Hello all.  Name is Rich and I live near Cedar Rapids in eastern Iowa but originally from the Des Moines area and also have quite a bit of family in the northern part of the state.  I've been stalking the forums off and on for couple years now and know there is an overflowing abundance of knowledge and helpfulness here.  Finally getting around to officially joining so I can learn more and ask questions of my own.

I'm a hands-on kind of person and growing up in a family of handymen/DIYers I feel like I've done a little bit of everything over the years, woodworking, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, masonry, roofing, painting, drywall, welding, etc.  Couple years ago I completed an apprenticeship with a working historical woodworking museum, where furniture is built as it would have been here in Iowa in the 1870s.  That led to an interest in blacksmithing and why I'm here.  Main objective is to build hinges and other hardware for the solid wood furniture I build, along with other useful items for the house and barn.  I'd also like to try my hand at making locks and eventually learn more of the wheelwright trade, combining my interest in both woodworking and metalworking.

I follow a few folks on youtube (John at Black Bear Forge is #1 for his passion, down to earth approach and being humble enough to admit when things don't go as expected), have a number of books on the subject (kind of a bookworm and have a list of more to get), and have had been able to attend a few hammer-ins at the historical Matthew Edel blacksmith shop in Haverhill, IA where I've worked some on the basics. 

Currently I have just about everything needed to start forging at home except the most important part, the forge.  Still debating what to start with; small propane forge since I like the ability to just light the forge (either a firebrick or purchased) and get to work and have easy access to the fuel, OR go the wood/charcoal route in a JABOD or simple side draft forge since I have access to scraps from work of both hardwood and pine for making charcoal and many dead/downed trees on the property.  More reading and research for me!

Sorry that got long winded but looking forward to more learning and gaining experience in this craft.

RichIowa

Welcome aboard! Looks like you're doing everything right so far, especially following John Switzer, given your stated interest in hardware. Do you have a copy of "Practical Projects for the Blacksmith" by Ted Tucker? That has some simple hardware projects that might be a good starting point. 

As for what forge to use while getting started, you've stated the problem well enough. While I use a gas forge myself, I would strongly recommend the JABOD as a low-to-no-cost entry point. Since you have access to lots of wood, you can even skip the charcoal burning stage by building a second fire (in a firepit or the like) and shoveling burning coals into the forge as needed.

Thanks for the welcome JHCC.  I do not have that book you suggested, but it is now on my to buy list.  

The JABOD approach does appeal to me for the low input cost and ease of changing the size and shape of the firepot to find what works best.  I do have a 50 gal drum I picked up this fall for the sole purpose of making charcoal.  Until I get that filled up and burned, I could use the process you suggested and use the fire pit to make coals.  I suspect that would also help keep the smoke and some of the radiant heat at bay.  

I may also experiment with some other alternative fuel sources, once I get the hang of moving metal and making charcoal from wood.  Here in Iowa we have LOTS of corn and can likely get my hands on as much corn cobs as I care to gather.  Lots of walnut trees around as well. I can use the blackened husks to give the wood furniture a nice dark color before finishing, might as well try making use of some of the dried shells as fuel as well.  Down the road.

Good Morning Rich,

To start, YOU must START. There is 'No Best Forge'. When I was a teenager, I put material into the Base of our Wood and Coal Furnace. It Worked!!  You will find only one time, You will have 'A FORGE', after that you will have more than 'One' Forge. I think now, I have over 20 FORGES. Anything can be a Forge, Wood burning, Charcoal burning, Coal burning, Natural Gas and/or Propane burning, Induction Forge, Oxy/Acetylene Torch, Oxy/Propane Torch, The Sun with a Magnifying Glass, etc.....  You have limited your thoughts if you have No Forge. The Mind only functions when it is OPEN!!    There is a family in Oregon who make Wood Forges, look at their website. I have a Wood Burning Forge like theirs, it is good for mostly smaller items, BUT It Works!!

Neil

Rich, 

If you have the space to keep your equipment in one location (i.e. not have to move it out of a shed to use), then a coal/charcoal forge and a propane can be lit and ready to work in similar times. My coal forge is ready to work in 10 minutes from the first moment of balling up newspaper. My gas forge is about 5 minutes to heat. Its not enough of a difference to matter, unless you need something tweaked and just need one or two heats. I advocate solid fuel, as it has more advantages, in my opinion, in terms of shapes of metal that can fit in, large/small fires, temperature control...

If you plan on using wood as fuel, my recommendation is to build it like a "rocket stove" - a small chimney out of brick that has an opening at the bottom where you will forge. The 'chimney' is filled with small bits of wood, about 2x2 maximum. AS they burn the coals drop and you have virtually no smoke. That is what I did for some time while I looked for a coal source. It works well. 

Swedefiddle- You are right, I've probably been overthinking (something I do a lot of) this forge thing.  Perhaps I have been thinking of how to make a good forge instead of just making something good enough to get metal hot even if it isn't all that efficient.  I will work on that.

 

Ridgeway Forge- Unfortunately my gear is sitting in the garage and will need to be brought out and set up.  Hopefully I can get it into a more permanent spot in the near future.  I had not thought of a rocket stove type forge, something else to look into.  Thanks!