I’m new and wanted to introduce myself

H

HydroMan

Joined
Dec 21, 2017
Messages
13
Hello everyone. New guy here just getting in to knife making. Winter has hit Indiana and my business pretty much stops so I have nothing but time on my hands until spring when the wifey and I get busy again. I spend a lot of time out in my shop tinkering and looking for projects to work on. It keeps my sanity not being stuck in the house all day and makes my beautiful wife enjoy our time together which is always a good thing.
I’ve always had an interest in knives since I was a young boy so I’ve decided to start making them. I’ve got many tools but I’m going to need a 2x72 grinder which I intend to build myself. I also need a propane forge.
I have a brand new 1950’s model propane incinerator that I could probably tear apart for all the fire brick inside of it. Maybe the burners or valves in it would even be beneficial. Not really sure yet. Heck, I may even be able to sell it and pay for alot of the stuff I need as I seen one on ebay just like mine sell for $1000. If I end up buying a Forge then it will probably be an Atlas forge because they not only appear to be well made, he really supports this community which is huge in my book.
So at any rate, I’ve read through hundreds of topics here and have a good idea what I need to do to get started but I’m sure I’ll have plenty of questions along the way.
Great bunch of folks here and I look forward to being apart of it.
 
Thanks guys! I’d really like to have a nice anvil too but man, people want a fortune for them around here. So a piece if RR track will have to work for now. Since me and the wifey don’t work in the winters, we live strictly off of our savings and the wifey will be paying close attention to how much I’m spending on my hobbies lol
 
Great to have you!

As for the anvil you might try looking at old world anvils they have a few great starter anvils. If your looking for something a bit bigger Jantz has great prices on anvils!

Best of luck!

Daniel.
 
Welcome Hydroman,

A rookie knife making hobbyist myself. Just about to finish my first knife this weekend. I'm working the leather for the sheath right now and a final sharpening and I am done with it.

Look at the "anvilbrand" website. It is a farrier and horseshoeing supplier site but they sell blacksmith stuff there as well. I just bought my son his first anvil there today (We are both rookies and learning this craft together). It was $403 for a 112 pounds. The NC brand Calvary Anvil. There are cheaper ones on there, like the 70 lb one for $260. Unless you get lucky with a locally found one near you on craigslist or from Cooter down at the big red barn I bet you would be hard pressed to get a better one for less. I know cause I have been looking now for about two weeks.

Good luck to you Sir and share some pics of your work!
 
welcome, and you wont go wrong with the atlas, I went from coal to the atlas mini and never looked back. there is a guy selling anvils on the bay they go up to 100# and are good quality steel. I bought a 20 just for setting snaps and peening pins. it compares favorably with my other vintage anvils. I have done a lot of hammering on it and so far it hasn't even scratched the surface. heck the 20 was like 20 bucks and even if it had been cast iron it wouldn't have mattered any for what I had planned but when I tested rebound I forged a bit of small stuff out on it. if I needed a bigger one now I would be all over the 100#. five counting the two small ones a 20 and 45. best of luck and above all else enjoy the hobby.
 
Welcome....This can be fun and expensive depending on your involvement...Now is a good time to start gathering odds and ends that you can sell like that incinerator to help fund the equipment you will want and need along the journey. I did another dust collectors roundup and did the craigslist sell off and generated a handsome poke to fund some handle materials. When you are working on a strict budget of savings it's wise to look at items just sitting there with no sentimental value that can be sold in lieu of emptying the savings account!!! Enjoy the Journey..:):thumbsup:
 
Welcome. Get an app to be notified of Craigslist offerings in your area. If a good deal shows up in an anvil be ready to move!
Often times the good deals are anvils being sold along with a bunch if old barn crap.
 
Hey thanks guys! Lots of great advice here. Money is definitely tighter in the winter months because we just try not to spend much from savings because you never know what could happen and what you’ll need $ wise. But none the less, I’ll get there eventually. I’m actually looking forward to building the grinder and having fun with it for now.
 
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