[TheForge] Starting up

[Walter Mullett]

Andrei,

It's great that your interested in blacksmithing!  Welcome and I hope you
fulfill your interest.

I don't think you should approach this looking for the right formulae.
There really is no "right" tool or anvil but there probably is a right
process.  That is to get as much exposure to blacksmithing as you can.  

Before you buy anything, find a local blacksmithing group or a nearby smith
to consul with.  Have you visited the ABANA site to see if any smithing
groups are nearby?  If nothing else, where are you located?  There are many
on this list that will be willing to spend some time with you.

Most BS groups will have meetings where they will allow you to try your hand
at smithing.  Watch what they do and how they do it.  Ask questions and
check out their tools.  Figure out what you want to do with this trade -
hobby?  In a short time, you will be able to answer some of these questions
yourself and they will be the right answers for you!

Good luck and tell us more about what you are doing.

Walt (Ohio) 

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Andrei Pandelescu
Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 4:54 AM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TheForge] Starting up

Good day,

I am reading on posts here for about half a year or so, and since then
managed to get a more "rewarding" job so I think I might be in the position
to actually doing something instead of just reading. 

In order to get started properly , and to take full advantage of this
mailing list, I'd like to ask the more experienced members a few details
first, if you don't mind spending a few time to help a young wannabe
blacksmith start his thing.

1. What tools do I need? Numbers, details...
2. What type of anvil should I get?
3. Where can I find patterns for what I am supposed to do?
4. What do I need to make a forge or could I replace that with something
else for starters?
5. Where can materials be bought?
6. Some books or other kind of reference about materials, treatment and
shaping.

I don't know if this is and exhaustive list of questions, if you think I
missed some details please - fill them up :)

Thanks a lot for your patience and your time. 

Have a nice day!
Andrei
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