Recommendation? (Newbie/Considering) Compact Forge Layout?

[_knifechan]

Hi all!

As the title suggests, I'm new to makings knives (plain stock removal for now) but have been considering forging knives vs purely stock removal via belt sander and angle grinder. My current setup is a 2'x4' workbench for my 3.5" vise and a 1x30" belt sander, which works great to make knives on. I realized, however, that I would make a lot of cooler knives and other things by way of forging, and blacksmithing has been something I've wanted to try since I was young (7 y/o or so haha). The one caveat, however, is that I don't have a lot of room available to utilize. I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations on a forge setup that doesn't take up a lot of space while set up and while stored away?

Thanks!

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Rolling carts work well for setting up a forge. I used a HF welder cart for years.
You don't need a huge anvil to do knife work. The 66 pound Atlas anvil is affordable and portable. If you have a larger anvil, or don't want to carry one from place to place, the anvil base can be made mobile by adding two wheels and a set of "wheelbarrow" type handles. The wheels and handle slip off when the anvil is in use.

 

[_knifechan]

Rolling carts work well for setting up a forge. I used a HF welder cart for years.
You don't need a huge anvil to do knife work. The 66 pound Atlas anvil is affordable and portable. If you have a larger anvil, or don't want to carry one from place to place, the anvil base can be made mobile by adding two wheels and a set of "wheelbarrow" type handles. The wheels and handle slip off when the anvil is in use.

Thank you Stacy!

 

[weo]

if anyone has any recommendations

Mine isn't forge set-up related, but I'd recommend joining and becoming active in you local blacksmith organization. With little effort, you should be able to (a) make some friends who might invite you to their shop, (b) meet folks who have tools they no longer need and willing to part with, (c) learn and practice hammer control and how to be more efficient at the anvil.
For example, at this past month's meeting of the 5160 club (a knifemaking group here in Oregon) someone was cleaning out their shop and donated a larger version of a 2 brick forge, a RRtrack anvil, some tool steel, and other stuff to whoever wanted it.

 

[_knifechan]

Mine isn't forge set-up related, but I'd recommend joining and becoming active in you local blacksmith organization. With little effort, you should be able to (a) make some friends who might invite you to their shop, (b) meet folks who have tools they no longer need and willing to part with, (c) learn and practice hammer control and how to be more efficient at the anvil.
For example, at this past month's meeting of the 5160 club (a knifemaking group here in Oregon) someone was cleaning out their shop and donated a larger version of a 2 brick forge, a RRtrack anvil, some tool steel, and other stuff to whoever wanted it.

Thank you for the suggestion weo! I promptly followed it and joined a state-level organization and plan on going to the annual conference in a couple of weeks

 

[Mecha]

Would a little induction heater/forge be good for a compact little blade smithy? Seems like they’ve gotten pretty inexpensive.

 

[weo]

Would a little induction heater/forge be good for a compact little blade smithy? Seems like they’ve gotten pretty inexpensive.

I think it'd work well for doing smaller blades, but i'm not sure how well it would work for a longer blade like a bowie or perhaps even a chef's knife. But I know you can make custom coils for different sizes of stock, so perhaps there's an ideal one for a blade's dimensions.

 

[_knifechan]

Would a little induction heater/forge be good for a compact little blade smithy? Seems like they’ve gotten pretty inexpensive.

Thanks for the suggestion Mecha! As for a forge, I bought a 7-gallon steel drum that I plan on lining with caowool and the bottom with firebrick and using a propane burner. As for a quench tank, I found a cut out fire extinguisher in a dumpster at work. My main concern is the anvil and tong storage.