May 1, 201610 yr Hello again! It has been a long time since i have been on this site, about 5 yrs. I used to live in MA but we just recently moved to PA. I wasn't able to get into blacksmithing while i was in MA because our house was to close to other houses and didn't have much room for a forge setup where it wouldn't bother the neighbors. Our new place is in the country on an acre of land with an acre between houses. So i think it will be safe to start learning now....lol. I've been watching a lot of youtube videos and I was thinking of making a wooden dirt forge as seen in this video. As a person just starting out what are your guys thoughts on this forge for a newbie to the craft? Also just wondering if there are any blacksmiths in the Newville area just outside of Carlisle, PA that are willing to show a new person the craft. thanks
May 1, 201610 yr Welcome back. I used to live in MA as well and also live in PA (Lancaster) now. I lived in Boston and still managed to sneak my shop by for years. Keeping your neighbors happy with trivets and bottle openers etc from time to time went a long way. The house next door was 15' from my shop lol. Anyways, you're only about an hour away. Stop by the shop sometime if you're in the area. Myself and JWS can help you get yourself set up on the cheap. We're here every day.
May 1, 201610 yr Author Hey that would be great. I definitely will stop by when I get a chance. It'll probably be on a weekend as i work during the week.
May 1, 201610 yr Not a problem. At any given point between 9AM and 9 PM, at least one of us is usually around the shop. Sometimes earlier, sometimes later. I'll send you a PM. Stay in touch. -Pete
May 1, 201610 yr Welcome back. That video's pretty typical of Youtube experts. It's a pretty poor forge on a number of fronts. Mostly the plastic tuyere. Secondly the sink strainer is thin and isn't going to last long but worse the large surface area heated to red will soak the plastic tuyere with IR. coating the plastic with furnace cement isn't going to do any good but it's maybe more useful than painting the wood with the stuff. Complete waste of money. Search here for the 55 forge and one of Charles Stevens excellent posts about side blast forges. Those search terms will take you right there if you use Google, Yahoo, etc. and include Iforgeiron in the terms. It's easier than getting the site search engine to work. In short there's nothing wrong with a box full of dirt forge, it's a portable hole and all a forge does is hold your fire so you can control the fuel and air supply. Frosty The Lucky.
May 2, 201610 yr The legs need better bracing than just nailed in at the top, one good bump and it will fall.
May 4, 201610 yr Author Thank you all for your input! It is greatly appreciated! I will look into the 55 gallon forge and the side blasts. I was thinking of the dirt forge in the video as most of the stuff I already have on hand to make it. I plan on replacing the pvc pipes with non-galvanized ones and a thicker metal grate instead of the sink strainer. On 5/2/2016 at 9:52 PM, turbo7 said: The legs need better bracing than just nailed in at the top, one good bump and it will fall. I noticed that also and plan on making better legs for it
May 4, 201610 yr Medy, what do you have lying around? Side blast is generally easer and cheeper to set up than A bottom blast (brake drum)
May 5, 201610 yr Author 10 hours ago, Charles R. Stevens said: Medy, what do you have lying around? Side blast is generally easer and cheeper to set up than A bottom blast (brake drum) Hey Charles, after surfing around here alot these past few days and chatting with people on here. I decided to go with the side blast like in your post. If I was going to build, but I have a lead on a side blast forge with blower and an anvil for a very good price. Thanks to Crazy Ivan! I'm just waiting on the Wife to give me the go ahead to close the deal.
May 5, 201610 yr If anyone is curious as to what the forge is, it's the side blast JWS used for years for his bladesmithing along with a blower. It's a clayed and bricked forge table, side blast with a side sucker hood. The anvil is an A2 block anvil myself and J make. Just goes to show you why it's useful to put your location in the header of your profile. We are an hour away from each other and now Medy knows a nearby shop to come visit and get help from/learn a thing or two.
May 5, 201610 yr Carful Medy, Ivan and JWS will lead you astray (-D well at least teach you more than you can possibly absorb at the time!
May 5, 201610 yr 47 minutes ago, Charles R. Stevens said: Carful Medy, Ivan and JWS will lead you astray (-D well at least teach you more than you can possibly absorb at the time! Ssshhh! I like it when their circuits fry from knowledge, tricks and tips overload. Watching their eyes twitch trying to process info is great! Lol
May 5, 201610 yr 1 minute ago, Charles R. Stevens said: Wish I live closer, lol If you ever find yourself in my neck of the woods (farms?) The shop is always open. Partially because we work too much, partulially because we love visitors/distractions. Especially when they bring a case of beer by.
May 5, 201610 yr Author 5 minutes ago, Crazy Ivan said: Ssshhh! I like it when their circuits fry from knowledge, tricks and tips overload. Watching their eyes twitch trying to process info is great! Lol What am i getting myself into?......lol Just the eyes twitching? Hell I probably wont be able to hit the anvil with the hammer!
May 5, 201610 yr Just now, Medy said: What am i getting myself into?......lol Just the eyes twitching? Hell I probably wont be able to hit the anvil with the hammer! Good, I don't want you to hit my anvil. I want you to hit the hot steel that's on top of the anvil.
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