[TheForge] Starting up

[Jerry Frost]

Welcome aboard Andrei:

There's been plenty of good advice, some better than others.

I'm with Phlip, perhaps I should say we're of the same mind. Do NOT wait 
till you have all the right tools to get started. You'll be waiting forever.

Your minimum equipment list is:

1) A safe place to make a fire. Living in Romania you may not have access to 
propane, living in a major city though you might. Let us know if you have 
propane available we'll post all kinds of info for buying/making a propane 
forge. Coal or charcoal is probably pretty common. If the city isn't hard on 
smoke, coal is probably more economical. Charcoal on the other hand is 
pretty easy to make yourself and burns without smoke.

A coal or charcoal forge is extremely easy to make and can be as simple as a 
shallow hole scooped in the dirt with a piece of pipe for the air blast. A 
small washtub lined with clay works really well. You'll need a deeper fire 
for charcoal than coal but this is a small detail.

2) Something to beat against. An anvil is preferable but almost anything 
heavy and hard enough can serve. Probably the most common improvised anvil 
is a length of rail road rail. My best ever improvised anvil was a large 
axel of some sort buried with the wheel flange up at a good working height. 
In a pinch a boulder will serve.

3) Something to beat with. Hammers from 1-3lbs 500-1500gms. I strongly 
disagree with air hammering. Do NOT just swing a hammer like you're 
hammering unless you actually hit something! This will cause all kinds of 
wrist, elbow and shoulder problems down the road. Set a piece of wood at a 
proper working height and hammer on it. Proper warm up and exercising is 
important but don't hurt yourself doing it.

4) Something to hold short work with, tongs, pliers, vise grips or even a 
split stick will work. I recommend making a couple pair of tongs as learning 
projects. Heck, make tongs all your life, you can sell them. <grin>

5) Finding stock to work with is something I can't help you with. You'll 
have to scrounge, buy or deal for what's available to you.

Tell us a bit more about what you'd like to make and we'll be able to be 
more specific.

Ries is right on the money concerning reading material. Alexander Weygers 
book "The Complete Modern Blacksmith" is my first recommendation. Especially 
for those who'll have to improvise a lot.

Till you have the right tools just build a fire and beat on some hot steel 
with a hammer. You'll learn more than you think.

Good luck, have fun, play safe.

Frosty
-------------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrei Pandelescu" <APandelescu at ubisoft.ro>

> 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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