dax Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Hello to all, This is A very interesting and informative site well done to all involved. I'm in Devon in the UK and have a notion to set up a home hobby forge on the cheap to do some arrowheads and knife blades to begin with. Got some good ideas off the tube for a little forge. Got most of the stuff and some steel scrap at the recycling centre today for five pounds. I don't have an anvil yet just a cobblers last but it will do for now. I hope to use lumpwood charcoal with a fan device to get some heat going I will let you know how that goes. I read with interest the thread on what a Blacksmith is today. 30 years ago I worked as a youth in a forge and there was no traditional forge work being done then. Just re-working old road chisels and making scrolls. The rest was metal fabrication work on railings and gates and made to measure items, with arc welding and grinding and spraying with red ox etc. I think it is a supply and demand thing. If there is a demand for traditional skills then they will be taught and provided. When that demand dies off because of competition the traditional skills become consigned to history. The Blacksmith/Metalworker has to move forward with technology to get enough work or become a historical skills specialist. Where the Blacksmith wins over the mass producing factory is by having the ability to repair a metal component or one off item and to produce a small number of made to measure items from drawings. This is something that a large factory can't do because it is not worth their while. However the smaller Blacksmith is reliant on getting enough work like this to keep going. Great work on the site, I'll be asking for help later, Cheers for now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tech413 Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Welcome to the site, looks like you have a pretty good plan. If you want to do some more learning, I would suggest reading the blueprints and the lessons in metalworking. Good to have you aboard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Hi Dax, the Guild of Wrought Ironwork Craftsmen of Wessex (now the Blacksmiths Guild) has been promoting the blacksmiths traditional craft, and passing on the traditional skills for the best part of 50 years now. Originally founded by a group of Devon, Cornwall and Dorset based 'smiths we now continue this work at Westpoint. see our link on the groups section on this forum. Be careful using a cobblers last for an anvil, as a lot of them were made from cast iron and may break easily if used as an anvil. We have some blacksmiths stakes on sale at Westpoint if you are interested. There will be a course on making various twists there this coming weekend (Feb 21,22) if you would lie to drop in and take a look. There is also other tooling on offer. Good luck with your hobby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dax Posted February 16, 2009 Author Share Posted February 16, 2009 Thanks for the warning there John B. I am right near Westpoint so I will certainly be in there. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.