suddenly realized that I was hot from my knees down

Generally if heckled I'll offer to hot shoe them for free  "last pair of shoes you'll ever need---they wear like iron!"  If asked if it will hurt I'll say "shoot no, I'll wear hearing protectors"  (or "I'll have my apprentice stick his fingers in my ears while I shoe you..."  the apprentice's expression is usually amusing at this point...)

2 hours ago, ThomasPowers said:

Generally if heckled I'll offer to hot shoe them for free  "last pair of shoes you'll ever need---they wear like iron!"  If asked if it will hurt I'll say "shoot no, I'll wear hearing protectors"  (or "I'll have my apprentice stick his fingers in my ears while I shoe you..."  the apprentice's expression is usually amusing at this point...)

Lol. 

I'm not one to discriminate much on what someone chooses to wear. Tho I wouldn't think sandles while forging is a good idea unless you like dancing or have a high pain tolerance. Even with that I've seen videos of guys in India forging knives in bare feet. Who am I to judge. I'll stick with my boots tho. 

Hmmmm, if I find myself sticking to my boots it's time and past to change socks!

Frosty The Lucky.

Speaking of # 1...while in China a few years back and visiting a manufacturer, I noticed that the guys arc welding would do it in shorts and flip flops, squatting down with the part being welded just in front of them.

The front of their legs looked like my 130 year old Grandma's.

You forgot the corollary to #4:  As soon as you get the forge fire blazing really well, that's when "nature calls" and you have to find the bathroom 

4 hours ago, Frosty said:

Hmmmm, if I find myself sticking to my boots it's time and past to change socks!

Frosty The Lucky.

Or I'm standing on something I dropped right out of the forge.  YOWEE!  

Where in California GIJosh?

 

And don't wear thongs!! (No, not the type you guys in the U.S. are thinking of. )

6 hours ago, ausfire said:

And don't wear thongs!! (No, not the type you guys in the U.S. are thinking of. )

Arrrrrgh!  Get out of my head!  Get out of my head!

6 hours ago, phabib said:

Where in California GIJosh?

 

I'm in Fresno (central valley). Looking to move in the next few years possibly. It's too hot here for me. Might be looking at northern Washington or possibly Maine.

Hi, GIJosh, just so happens I was born and raised in Fresno and still have brothers and sister living in Fresno. I live in NE Washinton for some time now. Winters are much colder here than in the central valley of California but our summers are a good 10-12 degrees cooler. Good luck with your decision.