Ok definately in the hobby class I want to build a forge. Not that I want a small or cheap one! :^) I have a really nice chunk of steel to make a table type, 20"X36"X1" thick. I have torches, welders access to a plasma, and an iron worker. Anyone have plans, suggestions, recomendations or warnings? Also I need a hardy and blacksmith punches and chisles.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), January 06, 2002

Answers

Try www.neotribalmetalsmiths.com.

-- Kevin (kevinmail@earthlink.net), January 07, 2002.

Type Lindsey publications into your search engine, they have major info, books, plans, ect.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 07, 2002.

From your e-mail address you appear to be in Canada. There are several blacksmithing clubs there. Go to www.abana.org and find their list of chapters. You can then contact the nearest one to you.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), January 07, 2002.

I read an interesting post below (See cool catalog . . .) which mentions Lee Valley Tools in Canada. They might have what you are looking for. The post contains an on-line website you can shop. Good luck.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), January 07, 2002.

I too am looking to build a forge. I took a blacksmithing class last spring and enjoyed it a lot! The instructor said he would help me build a forge but I needed to figure out what kind, etc. I am signed up for the second class where he is going to teach us to make the tools, etc. Anvilfire.com has lots of interesting stuff. That might help you. If you get any good ideas let me know! (P.S. yes I am female. I was the only female in the classes! My husbands reaction when I told him I was going to take a blacksmithing class was..."I don't wanta be married to a woman with arms bigger than mine!!"

-- Mary R. (cntryfolk@ime.net), January 07, 2002.

Yes I've got anvilfire bookmarked. I'd forgoten about Lyndsey publishing, I even have a catalog about somewhere. I guess I'm mostly interested in coppersmithing but I have a few ideas for steel projects too. Be nice to make stuff to sell at our local farmers market.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), January 07, 2002.

I prefer a propane forge to a coal one. If I'm just doing a small job, I can probably have it done by the time a coal forge gets up to heat. No chance of burning the metal. No black snot boggers or sooty hair either.

Once you have a forge, anvil and postvise, you can make your own tools. Most of my punches and chisels are made out of automobile springs. Yes, you can make your own tongs, but it is far easier just to buy used ones. A half-dozen general purpose tongs will serve probably 90% of your needs. For a hot cut hardy, see if you can find a worn out jack hammer bit as it has a nice collar on it. Shape the hardy shank, then cut off the bit at about two inches and shape it to a chisel shape.

For a coal forge, you need a special metalurgist-grade coal. Common stoker coal won't do anywhere as nicely. I've seen several forges made out of a truck brake drum, elbow and squirrel cage blower on a rheostat (spelling?).

Centaur Forge (www.centaurforge.com) has several excellent books on beginning blacksmithing.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), January 08, 2002.

Yeah I worked out buying tongs, after reading how to make them. Why bother!!? I'll admit buying a hardy cut off is for conveniance. Punches etc, I'll make and have made. Anvil is old, really needs a new surface (but fine for my use) about 250 pounds. I thought about a brake drum forge, I really like the idea of a table type. Coal might be fussy but it's the fuss and playing with fire I like. (no I don't like big fires, not a pyromaniac) I use an oxygen propane torch at the moment. I can get anthricite pretty cheap, lot's of friends head east for holidays. I guess a propane forge would be handy. I didn't like how much my farrier paid for his though! Got any plans to make one of those?

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), January 08, 2002.

www.abana.org sells plans for a propane forge. I use one made by the guy who made the plans.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), January 09, 2002.