[TheForge] Advice for a beginner.

[Jerry Frost]

The more solidly you mount it the better and a wood frame will be harder to
move around. As mentioned concrete will spall if too much heat is applied
but it takes more than welding spatter a dropped rivet, etc. Now if you hot
cut a 2" piece of say 1/2"x1" and drop it on a concrete anything it's going
to start popping and shower you with HOT chips. I have a concrete floor in
my 30'x60' shop and once in a while something red hot gets dropped and you
have to move pretty quickly to keep the floor from spalling under it. Wear
basic hot shop PPE and you'll be fine. In fact make it a reflex rule NOBODY
is allowed to enter without safety glasses and natural fiber clothing.

Make some tongs! There are plenty of good tutorials, Brian Brazeal has some
that are very well shot and explained but if Gordon Williams has a video
tutorial out I like his style of tong. Regardless, tongs are not only
something you're going to need in quantity they're outstanding practice of
basic forging skills. Better yet you don't need tongs to make them. Start
with a long bar of say 5/8" sq or 3/4x3/8" flat. Forge out the reins so you
have something to hold onto while you forge the boss and bits.

Have fun, Frosty

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Carrie Haag
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2013 12:53 PM
To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Advice for a beginner.

I hadn't thought to put the RR on end but with a little searching I found
this page http://www.anvilfire.com/21centbs/planfile/ I have a fairly long
piece of track, I'll measure it when I get home.  Do you think cement would
be a better option than building a wooden frame for it as is shown in the
example?


On Mon, Aug 26, 2013 at 2:47 PM, Mike Mastrangelo <
mikemastrangelo100 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Maybe some simple tools for tending your fire, or perhaps some chisels . .
> .
>
>
> On 8/26/13, Carrie Haag <grddog85 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > I'm planning on starting my coal forge up for the first time in 
> > about a month.  I think I have enough coal for a small project.  I've
made an "s"
> > hook and a rather ugly leaf with the over site of a much more 
> > experienced smith.  I have a piece of rail road track, a forge, a 
> > cross pein hammer,
> a
> > pair of vice grips, and a ton of rebar (not ideal I know but better 
> > than nothing for a beginner).  As the RR track doesn't have a horn I 
> > don't
> think
> > I can make an "s" hook.  What projects would be a good starting 
> > point for the experience and equipment I have?
> >
> > --
> > Carrie Haag