Budding Blacksmiths

[BHD]

I have had some budding blacksmiths visiting this week at the farm, and they were in need of a forge, to learn there skill, so I built them one to use and to take back home, with them. two of them have had an interest for a number of years, and this is there first try at it and loving it,

Basically a brake drum forge, fire pot, and copied a lot of the Buffalo forge that I have, for the basic design,

We tried it out the next day, and worked beautifully.

It looks like it should give them years of service if taken care of at all,
there Dad said he would come up with a fan for the blower, most likely a electric that is variable speed or a slid over the intake

 

[ultrarunner]

Looking good and it's great to pass on knowledge to the next generation!

 

[crash325]

Looks real good. Should last almost forever.

I do a little blacksmithing. As a kid (4/5) I got to turn the crank.

In 1962 the company I was working for needed a forge. We built one out of a 55 gallon drum. Used an old vacuum cleaner and a rheostat for the air supply.

Still do a little, mostly simple things. Soon I hope to be teaching my grandson what little I know.

 

[k0ua]

That was a very nice thing you did to help those youngsters:thumbsup:

James K0UA

 

[forgeblast]

Real nice job, they will never forget that!!

 

[Rio_Grande]

This is awsome!! I was 12 when I got my first farriers forge. it had a big split in the cast but I learned with a railroad track as an anvil and old railroad spikes for steel. I learned plenty on my own but a couple years later I hooked up with an old time real blacksmith. WoW did i get hooked and realized how little I knew. Imagine how far along I would have been if i had met him earlier!!

 

[flusher]

I spent my summers in my youth (late 1940s) at my grandparents' house in central Wisconsin. My grandpa was a blacksmith back in the days when blacksmiths did a lot more than make ornamental iron fences and gates. I really enjoyed being his little helper.

 

[Baby Grand]

This is awsome!! I was 12 when I got my first farriers forge. it had a big split in the cast but I learned with a railroad track as an anvil and old railroad spikes for steel. I learned plenty on my own but a couple years later I hooked up with an old time real blacksmith. WoW did i get hooked and realized how little I knew. Imagine how far along I would have been if i had met him earlier!!

If you were like me was when I was a teenager, you may not have appreciated what what the old guy had to offer. Nothing makes a young man listen like experiencing some failure and seeing someone else demonstrate mastery. I had this experience learning to weld. Had to do it my way until I saw what a good welder could do and could not for the life of me replicate it. It took that frustration to make me listen.

I do like that brake drum forge and it's making me want to knock something similar together so I can do some forming work to supplement my welding. That would open some possibilities for alternate designs. Some of the old farm gear I've seen has a look to it of formed steel that is very appealing and hints at a more economical use of material than some of the cut & stick that I've been doing.

 

[lostcause]

i'm still trying to figure out how they were able to use it while texting and playing hand held video games.

just kidding, but good to see a new generation learning some sort of skill before it becomes lost.

 

[BHD]

i'm still trying to figure out how they were able to use it while texting and playing hand held video games.

just kidding, but good to see a new generation learning some sort of skill before it becomes lost.

I have only seen one video game in the whole group of them and I think that was more for the trip here, (10 hr), they had it out once one evening, really I am kinda surprised as well, there Mom and Dad has done a good job at raising them,

 

[sparc]

Very nice BHD. :thumbsup:

 

[HCJtractor]

Very nice. How about explaining to us dummies how that works. What fuel? How long does it take to heat that rebar until its hot enough to work it? I think you could make some great things with it. Do the kids have any plans to create something?

 

[BHD]

It is jsut a old fashon type coal forge,

Light the coal, the blower adds oxygen, and makes the fire hot,

put the iron in the center of the fire and in a few mins your iron is hot enough to work, I did not time it but in jsut a few mins it will be a bright red,

 

[tcreeley]

I've got one of those brake drum forges- used to use it as my portable forge for demos at crafthows. I've got an old cookie sheet surrounding the drum for my table surface and 1/2 rod welded to the drum for legs- Very stable when I sink it into the ground.
Great to pass on the skills of forging. :laughing:

 

[DJ54]

Made one myself a few years back out of a F-450 front brake rotor. Fits perfect in a 14.5 mobile home rim.

I first used a shop vac for a blower, but the whiny motor got on my nerves. Found a 140 cfm squirrel cage blower on epay, and it's a real pleasure to play now..!! Air control is just a simple swing waste gate on the bottom.

I like to make things out of used horseshoes... Here's one of my little projects.

 

[tcreeley]

I like that- nice collection of shoes, even the grooved ones for the trotter - wow!! Nice piece of work.

 

[BHD]

there are a lot of videos on You tube on forges and smithing, some are just junk and some are very good, if some one wants to see some of the how tos, you tube is a place to start,

 

[tcreeley]

I like playing with horse shoes- used to cut them in half and make two hoof picks out of a shoe. Made a ton of hooks and fireplace pokers. Still set up but I roofed over my chimney for the forge! I use my portable when I want- but that means everything gets lugged out - anvil, vice etc. I've got an old hand pump blower- works well - something like this one. -Only one I've seen like this is the one I have. It runs with leather belts- Used an old pony harness driving rein for the belt.