Blacksmithing

[BrokenBiker]

Jesus there's one thing you dont learn from YouTube is just how much radiant heat there is off these sorts of things.

Today is the day I get back at things and decided as I hadn't played with it properly, the forge was first on the list.

Now I will admit I did mostly every important bit wrong...the forge and anvil are both set up on the same rickety work mate with a plank of wood screwed to top to enlarge to work area (im making stands, dont worry) which means i cant get away from the heat of the forge at the moment, and using a 2.5lb lump hammer that i have flattened the face of with a flap disc and put a small radius on the edges.

But, after actually letting the forge warm up today, I put some 20mm mild steel in as im attempting to make tongs following torbjorns video of making tongs without tongs...

Only took 3 heats to set down the 20mm round bar to a 10mmx20mm square end and its pretty parallel in both directions (not straight, but cant win them all, i did fix that afterwards) and I tapped the edges down so they werent sharp (seemed like a good idea, not really sure)

To those that know what they are doing, this may seem like nothing, but it is my first time actually trying this in an attemot to make something so im hapoy with small progress.


I have since drawn it out and bit longer, rotated 90 degrees and turned it 45 degrees and put another set down in at the base of this one, to form where the rivet will go but for today that is it as my back is telling me to pack it in.

But, new hobby might lose me some weight and its quite therapeutic to smack something with a hammer and not be doing it because a bolt snapped and you smashed your knuckles, which is usually why I start hitting things with hammers

 

[steve t]

You learn allot making tongs.

 

[MysterG]

I did a blacksmithing day years ago, and really enjoyed it.
Would love the wherewithal to set myself up a forge etc.. but don't have the space

 

[BrokenBiker]

You learn allot making tongs.

yes...one thing i have learnt so far is that it doesnt take all your force to move metal, and its very easy to go too far...

and my hammer aim isnt fantastic...but im getting there. will have another aply monday now probably as even though im technically back in work, theres no job on so im at home anyway

 

[BrokenBiker]

Would love the wherewithal to set myself up a forge etc.. but don't have the space

thats never stopped me buy it first, find space later...this forge is the reason i have had to make a new welding table so i can move my tool boxes under it, to free up space for the forge and anvil stand to sit when not in use. the propane will have to live outside though

 

[Turbo]

Get yourself a better hammer to start with. A wooden handled heavy ball pein would be good.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Get yourself a better hammer to start with. A wooden handled heavy ball pein would be good.

funilly enough i have just ordered a hickory handled 2.5lb ball pein, as well as a beech handle for my current hammer that is about twice as long as the current handle.

i have flattened the 1 face off and put a radius on the edges, and will be grinding the other face into a rounding type profile. i need to tweak the flat face a bit as when i tap it on the anvil it wants to bouce and twist to the left a bit, but i can sort that quite easilly.

also ordered a new pair of tig gloves as ive ruined mine and a pair of leather wanna be welders gloves for use with the forge so i dont have to use the tig gloves. i have gauntlets but they are too clumsy for anything useful

 

[bourbon]

do it with this gear!

 

[BrokenBiker]

do it with this gear!View attachment 513172

that little anvil on the right is about the size i have...i am also trying to source a stump or decent log to use as well, my father thinks he has found something but waiting to actually find out what wood it is and if its green or not.

looks a good set up though.

i will admit, i dont think i will find myself striving to be the pure form blacksmith...i will happily forge a piece out but if it needs a hole in it, i have a pillar drill for that...if it needs to be cut to a certain length i have grinders for that, although i do plan on making a hot cut off tool for the hardy hole, but its only a 15mm square hole so limitations shall apply obviously...there is also a 12mm hole that is round, not sure what that is for, i assume maybe for letting a punch or drift pass through?

but so far i am enjoying it and its interesting to see just how much of an effect holding the hammer at a very slight angle can have...i spent more time flattening out marks from the edge of the hammer than anything else earlier...which is also how i know how easy it is to go to far, although im only 1mm under size on the thickness i was aiming for so it will still work just fine.

 

[bourbon]

I Think the stumps are ash. He has had them for about 26 years. That's how long our show has been going. Paul sometimes lets other re-enactors in there, hence the other anvil. The small hole is a pritchel hole and as you say, is to let a punch pass through.

 

[Turbo]

I think oak is the normal goto for a stump.
But ash would be ok too and lighter to move. Just run a risk of it splitting as it dries out.

 

[BrokenBiker]

well...ive just been donated a half shaft from a volvo coach from a wrecker friend, so ive got a fair bit of unknown but good quality material to play with. dont know what it will end up as but there are a few lathe projects i can use some for...may try and forge a cross peen hammer when ive got a bit of a technique down...the end cap is dished pretty nicely so may come in handy as a bit of a forming tool maybe

 

[bourbon]

Tip for the height of the anvil. Clench your fist and put your arm by your side. The face of the anvil should be touching your knuckles. For some, that is too low and of course depends on what you are making. but it's a rough guide. @hotponyshoes is the man to tell you more. BTW, the brown awning in the background is my pewter casting set up.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Tip for the height of the anvil. Clench your fist and put your arm by your side. The face of the anvil should be touching your knuckles. For some, that is too low and of course depends on what you are making. but it's a rough guide. @hotponyshoes is the man to tell you more. BTW, the brown awning in the background is my pewter casting set up.

Thats good to know, I was going to ask about what height the anvil should be when I cone to make the stand for it...it currently quite high compared to what you ha e described, more like the base of the anvil is at knuckle height at the moment. I will knock a stand up monday for it

 

[northwest]

My better half has expressed a real interest in "blacksmithing" so I have already decided with who and where she should maybe do a course. she is very creative so I think she would get a lot from it. There is however that nagging feeling I may be causng myself a bit of grief here!

 

[Turbo]

My better half has expressed a real interest in "blacksmithing" so I have already decided with who and where she should maybe do a course. she is very creative so I think she would get a lot from it. There is however that nagging feeling I may be causng myself a bit of grief here!

She could be making a rod for your own back!

 

[BrokenBiker]

My better half has expressed a real interest in "blacksmithing" so I have already decided with who and where she should maybe do a course. she is very creative so I think she would get a lot from it. There is however that nagging feeling I may be causng myself a bit of grief here!

soooooooo...now she can do all those little projects she has been asking you to do for years?

 

[BrokenBiker]

well...my 2.5lb ball pein hammer arrived today, and ive put a 40cm handle on the other hammer (which matches the balle pein, what a guess), feels a lot better now, more control and less effort needed, plus my hand a lot further from the heat if i need it to be.

i have also been given 7lb 'JCB' branded sledge hammer so i think im going to try and turn that into somehting and stick it on a similar handle to the others...

and, best of all, i think i have friday off to make my anvil stand...the forge fits conveniently on my old welding table, i just need to cut the legs down a bit but its got a steel top rather than the wooden bench i was using...

still havent finished the tongs, so thats first on the list once the anvil stand is made...and ive ordered some more steel to make some bolt tongs, and have some 1095 on its way to have a go at making a knife

 

[bourbon]

you don't do things by half do you? At least it will keep your back mobile

 

[BrokenBiker]

you don't do things by half do you? At least it will keep your back mobile

yeah, ive probably something that needs diagnosing, but ive always been the same...in for a penny, in for a pound its why im always skint

oh, ive also got a 200mm drop forged adjustables that i want to try and turn into a knife for a friend as a sort of joke gift...he has an adjustbales on a belt clip at all times in work...he also wild camps so he can use the same belt clip for the knife