Nelson_TBS Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 Hello all, I've been lurking this form for a while, gathering information when needed. Now that I'm actually hammering on steel, I figured I'd join this community to try and further my horizons so to speak. little bit about me: 23 years old, Originally from Louisiana, currently residing in Sacramento CA. Video games are what peeked my interest in blacksmithing, I then furthered my interest via YouTube videos(Specifically Alec Steele). Around June this summer I gather the courage to attempt to forge, now 5 months later I'm a little wiser and looking for more knowledge. Can't wait to get to now you all. Keep calm and Hammer on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 Greetings; good to have you here. If you haven't read the "Read this first" post at the top of the "Introduce yourself" section, please do so now. If you like learning from videos, check out this IFI thread: http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/44225-a-collection-of-blacksmithing-links-on-youtube/ And finally, a bit of critique: the reason that so many hooks have the little terminal scroll on the outside (like your smaller one on the top) is that such a scroll on the inside tends to catch whatever you've hung on it. Just something to keep in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 And for some reason folks tend to think the inside curl looks funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 58 minutes ago, Nelson_TBS said: Video games are what peeked my interest in blacksmithing. ??? Good start. What kind of forge are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 It's just a theft deterrent hook welcome aboard Nelson. There are a few threads on using railroad rail more efficiently for an anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson_TBS Posted November 28, 2016 Author Share Posted November 28, 2016 3 minutes ago, C-1ToolSteel said: ??? Good start. What kind of forge are you using? More specifically video games from the Fantasy Genre. Skyrim specifically. I'm using an old gas BBQ pit that a friend was going to toss, using lump wood charcoal for now as fuel, with a hair dryer for forced air 6 minutes ago, Daswulf said: It's just a theft deterrent hook welcome aboard Nelson. There are a few threads on using railroad rail more efficiently for an anvil. Thank you, glad to be here. Currently looking through a few threads about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 I'd enjoy reading a travelogue of your journey from videogames to reality; a lot of people I've met were not able to make the transition. It might save a bit of fuel to put a thick layer of clay on the sides of the forge making it a bit more of a slot so the charcoal can be piled deep but won't take up as much room sideways---take a look at the Tim Lively wash tub forges; your set up could easily be modified to be a bit closer to that style and turning down the air a bit too can help save fuel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson_TBS Posted November 28, 2016 Author Share Posted November 28, 2016 7 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said: I'd enjoy reading a travelogue of your journey from videogames to reality; a lot of people I've met were not able to make the transition. It might save a bit of fuel to put a thick layer of clay on the sides of the forge making it a bit more of a slot so the charcoal can be piled deep but won't take up as much room sideways---take a look at the Tim Lively wash tub forges; your set up could easily be modified to be a bit closer to that style and turning down the air a bit too can help save fuel. I could do a write up of that I guess haha, It doesn't seem like an interesting tale to me. But if it would interest others I could. Yes! I was just cursing yesterday on how much fuel I had burnt this weekend with very little to show for it! I'll look into the Tim Lively forge. Thank you, I'm also looking for a "blower" with a variable speed, which would allow for more control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 There are ways to regulate the air flow without regulating the blower. Angle the blower so it isn't blowing directly into the air inlet, or set it further or closer it the air inlet, further, less air, closer, more air. A ball vlave may help. Also could make a plate that closes off the pipe and control it with that. Just some quick ideas until you get a setup that you want. Sometimes it isn't exactly what you use, it's how you make it work. Charles on here has an excellent write up on here somewhere on just using a box of dirt as a forge. And I bet he could make about anything with it that he could in a gas forge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 Since charcoal uses so little air I have sometimes opened the ash dump to waste air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson_TBS Posted November 28, 2016 Author Share Posted November 28, 2016 1 hour ago, Daswulf said: There are ways to regulate the air flow without regulating the blower. Angle the blower so it isn't blowing directly into the air inlet, or set it further or closer it the air inlet, further, less air, closer, more air. Forgive my horrible drawing skills, but the figure is my current set up for forced air, with your suggestions, I could try and run it with the ash cap off to reduce the air, or switch to a 45* T instead of a 90*? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 Or try mounting the hair drier so it isn't connected to the inlet. With the hair drier facing it directly is full blast. As you turn it away from the inlet less air will be blowing into the inlet so less blast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 Ash cap is the easiest to try; so I would try that first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson_TBS Posted November 28, 2016 Author Share Posted November 28, 2016 Gotcha! Thanks! I'll have to experiment with it this weekend when I have some free time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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