Hello all! New from Montana.

[snowball]

Hello everyone. New to the craft but I've been learning from this forum for years. And YouTube of course. Finally built my first forge and have a place to start messing around. Definitely didn't take long to figure it's harder than it looks... I've also got some questions already but I'll try to do my digging first. Haven't been able to find many people who are doing much blacksmithing in my area so if you're reading this and anywhere near the Flathead, let me know! So far I've primarily focused on decorative pieces (Christmas time and all) but eventually I would love to start making knives, swords and axes. That said, what kicked me into getting started was wanting to be able to be a little more self reliant and help my community in case tools become a little harder to come by for some strange reason... Anyway, that's my story. I look forward to getting to know all y'all and maybe someday be able to know enough to put in my 2¢ when I can. The pictures are my progression on my first project. Sending the final one to our family friends in Japan. Let me know what you think!

See you around!

[Frosty]

Welcome aboard Snowball, glad you delurked! I'm thinking I'm going to help you as much as I can just so I can tell people a Snowball's chance in a forge is actually pretty darned good. Hmmm? Of course Snowball and Frosty sounds like the title to a children's book or vaudeville act. 

Nice job on the incense burners, a little polish and you'll have a very marketable product. What are you using for stock and how long did they take to make?

Frosty The Lucky.

[George N. M.]

Welcome aboard form 7500' in SE Wyoming. Glad to have you.

Very nice work for a beginner project.  I'd be proud to put my touch mark on it and I've been hitting hot iron since 1978.

I had an honorary nephew in Kallispell until about a year ago when he and his family moved back to Wyoming.  Nice country.

Tell us more about your shop and tools.  What kind of forge are you using?  What kind and size of anvil are you using?

Yes, it is harder than it looks and there are lots of subtle things you learn as you go along that aren't obvious to the observer.  I've been at it for decades and am still learning.  Probably the thing you develop first is the hand/eye coordination of learning where and how hard to hit and getting your muscles to do what your brain is telling them and to do what you want.  It's sort of like learning to use a video game controller of riding a bicycle.

Also, if you see something done either live or on a video do it yourself as soon as possible.  The muscle (kinesthetic) memory lasts much longer than just mental memory and comes back easier when you need it.

There are good and really bad blacksmithing videos on youtube.  There is a list of suggested videos here on IFI.  I like the ones from Blackbear Forge, JPL Services (our own Jennifer), and Torbjorn Ahman from Sweden.  Some folk like Alec Steele but I find his presentation a bit irritating.

"By hammer and hand all arts do stand."

[snowball]

Thank you guys for the warm welcome and the compliments! I'm pretty proud with how it came out but it means a lot to hear that from you guys.

That does sound like a children's book for sure haha. I moved to the Flathead area about 3 years ago and I love it. Very beautiful country and can beat the views!

Im using a homebuilt 2 venturi burner propane forge I made out of a propane tank with a variable regulator. I also have a coal forge but coal is hard to come by here and charcoal burns up way to fast... I picked up one of the 66lb anvils on Amazon given the price of antiques now days and I can't complain. Wish I'd gotten the larger one but I needed something mobile. Harbor freight hammers and long handle pliers for now. I can't seem to wrap my brain around how to make tongs even though I know they're simple. I ended up using an old hatchet blade for putting the grove in the leaf/feather. Shop is... temporary. Uninsulated out building but at least it's a roof and some draft protection.

I have been using basic mild steel stock from the hardware store for the most part. The final was done with 1/4" x 1 1/2" flatstock. The other 2 were round stock. Took about 4 hours given how many reheats I had to do. If you guys have any tips on working with thin material, I'm all ears! I also struggle with scale management and cold shuts. 

Torbjorn is my favorite and Black Bear is a great resource. I agree, Alec can be a bit grating but his old apprentice Will Stelter is pretty good. He's also in Montana so... I'll definitely have to check out JPL as well!

Again, thanks for the welcome!