Forge

[bgott]

First I got an anvil, now I have a forge. I got it for $100. It needed legs because the old one were rotted so I built a set. I was going to post a before picture but I'd hit the wrong button on the camera before I started and the file was too big.

 

[bgott]

I bent the legs out of 1 1/4 O.D. pipe from the top rail of a chain link fence I tore down. I was going to do it with water pipe I have but, after the first bend with an electrician's manual conduit bender, I decided that the schedule 40 pipe was overkill. I'm 6'4'' and 240 pounds and it took all I had to make the bend. Being that I over bent it the first try I was looking at at least 5 shots at it and so I took the path of least resistance. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif The thinwall pipe is plenty strong and lighter, too. I'm ready to play, I picked up some hammers I didn't have, some tongs and a hot and cold cut, cut off hardy and coal. I only have $305 invested in this hobby so far. I walked the tracks and got a half bucket of spikes so I have metal to play with. The last, and hardest thing I have to do is clean out my carport so I can set this stuff up. Anybody want to buy a couple of dismantled 8Ns?

 

[Chuck52]

I envy you! Ever since I watched some blacksmithing demos at Colonial Williamsburg I've wanted to whack metal and try to make something of it. If nothing else, I figure it would be great for the arms! Do you ever watch The Woodwright Shop on PBS? They fairly often show blacksmiths making neat stuff. Worn out files become the cutting edges of wood chisels. What are you planning to use for the fire? Can you just use coal, or do you have to coke it first?

One of my dreams for retirement has me going to blacksmith school in the Smokies.

Chuck

 

[Golfgar4]

<font color="blue"> ( One of my dreams for retirement has me going to blacksmith school in the Smokies. ) </font>

Hi Chuck! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

While we were on our vacation in New England, we spent a day at the Shelburne Museum, which is just south of Burlington, Vermont. It's a wonderful place to spend a day or two - yes, there's that much to see! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I had the opportunity to wander into the blacksmith shop while I was there. There was a gentleman who was in the process of making some square nails they use throughout the museum. As he worked, we chatted for a little while. Turns out he was a retired retail sales manager who had always wanted to learn blacksmithing. Apparently, the Shelburne has some kind of school that people like you can attend. Part of the program includes spending some time at the blacksmith shop "performing" for the visitors. This fellow enjoyed it so much, that after he completed the school, he volunteers at the museum a few days every week.

I didn't get any more information than that, but I bet you could get some info. on the program if you contact the museum. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

P.S. Here's a link to the museum for more information. Shelburne Museum

 

[Chuck52]

Thanks Garry. Sounds interesting. I once did a search for blacksmithing schools and found a few. I think the program I once saw in the Smokies area is a short introduction type thing.

I still have more than ten years ahead of me before retirement, but I've started thinking about it as a time when I will be able to learn things just because I want to, rather than as part of a degree or in order to earn a living. Hopefully, I'll find something both interesting, and for which I can find a talent I don't yet know I have!

Chuck

 

[bgott]

I picked up a hundred pounds of coal to start out with. I don't think I need to buy it by the ton yet. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif You turn the coal to coke in the forge. You start the coal burning and after it burns the impurities out you have coke.

 

[Chuck52]

Brad,

Do you have plans for making anything in particular? You into practical stuff or decorative? There was a guy at a local festival doing demos with a rig similar to yours. He had some tools and fireplace fittings and the like that he'd made. He also had some real neat walking stick heads. They were simple spirals and stuff, and one goat head, on spikes. He set the spikes in the sticks and had iron wrings that he had put around them like iron wheels to hold them in place. They would have been really nice if he'd had better taste in sticks, but it looked like he'd just picked sticks up in his yard!

Chuck

 

[bgott]

I'm going to start out by re- learning what I've already had experience with and trying to attain some level of competence. I'm going to do that by making various things to sell at the flea market and any craft fairs I happen across. Once I figure out what will sell I'll probably move in that direction. I guess you could call it market research. I have a decent income from my rental property but I wouldn't mind picking up a few extra bucks doing something I enjoy. This would be something I could do when I have the time, I really don't want to commit to a job. If I was committed to working for someone else and I had problems with one of my rentals it would create a conflict of interest and any employer I find is going to be a little upset if I take a half a day or two off a week to unstop toilets and fix air conditioners. Once I get in practice building sale stuff for others I would like to build me some furniture. I also see vacation and weekend road trip possibilities in going to hammer- ins and trade shows, right now my options are sitting in front of a slot machine or going to a relatives house and sitting around looking stupid for a weekend, neither of which really appeal to me.

 

[Egon]

If you get into serious craft fair mode you will become a very busy man.

Egon

 

[wroughtn_harv]

You need to get involved with some of my buds, http://www.habairon.org/

The spikes make great knives. They're a lot of fun to make and great for practice.

I'm part of NTBA (north texas blacksmith association) and Balcones Forge out of Austin.