Thill Posted June 11, 2023 Share Posted June 11, 2023 Howdy y'all. I'm moving up to northwest Arkansas at the end of July and starting my own smithing journey. I'm sure I'll have a million questions, but for now I'll spend my time reading the pinned posts so hopefully I don't ask to many of the same old questions. I look forward to knowing you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted June 11, 2023 Share Posted June 11, 2023 Welcome aboard from 7500' in SE Wyoming. Glad to have you. Tell us about your set up. We love pictures. Some will say that it didn't happen without a cocumenting photo. "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 11, 2023 Share Posted June 11, 2023 Welcome aboard Thill, glad to have you. About asking the same questions that have been answered thousands of times. THOSE are THE questions a person needs to ask to learn the craft so don't sweat it. By all means read through the sections and get an idea of what you think you need to know. We all did and still do that. After a while you build up enough knowledge base to ask good questions and understand answers. A couple beginner mistakes to avoid. Don't wait to get all the "right" tools before you start. The tools don't do the work, the smith does, the tools are just highly refined dirt without him. The smith can do good work on a boulder with a cobble tied to a stick and a tunnel fire facing into the wind. Besides more than half what you collect isn't going to suit you before long. Another real common corner guys paint themselves into is making a blade before they learn to forge at a proficient level. Doing both at once means climbing two related but different learning curves at the same time. Blade smithing is mostly about heat management, hammer control being the strong second. Hardenable steels are harder to move hot and they're really fussy about little things. Learn to forge first and learning to forge blades is ONLY adjusting heat management, you'll have already developed the feel for steel under than hammer so if it fights more its not a thing. Make sense? Like puns? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim695 Posted June 12, 2023 Share Posted June 12, 2023 Hey Thill Welcome aboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted June 12, 2023 Share Posted June 12, 2023 Welcome from/to the Ozark mountains. You are located in the middle of the BOA NW chapter. The best way to learn is to get some live exposure to the craft. One way to do that is to attend some meetings of a club. https://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/187-blacksmith-organization-of-arkansas/ I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sails. ~ Semper Paratus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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