Hephaestus Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 just curious about some stuff. right now ive just started off. ive got a forge made from a garage blower, a car wheel, and a decapitated stool frame, my anvil is a two foot piece of railroad track. hammers are a 3 pound cross peen, 1 pound ball peen, and a four pound maul. also ive got a shabby set of homemade tongs, a pair of channel lock pliers, and a restored vise i found in the woods. is this enough gear to to do much with, or am i missing something key? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesteryearforge Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Many people have done much with less The main thing is to start A journey of a thousand miles begins with the FIRST step. Mike Tanner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Mulholland - Tetnum Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 mike hit the nail on the haed thats more than what i started with what are you going to ues for fuel coal or charcoal if your going to use charcoal dont get the briquets they are mostly limestone filler get lump charcoal slack tub a 5gal bucket works ok and is chaep as for the anvil it works as is but i may recomend this site to fancy it up a bit you have more than i satrted with have fun and be safe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucegodlesky Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Heck, you're set! Fire up and start poundin'. When ya start thinking of what else you need, either make it or go alookin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rfb343 Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Sounds like more than I started with, although I've just started working on some tongs I most still use channel locks or vice grips, and my "vice" is old small champion bench vice mounted to a telephone pole scrap. My first forge was a propane torch. Dont be afraid to upgrade or change your tooling, and at the same time dont feel like you HAVE to change something that works for you just because it doesnt seem like a traditional blacksmithing technique, unless of course that is your goal(aka to smith in a style of a particulair time period) or maybe you'll find you would rather create mixed media works of art/sculpture, or whatever floats your boat thats the greatest thing about "blacksmithing" it can be whatever gets your juices flowing, dont pigeon hole yerself, If you're concerned about not having enough tooling check out tzonoqu 's website about 'smithing in India. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 I started with a brick fire pit, a rock, and a construction hammer. You're doing great. The Kidsmith, Dave CusterWELCOME TO CUSTER FAMILY FARM! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dablacksmith Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 get it hot hit it hard!! you got the basics now make stuff ! ya might make a bick so ya can do round stuff easyer ... you can clamp it in the vice cause ya ant got a harty hole... have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Stand the rr track on end. Use the 1 pound hammer more than anything else till you can locate a 2 pound hammer. A 3 pound hammer is a little heavy for most folks. It is not the tools, but what you can do with them. When people look at what you have made, they don't ask if it was made from mild steel or 1060, or if you used a piece of rr steel or a 500 pound London pattern anvil. They ask about the price. And if the check clears the bank, you did a good job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ten Hammers Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 I started forging in a wood stove with hedge fire. Piece of track for anvil. Looks like you have a good start and Yesteryear has said what needs to be said. Get 'er dun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 I've done pattern welded steel, what many folks call damascus or folded steel, with a chunk of RR rail and a claw hammer, a home built firepot and charcoal seived out of bonfire remains... Experience is usually more important than tools and how do you get experience? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rthibeau Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 if you can heat the steel to pound it into the shape you want...you're good to go...everything else is window dressing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Mulholland - Tetnum Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 I started with a brick fire pit, a rock, and a construction hammer. You're doing great. nice to see that someone has started out the same way that i did except in a campfire and a gold pan for for an air blast the hammer was the least tireing thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 I spent quite a few years banging found steel heating with a camp fire using whatever heavy hunk of iron was handy. After a few years I welded up a rail anvil and packed a pair of tongs with. It's the smith that counts, not the tools. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johannes Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 all you need now is a box of matches to light the forge, and off you go.. i started of with an ald stove a bbq blower and an old sledge for anvil.. so your way ahead alreddy ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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