Any blacksmiths here?

[greenmntranger]

Always wanted to try my hand at black smithing, and to that end, picked up an old Champion forge w/ hand cranked blower. Was wondering if any one here had a link or two to some good black smith forums. The ones I have found are more "artsy" and seemed geared towards well established smith. What Im looking for is a site that is beginner friendly ( like Cast Boolits) with a section on rebuilding an old forge.....if possible

some pictures

[Finster101]

I'm not a blacksmith, but that is a neat peice of equipment. Does it still turn? When you disassemble it you may want to consider having some of the pieces coated with ceramic. It will not keep that original look but will preserve the tool. I have used JetHot on several occasions for engine and motorcyle parts. The prices are reasonable and the service has always been fantastic. http://www.jet-hot.com/ Good web site as well. Good luck with this project.

James

[greenmntranger]

Thanks James

Yes, it still turns AND moves air. When I brought it home and gave it a good turn, it blew a mouse nest up into the firepot

[Finster101]

Sound as though it may just need a little TLC then.

[Pb2au]

I've been messing around with blacksmithing since I was 13, I'm 38 now.
For a good general info forum, go to iforgeiron.com. Like this place, it is a good mix of experience.
I humbly suggest heading over to your local library and doing some research, lots of good info there. Foxfire 5 ( I think 5) is what got me started.
Do not go buy a el cheapo harbor freight anvil. They are junk. Period. A nice, flat, heavy chunk of steel is enough to start with. It worked for the celts, the Romans, Japanese and us colonials in remote areas. Heck more primitive folks used heavy rocks.
You have the forge, which is the "complicated" part. Keep it simple, take your time and learn the basics.
Have fun!

[RayinNH]

http://www.anvilfire.com/


this one will keep you busy for a while...Ray

[fatboy]

welcome to wonderful world of burnt fingers, I am a self taught smith and still learning after close to 30 years. I havnt done any forums but the book Practical Blacksmithing is an irreplaceable tool for me. also as mentioned to get you started the firefox book is real good. threshing shows usually have a black smith demonstration going on, most of us will be more than happy to pass on knowledge to a new guy if he seems sincere about learning. that way you can actually see the tricks instead of taking 2 days, and a 20 foot stick of metal stock to figure it out on your own. Anvils are becoming harder to find for sure, i have a friend who hits alot of auctions so she is keeping an eye open for another one for me, they aint as cheep as my first couple but they can be had. I personally like the railroad rail flattened out on top for a make shift anvil. though as you will discover there is no limit to what you will be inventing to get the job done.

[I'll Make Mine]

Get a bag (or, if you have storage for it, a half ton or ton) of soft coal and learn to feed the fire in a manner that cokes the coal before it gets to the center; that gets you the hottest fire and keeps sulfur and other junk out of your metal. A piece of used railroad rail makes a nice improvised anvil (the rounded upper surface is hard from the working of the wheels, you'll probably have to cut with a torch or grinder) until you can get a proper one.

[fishhawk]

Or you could do as I have done use a side draft forge and make your own charcoal for it. You don't have to coke out the coal that way and yes charcoal (not the briquette junk) does get hot enough to weld with.

[I'll Make Mine]

Or you could do as I have done use a side draft forge and make your own charcoal for it. You don't have to coke out the coal that way and yes charcoal (not the briquette junk) does get hot enough to weld with.

I won't argue -- coke and charcoal are effectively the same fuel, straight carbon. Coke from coal is much less additional work and, once upon a time, was environmentally friendly (because it didn't require cutting down whole forests to burn charcoal). These days, for a hobby smith, it's a matter of what fits your needs.

[Taylor]

Berea College in Ky used to have a nice blacksmith shop.I worked in it for 2 years.Might check their website.

[chrisw]

I'm jelous- just wanted to tell ya that!

[MBTcustom]

I ran a forge for a while. I ended up making mine and quite a few tools for it. I was taught by a journeyman in the American Bladesmith Society Check out their link:http://www.americanbladesmith.com/
Find a mastersmith or a journeyman in your area and give him a call. They prize the coal forge and are extremely talented individuals with a hammer. Most of them are more than willing to help, and if they are anything like the fellers here in AR, they will respect that piece you have, and be able to help you get it up and running in short order. I would have loved to have that very forge when I was making, but unfortunately, those babies don't show up very often. Looks like you got one with some breath left in it!
For an anvil, if you can find an old Peter Write that still has a flat surface, and a hardy and pritchel hole in good shape, it's worth the investment (use a hold down clamp in the pritchel hole, its invaluable for the one man forge let me assure you). However, if you're on the cheap, an 18" section of RR track with suffice very nicely for many common jobs.
You have not truly lived until you have welded a piece of steel at night with hammer!

[45sixgun]

Congrats on your blower. I started out with an electric squirrel cage blower, a homemade forge made out of a brake drum, and a Harbor Freight Russian anvil. Still have it all, but soon I welded together an improved forge. I also made a side draft to try that style. And then a washtub basin style. I also acquired a Buffalo blower like yours. I like using coal, but it's hard to find where I live. Mostly I made my own charcoal and used that. Burns clean and hot, and the pure carbon is good for the steel. I have to say, though, that what I use for pretty much all of my forging is a homemade propane job made from a coffee can lined with kaowool and a burner made from cheap plumbing parts. It's so quick and easy to use. Nice to have the others though if propane wasn't available.

[John Allen]

Here is a great page it is a scan of an old book on blacksmithing.

http://www.evenfallstudios.com/woodw...smithing_4.pdf

[45sixgun]

Here is my brake drum forge.



Improved forge.





Side draft forge.



Homemade propane forge.

[RayinNH]

John I have a copy of that book. It was re-printed in 1978 by Weathervane Books...Ray

[John Allen]

It really is a good book, I made the mistake of hitting print on my computer and a ream later I now have a copy also.

John I have a copy of that book. It was re-printed in 1978 by Weathervane Books...Ray

[seagiant]

Hi,
The national blacksmith organization is ABANA! They have chapters in every state and each state has regional chapters! This means there is a meeting of blacksmiths in your area close enough to drive to and meet other "smiths"! You will learn more in a few hours working with experienced people, than a year by yourself! There are also "folk schools" that give classes and seminars. ABANA will have all this info! Good luck!

[PatMarlin]

Never ceases to amaze me the knowledge of the members here at CB.