sbrothy Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 (edited) Hi! As mentioned I’m new here so hello to you all. Is this the place to ask questions (noob type questions I might add), or is there a dedicated forum for that? Your layout have me a little confused… EDIT: No I think I got it wrong. Moderators please feel free to move my post. Edited May 28 by sbrothy Wrong subforum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyGoatLady Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Hello and welcome to the group! You can ask questions here. (Moderators please correct me if I'm wrong) and there are dedicated forums for just about everything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Welcome! If you haven't read the "READ THIS FIRST" page, then that's a good place to start. Then, take a look at the table of contents, and you should be able to find out a lot about where to look for specific topics. That said, please feel free to tell us a bit about yourself and what you're hoping to do. Including your location in your profile information will help us connect you with local resources. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbrothy Posted May 28 Author Share Posted May 28 Ok, I’ve updated my profile with the basics. I have some questions but I’ll familiarize myself with the forum layout before I ask them and then I’m sure you’ll be able to answer, and if not we’ll all have a good laugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Sounds good. In the meantime, tell us about yourself: what interests you about smithing, what other crafts or work you do or have done, anything else you might find interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Welcome from the Ozark Mountains USA. We like to laugh and share pictures, which are family friendly G rated. The moderators may issue a warning for some stuff, but most are not bad that carry warning points. I got one that said something like "Just a friendly note" not a real warning. I guess that's the only way to let us know we posted something which is a minor violation. A bad violation has warning points with it. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbrothy Posted May 29 Author Share Posted May 29 I’m a complete noob who, after watching “Forged in Fire” om History Channel, want to try out blade smithing (or yeh, I’d like to try out forging anything at all really). I need to buy all the equipment from scratch and I’ll need a bunch of advice from some people in the know and you seem to fit the bill, so here I am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzkill Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 If you're trying to get into this hobby addiction inexpensively here are a couple topics you should check out: https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/44842-just-a-box-of-dirt-or-a-simple-side-blast-forge/#comment-463468 https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/52308-a-collection-of-improvised-anvils/#comment-556220 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 Excellent; good place to start. Bladesmithing is a fairly sophisticated subset of blacksmithing, so trying out other things to develop your hammer skills is highly recommended. As for equipment, don't let yourself be overwhelmed by options. Remember that almost everything falls into one of the four Hs: something to Heat the metal, something to Hold the metal, something to Hit the metal *on*, and something to Hit the metal *with*. The best advice I can possibly give you at this point is to find another smith near you (or ideally a smithing school) and see if you can take a class in basic forging. That will not only introduce you to the essential concepts and methods, but will also give you hands-on experience that will be invaluable as you set up your own shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 Welcome aboard from 7500 feet (2286 meters). Glad to have you. Some of your choices for equipment when starting will be dictated by where you live. In an urban environment a propane or coke or coal burning forge is more neighbor friendly than a coal forge because there is less smoke/odor. It is always good to start with basic tools and equipment and then upgrade as your skills improve and you are sure that the craft is for you. "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 10 minutes ago, George N. M. said: a propane or coke or coal burning forge is more neighbor friendly than a coal forge I think George means "a propane or coke or charcoal burning forge". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 Yes, thank you. Brain blip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 You have to have one to get a blip you know. Welcome aboard sbrothy, glad to have you. Don't get caught thinking you have to have the "right" tools to get started. You don't, I used to do a lot of smithing around a camp fire rather than drink a couple 6 packs of beer. A trench or pile of rocks facing into a breeze will make a hot enough fire to weld with. Almost any piece of steel weighing more than 35kilos or so will make a fine anvil, twice I used a smooth boulder when we were camped too far from the truck and drill rig to pack my hame made anvil over. If you can find steel long enough you don't need tongs and can in fact forge a pair of tongs without having a pair. My favorite hammer is around 1,000gm drill hammer and I highly recommend one for beginners. It's heavy enough to do serious work but light enough you're not nearly so likely to injure yourself. The shorter handle also makes accuracy much easier. I've used my drill hammer for probably almost 50 years now and it hangs on my hammer rack on the anvil full time. Trying to swing too heavy a hammer is a B A D idea! They're harder to control and will inflict joint damage before you realize it. It takes hammer skills to know when one isn't working or is hurting you before the damage is done. Once you've developed good hammer skills upping the weight is easy but healing from hammer elbow, rotator cuff damage, etc. can take years. About the Noob questions, I've been doing this as a hobby since I was pretty young, had to hide my "smithy" from Dad, he was dead against smithing. That's a story in itself. Anyway, after 55+ years enjoying the addiction I still have "newbie" questions. The craft is an unending learning curve. Enjoy the climb. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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