Hey Guys i've recently become interested in blacksmithing

Where should I start?
What tools do I need?
How do i make a forge?
What are good books to read?

How do i know if its galvanized metal because i heard its fumes can kill
What are some easy projects?

Thanks!

I really want to get started soon!

Getting Started
Blueprints - I Forge Iron - Blacksmithing and Metalworking
LB0008 Reference material
LB0008.0001 Reference Material


galvanized metal is typically a light grey coating on thinner steels which are exposed to water or weather, a zinc coating that prevents rust till they are scratched or worn out, stick to rusty steel

it generally has a crystal pattern to it, if its a bright shiny surface its likely an alloy (stainless steel) you can always sand through a suspect coating to test if it rusts underneath, use a little salt water, or hydrogen peroxide

basic tools
a pipe a hole in the ground, charcoal, a way to blow air through the pipe into the bottom of the hole
steel. something to smack the steel against and a hammer


in the blueprint section are slightly more advanced forges ;)

Back up to the home page and click on "Want to get started in blacksmithing"

Welcome to iforgeiron

Welcome to IFI Mike!!! Good Luck. Some easy beginners projects would be drive hooks, S Hooks, and J Hooks. If you do not know what they are, look it up. They are a nice easy project.

thanks guys!, by the way how do i know if the steel or iron im using is safe?

99% of the time zinc coatings are on thin plate steels you wouldnt be forging
you might want to make forges out of them, but not forge them ;)

Where are you from Mikeldigra? Go to the User CP pages, then edit profile, and enter your location and save. let us know where you live.

Welcome to the community!

Hey guys thanks for being really helpful!



What would be a nice coal forge furnace to start with? With the air coming from the bottom?

Is a 12 watt ventilation fan enough? (sorry im not sure! haha)

And any safety tips for making my first forge?

Thanks guys!



This has been merged with a related thread.

Either of these forges are quick to make, free or of little cost, and will get you started while you look for a second forge.
BP0238 Simple Side Blast 55 Forge
BP0133 55 Forge


There are also forges at this link
LB0003 Blacksmithing Forges

is a twelve watt fan enough?

the fan wattage in not as important as the amount of air it blows, some people use shop vacs, something at least as powerful as a hair dryer I would think. You could also make bellows if you could not find anything else. good luck.

a 12 volt DC blower like what is found in the air conditioner/heater in a car works fine, unless you try to plug it into an AC outlet cause someone put a standard plug on it;-) I had a horseshoer coal forge designed to plug into the trucks DC system, but it had a standard plug on it... Oh well I fixed it (several different times so far... ;-)

For a simple forge, look at MBROTHERS just posted of a vid of a guy using an old BBQ Grill for a forge. (Knife Making Video) very cool.