[TheForge] New to the List: Anyone Local to the Bryson City, Murphy, Waynesville, NC area?

[Mark Thomas.]

Hello TheForge,

  New to the list, from West of Bryson City, NC area. 
Was wondering how many people in the area there were from say Murphy, NC to Waynesville, NC. 
Have a start to the tools. Built a propane forge, picked up a nice stash of axles, leaf and coil springs, etc.. 
Looking to make some tongs, hardy tools, etc... and meet some others in the area to see what other ideas and items I should be considering.
Have two bags of coal, and the parts for the forge, minus the hand blower I would like to pick up reasonably down the road..

BTW.. last project was designing some large rocket stoves for cooking. Did a lot of research, prototypes and testing, and built 5 nice large, extended burn time rocket stoves. The last one with 4 cooking surfaces.. If anyone is interested, there is lots of information on my Youtube channel about them.. We experimented with 3" and 6" stove pipe, have some cinderblock stoves, 2, 3, 4 and 6 inch square tube and round pipe stoves, etc.. 
My Channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1-Hsuqf0cOWHSDCaRk8d9Q/videos 

Now ready to start doing the same with blacksmithing.. 
The first forge was thrown together with Lowes Firebrick, (do-all-plus refractory cement), metrikote IR reflective, and a side arm burner. 
I didn't know there were better types of firebrick, but, this one works fine at the moment.. We have fired it up 10 or so times and done a little drawing, upsetting, forge welding, etc.. Made a set of welded reign tongs that I won't bother to post pictures of, but, know what will work better next time.. Ha.. 

Will be making a coal forge, and have the parts for a propane preheater and waste oil burner that is going together to melt and do some casting.

Also interested in getting setup with Lathe and Mill for some projects.. 

Anyone in the area that is interested in sharing, tossing around ideas, and doing it over a good cup of coffee, or tasting some good home made wine would be a welcome new contact.. I would really like to see some other shops, what they have, and what they do, so I can pick up some ideas I would likely miss and might want to do later.. 

Cheers, and thanks for allowing the post.
I live in the Nantahala River Gorge, and own the Paddle Inn Rafting Company, and contrary to popular belief, you don't have to go on vacation to drive to Murphy and then to Waynesville. Ha.. I told the lady at the video shop in town, I lived in the Gorge, and she asked me if I wanted the 3 day rental.. I told her, it was only 15 minutes to town.. Ha.. Walmart is 45 minutes in either direction.. What's the big deal? Ha.. 

==== 
Best regards,
 Mark 
73's KJ4SLY                mailto:mark at mark-thomas.com
14611 Highway 19 West
Bryson City, NC. 28713
828-488-9651 Work
828-488-5424 Home
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MSN: PaddleInn at hotmail.com
Skype: PaddleInn