Slow board :(

[beowoulf90]

Sept 9, 2015 17:54:52 GMT @doingitmyself said:

Mostly just go slow, have fun, buy low, sell high, not likely to get rich doing BS work but it has its own rewards! Also check into usig charcoal as your heating fuel, coal is fine but close neighbors will complain. I know guys that use an LP forge exclusively very effectively as well. An industrial blowdrier (paint stripper without the heat on) could get you started with you homemade forge, there is no need to spend a lot of $$$$$$ or this endevour, honestly cheaper stuff is the norm.  Roses, skulls, bottle openers, cowboy cooking sets, and utensils all sell OK. Just don't be hurt when you realize few will pay for your skill. Generally those days are over, BUT.... ocassionally someone will commission you to do a batch of hinges, door handles, or cabniet handles! Flower hooks, hat racks, coat hangers of railroad spikes all are fun easy and pay OK as well. GOod luck with your new hobby!!!!

Agreed!
Go slow and enjoy the little things you will and can create!

(directed to everyone who is thinking about learning to blacksmith)
You can make your own forge from brake drums/old water heaters etc. Just ask! some of us have done it in the past.
Oh and you may be able to find a rivet forge at auction.
The 2 forges I have now were both bought at auction (one in very good working condition with blower, the other required work)

Two of the old time/antique "major" names you will see on forges and blowers is Champion (Lancaster, PA) and Buffalo ( NY, Rochester if I recall correctly)

Anyway, Just ask! I will answer any questions I can, as I'm sure most people here would also..

 

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Blacksmithing tools are expensive to buy, yes but as many are saying, making your own is cheaper and part of the process. Hardy tools are the things that go in the holes on the anvil. Perfectly useful, longlasting ones can be made from flat springs with one end being the action end and the other beat into a proper square to fit in the hole. A metal quench tank is essential as its nice to just drop stuff in and leave it for a bit sometimes. Wire brushes are good to have as well for removing slag and flakes. Use a brass bristled brush on hot metal to give it a "brassy" shine.
I made a set of steak knives for my sister from disk-harrow teeth. I heated them in a pan forge with pallet wood and used the 3 inch 'anvil' on the back of Dad's vice. If you dont have coal but have a way to force air into a wood fire, it will get hot enough.
I have used the woody part of dried palm fronds with forced air from my lungs through a blow tube to heat 1/4" round stock for "S" hooks.

This "donut rim" (car spare tire rim) idea keeps coming to me for a fire pan but I havn't followed through with it yet. A piece of downspout-sized metal pipe in a "T" stuck out the bottom could connect to a blower - or a small box fan on a rheostat switch. Or could be reduced down to a blow tube although, if the blacksmith is a smoker, blowing the fire and then turning around and pounding the piece might make them pass out..

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I have tongs (salvaged from a 1900's business going out), hammers, a hunk of rail for an anvil, and OA torch for heat. Done some metal mangling that way. Gotta admit, there is a lot more to it than just heating metal and whacking it with a hammer. Also use a 20T hydraulic shop press to cold form stuff. Just made some nice 90's in 3/8x1.25 cold rolled bar stock last week.

If I had an unlimited budget, after the new shop went up to make proper blacksmithing space for forge and all, I'd put a Pedinghaus anvil in it. IIRC, they make a 400#er which would be really sweet. Meanwhile, there are some good flat spots on my old tractor which work pretty well as a "heavy anvil" when absolutely needed. I've also used the smaller (inboard) drawbar hole as a hardy-hole for some home made tooling. Interesting what you can make with a 3-4" long 3/4" grade 8 bolt with the head ground (slowly, quenched often, low heat) to the shape you want.