So I recently got interested in forging and blacksmithing by some means that nobody gives a shlt about, bla bla bla. Where would I find any guides, tutorials, ideas, etc. on blacksmithing for beginners/novices? Also, does anyone have tips for forging that you use?
Do what I did: Google for Blacksmiths near your area, then call them up and ask them if you could do a beginner course with them. Honestly, I can't see how you can start blacksmithing from scratch, you'd have to dish out loads of money on all the equipment. So for starters, just get yourself enrolled on a beginners course with a local blacksmith, it'll be cheaper, and he can tell you where to go from there.
Also: "So I recently got interested in forging and blacksmithing by some means that nobody gives a shlt about, bla bla bla." really?
Blacksmithing isn't something you can just pick up, you don't just bash metal. It takes a lot of work and dedication. How old are you, just out of interest?
[QUOTE=loopoo;37087504]Blacksmithing isn't something you can just pick up, you don't just bash metal.[/QUOTE]
I beg to differ. Other than that though good advice on finding local smiths to give it a try first.
Just look for some forge plans online, there's a ton of them out there of various shapes and sizes, a propane forge is good and simple to start with unless you have a cheap and reliable source of local charcoal (Not BBQ bricks, they're terrible).
For materials to build your forge and work with do not go to a steel supplier, check out scrapyards and such first, you may find stuff you can salvage or use for your forge and it'll be cheaper than fresh steel off the rack yet every bit as good.
For tools, check pawn shops. A 2 pound sledge is a good all round hammer but the more shapes and sizes the better. Likewise, pliers and such can be found in pawn shops, just grind or file out the teeth so they don't make a mess of the steel. Pliers make decent ersatz tongs and large needle nose pliers and super handy for making arrowheads.
Tools found at pawn shops are usually pretty old and I find the quality of the metal to be better than modern off the shelf tools. Though I am rather fond of my Estwing 2 pounder for most jobs.
No really, you just bash the mettils down into swords and then you go pew pew chhhcrack RELEASE THE KRAKEN
[url]http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1181997[/url]
Try this thread on for size
[QUOTE=loopoo;37087504], I can't see how you can start blacksmithing from scratch, you'd have to dish out loads of money on all the equipment.[/QUOTE]
I have to disagree here(not being mean, but I want to show how affordable it can be).
You can find a nice cross pein hammer for less than 10 dollars, and with a little time in your car there's a strong chance you can go to a scrap yard and find some railroad scrap. With no modifications to the rail, you have an anvil. It may not have a horn or a hardie handle but it'll do.
For the forge there's dozens of easy to make types. You can make one out of a steel drum or some concrete and a wash tub. I've seen videos of a few made of bricks, even one of dirt.
As for learning(with my luck) there weren't local blacksmiths. I live in a state(U.S) where we joined late in the history of things, so black smithing didn't have enough time to grow. I'm learning through books and videos. [B]It does take patience and dedication,[/B] so wait a month or so and keep thinking about it.
Also this thread- [url]http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1117066[/url]
I stand corrected, great info you guys. I guess Blacksmithing is more affordable and easy to pick up than I thought! I know how I'm spending my Christmas :v:
No need for sarcasm. People should be encouraged to try things like this, not warned away from it. It's something sorely lacking today, lots of people are afraid to try things for fear of failure or 'not doing it right'. It's something I see time and time again when I teach people how to do stuff with metal and wood.
I've been interested in extending my skills from electronics into other kinds of craft, never knew getting into blacksmithing was as easy as getting a hammer and making a forge. Thanks, RR_Raptor!
[QUOTE=RR_Raptor65;37120048]No need for sarcasm. People should be encouraged to try things like this, not warned away from it. It's something sorely lacking today, lots of people are afraid to try things for fear of failure or 'not doing it right'. It's something I see time and time again when I teach people how to do stuff with metal and wood.[/QUOTE]
I wasn't being sarcastic, I was being genuine. Really, your post and credesniper's post were both brilliant and full of useful information and - like you said - people should be encouraged to try things like this and that is exactly what your post did, encourage. So yeah, I honestly meant what I said, no sarcasm. I can see how you would take it as sarcasm though, the exclamation mark makes it seem sarcastic but I meant it more to be enthusiastic. I didn't realize how relatively easy starting your own forge was, it's pretty awesome. Will definitely do this as a project this Christmas, when I have the time. Sorry if I came across as sarcastic, buddy.
Oh my bad, it just read that way to me.
But yeah, a forge and hammer will give you the basics you need to build most things. For a work surface you can use a large sledgehammer head clamped in a vise, but cheap anvils ("Anvil Shaped Objects" to a lot of people, they aren't true anvils) are available here and there, I picked a 55 pounder in California when I first started as a kid and I still have it. Most of those Chinese anvils are just mild steel and don't hold up very well due to how soft they are but they'll do as a starter.
The upside to those anvils is they're quiet too, a real anvil will ring like a bell when you strike it, I never work on mine without earmuffs.
And if you get into working sheet metal, wooden forms sound like an odd idea but they work really well. Even a simple log with a divot hammered and sanded into the middle. You just have to think Medieval really, most of the tools and work surfaces you need can be made from scratch simply and cheaply, sometimes even for free.
[QUOTE=loopoo;37118985]I stand corrected, great info you guys. I guess Blacksmithing is more affordable and easy to pick up than I thought! I know how I'm spending my Christmas :v:[/QUOTE]
When I told my dad "I want to make a forge" he questioned how much I wanted to do it. After proving how much time/research I had put into it, he said "It isn't a good investment, you're going to college". I then found everything I needed for under $20.00. Sadly that was a month ago, and if I got everything together I would barely have any time to do anything.
Although a lot of my major will involve large physical products, maybe I can suck up to my teacher and he'll let me store my junk in the workspace.
Blacksmithing is a primitive craft. People did it many years ago with less than what you have now.
Get yourself on Anvilfire.com and iforgeiron.com, and absorb information.
Check out local blacksmith groups near you. [URL="http://www.abana.org/affiliates/affiliate_map.shtml"]http://www.abana.org/affiliates/affiliate_map.shtml[/URL]
Attend one of their meetings and show your interest. They will most definitely give you help, maybe even let you in their shop!
Check out brake drum forges or weld together a forge. Find a cross or ball pein hammer. Get a heavy piece of steel to bang against. Start your new forge and begin.
I had taken a basic blacksmith course, but the bulk of my education was evident in my scrap pile. Make something then improve it, then once its perfect, make another just like it. Keep forging.
Blacksmithing is very experience driven. I don't (but should) know what is the perfect number temperature for forging steel. I do know exactly what it feels like under the hammer and what it looks like color-wise.
Once you are forging steel on one anvil and 3 strikers with 10lbs sledges all in synch and you are the one commanding the group, you will realize just how much fun you had getting burned by hot coals for 6 hours.
Thanks for all the suggestions and the link to the other thread. It's sort of difficult to research anything at 5 kb/s Internet connection:suicide:
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