Happy Saturday IFI Community!

 

I am still preparing for my newest venture into metal-working, and I am excited to start working.

*I will have pictures of my setup as soon as I have some time to organize the workshop

 

I have been doing research for the last 6 months and have collected most of what I will need. Here is a short list:

Anvil - 84# Hay-Budden (smaller than I had hoped, but in really good condition and hard to pass up on seen as how I drove 3 1/2 hours to look at it!)

Anvil Stand - 100# (give or take) wood block I carved out of a 75 year old tree that feel down in a storm 6 months ago

Hammer - Hand-me-down from the gentleman I bought the anvil from

Swage Block - 60#, old decrepit thing that will have to do for now

Forge - Small build out of a 20# propane tank. Has a 1" burner and is lined with Kao-wool covered in refractory cement.

 

My goal is to start out by making some basic tools (a variety of tongs, bending forks, fuller, etc) and eventually get into making small, household type items.

A list of some ideas I have been tossing around:

Jewelry

Door knockers

Cabinet Hardware

Bottle Openers

Small Knickknacks

(Potentially) Kitchen Knives

Wine Bottle Holders

 

 

 

I have 6 years until retirement and I am keeping this in mind as a possible means of extra income/something to do.

I found this forum and thought it looked like a great resources to get started and to get some pointers. 

 

I look forward to reading all of the great info you guys have collected here over the years, and hope to contribute after I have something worth contributing.

 

-Ross

Welcome aboard, Kaybee; glad to have you!

Looks like you're off to a good start. Read as much as you can on the forums. There's a lot of great material that you can absorb even before you put hammer to metal, and you can learn a LOT about what to avoid!

Keep us posted on your progress -- we love pictures!

Welcome Kaybee.  It sounds like you need to be smashing metal already!  I particularly love your list of goals.  It is similar to mine.  I tried making one knife.  Ground half of one side and got tired of it.  I'll finish the grinding one day...but I made plenty of tongs, tools and some decorative stuff since.

Lou