Re: forge question

On Dec 18, 6:15 pm, "SteveB" <toquerville@zionvistas> wrote:
I am in extreme SW Utah, in a little town north of St. George.  I want to do
some hot metal shaping for some gates and yard art I want to do.  I've done
tons with just square tube and bent and curled stuff made by machines and
Hossfeld benders.  But I like some of the twists and leaves one can make
simply by heating some flat bar and hammering.  I don't want to get too big,
as I can't lift a lot, so just a small one the size of a farrier's or rivet
would be good.

I'm sure that there are a lot of locals who could tutor me.  A gentleman we
knew just died at 95, and this guy would be the envy of any craftsman here.
Made wagon wheels by hand, even the outer steel band.  Was a welding teacher
to women shipbuilders during WW2.  A national treasure.  I walked around his
shop dragging my jaw.  It was like being in a shop in the 1890s.  And it was
all real and used daily.

Looking forward to getting going this year.  Getting another container and
setting up shop.  Last year was lost to health issues.  This year looks
better.

Now, if I only had some money ..........

Steve

"spaco" <sp...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

news:3qSdnRgGmOxqT9fUnZ2dnUVZ_tLinZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Where are you Steve?  I'm in western Wisconsin.  I'd be glad to demo
various forging setups for you to help you decide what to do next.  I'm
sure that many other blacksmiths would do that too.
   I have used a portable "rivet" forge for 20 years when I demo to the
public, away from any power source and it works just fine.   I can forge
weld in it too.  This kind of forge is easy to set up temporarily outside
if you don't have a place to put a chimney indoors.  It just doesn't have
the depth of firepot that allows for huge fires.   I have heated 1" X 3"
stock hot enough to bend and cutoff in mine, though.
   A lot depends on how much effort you want to put into blacksmithing.
Many ABANA affiliates have training clasees, as do our clubs.  They are
very good for giving you the basics you need to make these decisions.

Find the ABANA (Artist Blacksmith Association of North America) affiliate
closest to you at:  www.abana.org

You CAN use charcoal as a forge fuel, just not charcoal briquettes.
Several of my friends use it regularly.   It's the charcoal made from
charring wood scraps in, for instance, a 55 gallon drum.
   But, blacksmith coal sure is easiest, and hotter,  if you can get it.
That's another reason to connect with a blacksmith club since most of them
have nailed down a source for it and make it available to members.  for
instance: our club, the Guild of Metalsmiths, uses about 22 tons a year..

Pete Stanaitis
------------------

SteveB wrote:

"Leo Lichtman" <leo.licht...@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:_My2l.3088$jZ1.2134@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"SteveB" wrote:  (clip) Seems to me like it might use a lot of

propane.  But then, it would use a lot of coal or charcoal also.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Not charcoal.  Try to find blacksmith's coal   You light a little fire
over the air inlet, with dampened coal mounded over it.  The coal will
light on the inside of the mound, and cling together on the outside to
form a dome. You put the things that you want to heat into this hot
"igloo."  Regulate the temp by controlling the air flow.

Been considering a used farrier forge, as they are plentiful in my
neighborhood.

Steve

Steve,

If you will take the previous poster's suggestion and look up your
local chapter of ABANA you will be glad you did. They are some truly
devoted and talented people. They have a zeal for sharing their
knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, blacksmithing that borders on the
religious.

Vernon
.

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