[TheForge] Equipment for a newbie

[blakkpawss at yahoo.com]

Matt if I lived nearer to you, I'd lend you some books I have on Knife and sword making.  As well as some stuff I have on low budget tool fixes.  I have a first edition of The $50 knife shop.  It's a good book for a budget minded beginner.  I was considering buying the second edition, which has a little bit of new info in it.  If I can get one soon.  I'll mail you my old copy for keeps.  My gift.  I'll just need an address.  You can make a lot of your own tools from scrap metal from junkyards.  You just have to think about it and make sure it's good metal.  If I can find them to xerox I have some good low budget articles in bsome magazines I can send you too.  
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

-----Original Message-----
From: Matt Gallagher <fudgumz at gmail.com>
Sender: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
Date: Sat, 6 Nov 2010 15:26:05 
To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Reply-To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [TheForge] Equipment for a newbie

I'm looking for some new or used equipment, such as a blower, forge if
possible, and some hammers. Some of you might remember my post a while back
asking for an anvil for a project. Ive found one, and now all i need is more
equipment. I can make the forge, thats not a problem. (although it would be
nice to get one pre-made (: ) I just need, at minimum, a blower. If anyone
has one, knows where i can get a cheap one, or has instructions on how to
make one, I would be happy to compensate. I have a sufficient hammer, its a
fairly large ball-peen.My first project is to make a more suitable hammer,
for which I have found several places where i can get instructions. So my
only problem really is an air-source. I contemplated making a blower, even a
set of bellows, but then remembered this forum and decided to give it a try.
Christmas is coming up, and my family has been dogging me for a list of what
I want. Something like this would both make an awesome gift, and make their
lives easier.
(PS.- I have around 100-150 lbs of charcoal, which i believe will work
sufficiently for fuel. I made it myself from hardwood [oak, cedar, and
maple] and some pine. I have been able to get steel to working temperature
with this in an outdoor fire pan with a blow pipe, but I would like a blower
so I don't have to inhale as much smoke or waste my oxygen. Any comments or
suggestions are welcome.)
(PS v.2.0- I have several designs for forges which I would like to share
with all of you out there for feedback, but my scanner is broken at the
moment. when I get it fixed, I will send out the best of these plans. I will
try to make them as understandable as possible. [I tend to use the
engineering side of my brain, and in doing so, forget about
understandability to others] Also, if anyone has designs they would like
feedback on, I would be glad to oblige. If anyone would like to revamp my
designs they are welcome to, provided they send me a copy of the final
draft.)

~Matt Gallagher, your friendly teenage smith :)
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