help with first forge ?

E

Edd Harbin

Joined
May 24, 2000
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540
I am looking to build my first forge , and was hoping to get some suggestions on how to build , and what to use . I want cheap and easy . I don't need welding temp, not yet anyhow. What I realy need is something like the "Idiot guide" books . I'm wanting something small , say for up to 10 inch blades (bowies and camp knives are my favorite). I am trying to locate an old bench anvil , or a peice of railroad . As for hammeres and tongs , I need guidence there to . I have a few books on knifemaking , I'd just like anouther source of information . I was also hoping to find a local knife forger to maybe give classes , or instruction.
 
Hey Edd,

I'm still on my first forge, having done some smithing, but not a lot.

I did a lot of reading, mostly on the 'net before starting out. Tim Lively's site had what I needed for chamber information. Thanks for sharing, Tim!

You might want to search on "home foundry", "home forge" or blacksmithing on your favorite search engines to get clues on design and materials like Kaowool, satanite, firebrick or castable refractory for lining.

For heat source, I opted for Ron Reil's design.

I scrounged most of my materials for the chamber. I also worked with another guy who was building a Dave Gingery lathe from scratch who was building the foundry. That taught me the basic how-to.

My anvil is a scrounged chunk of 4"x4" steel beam. I bought hammers at flea markets and also bought the largest, cheapest pair of pliers I could find.

Lawn mower repair guys will give you scrapped blades to practice on. They're unknown steel and will give varying results.

My next project is to build a real set of tongs. I plan to use two tire irons that were scrap.

Mike
 
Hello, Edd

Get to www.anvilfire.com and use their instructions to build the EZ-Burner, then make a ceramic fiber box (I think this material is what you cal Koa-Wool) ang get your forge going. Refractory bricks should do, too, and are easier to find. For the burner itself, US$ 10,00 and twenty menuts will do.
Any questions, just get in touch. I am on the process of getting mine ready this weekend ( it took me a while to get the ceramic fiber material ) but a friend knifemaker has his going for a few weeks and is very satisfied.
 
I would also recommend Hood's Wood's Volume 9 video with Lively and Tai Goo. I learned alot more there than most books.

As far as books go...the two most helpful are Hrisoulas' Complete Bladesmith and Ed Fowler's Knifetalk.
 
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