Digital Demo Outline

Objective: Discuss ways for the beginning blacksmith to start forging metal. Talk about strategies for tooling up: Where and how to find an anvil and anvil alternatives, hammers, tongs and forges. Discuss other shop tools that are the most necessary to get started. Do a short demo on the basics for moving the metal.

Blacksmithing has a long tradition with many ways to reach the same goal. The information I’m sharing here is based on my own journey into blacksmithing and watching many beginners get started and seeing their challenges and frustrations.

How do you want to approach blacksmithing? Do you want to gain experience by making your own tools or would you rather get to forging metal? Something in between? It’s good to think about this and form a game plan. It’s super easy to get bogged down in the process of making tools when all you really want to do is move hot metal. On the other hand, tons of great experience can be gained by making one’s own tools.

-Outline of the basic starter kit.-

•First hammer, selecting for size and shape. Handle modifications, Head modifications.

•Anvil alternatives. Finding a “real” anvil, new vs. used, a big block of steel, section of railroad track and mounting on a stand. Using a ball bearing to show rebound test and a hammer for ring test.

•What size tongs to buy and where. 3/8” square, ½” square, ¾” square. Why square and not round.

•Forge: Propane or coal? Build or buy? With this class we will focus on propane because it is the easiest to get started with. Sources for a forge bodies (outer shell) how to line it, how to make a burner, safety. Sources for built forges. Carbon Monoxide meters.

-Topics to cover during forging demo-

•Holding the hammer, hammering style and tennis elbow. •Anvil height and mounting solidly. •Standing at the anvil working, using the anvil for layout. •Drawing a taper. •Upsetting. •Half face blow. •Directional spreading. •Punching and drifting a hole.

-Basic Shop tool list- Anvil Tongs Hammer Forge Hand Drill Hand files (Farriers) 4.5” Right angle Grinder used for finishing or cutting material Hack Saw

-More advanced shop tools to add to the list- Portable Band Saw Drill Press Mig Welder Oxy/Propane torch set

-Resources- Plug and play Forges: https://www.majesticforge.com https://chileforge.com https://www.nctoolco.com

Build your own forge resources: http://www.zoellerforge.com/index.html https://www.ronreil.abana.org http://www.ebay.com http://www.mcmaster.com https://hightempinc.net

Tongs: https://quickanddirtytools.com

Hammers: https://www.etsy.com/ (search “blacksmith hammer”) https://www.ebay.com/ (search “blacksmith hammer”) https://www.hammersource.com

Used Anvils: If the asking price for a used anvil approaches $5.00 a pound, consider a new one. Most used anvils should be in the $2 to $4 per pound range for a good quality usable one. http://www.craigslist.org http://www.ebay.com facebook marketplace

New Anvil manufacturers: Lifted from IforgeIron.com

• Accaciao - China, cast 1045 steel, hardness unknown • Atlas Anvil - USA, cast 1050 steel, 60 RC • [William] Barnhart - USA, cast 50MN steel, 57 RC • Big Blu - USA, cast steel, 54 RC, alloy unknown • Branco - Czech Republic, cast steel, 44 RC (minimum), alloy unknown • Cliff Carrol - USA, cast steel(?), alloy and hardness unknown • Emerson - USA, cast 4140 steel, 48-50 RC • Fontanini Anvil - USA, cast 8640 steel, 50-56 RC • Forged in Canada - Canada, cast 4140 steel, 58 58 • Frontstep Forge - Canada, cast steel, 53-54 RC, alloy unknown • [Jymm] Hoffman Anvils - USA, cast H13 steel, 52-54 RC • Holland Anvil - USA, cast H13 steel, 52-55 RC (NB: also makes swage blocks) • JHM - USA, cast ductile iron, hardness unknown • Kanca - Turkey, forged steel, 54-62 RC, alloy unknown • Mathewson Metals - USA, steel, alloy and hardness unknown (listed as "Fully hardened and heat treated tool steel face") • NC Tool - USA, cast ductile iron, hardness unknown • Nimba - USA, cast 8640 steel, 50-52 RC • Peddinghaus Ridgid - Germany, forged steel, 58 RC, alloy unknown • Perun - Poland, cast steel (proprietary alloy), 54-58 RC • [Ernst] Refflinghaus - Germany , cast steel (proprietary alloy), 59 RC (minimum) • Rhino - USA, cast steel (proprietary alloy), 54 RC • Scott Anvils - USA, cast ductile iron, hardness unknown • [Alec] Steele - USA, cast CM40 steel, 52 RC • Swan Anvil - England, cast steel, hardness unknown, alloy unknown • TFS - USA, cast ductile iron, hardness unknown • Vaughans (formerly Brooks) - England, cast steel (proprietary alloy), 60-64 RC

General Blacksmithing equipment dealers: https://www.blacksmithsdepot.com https://www.centaurforge.com

A few of my favorite books on Blacksmithing and related: •The Complete Modern Blacksmith by Alexander Weygers •The Backyard Blacksmith by Lorelei Sims •Skills of the Blacksmith Volumes 1, 2 and 3 by Mark Aspery •Gas Burners, Forges and Kilns by Michael Porter These and more can be ordered and purchased through your local book sellers or online at: https://www.bluemoonpress.org/

Forge burner parts Lists:

One ¾” burner is recomended for up to 300 cu. in. forge interior volume •Nozzle/jet

Marshall Excelsior 0-30 PSI pressure regulator and gauge, 10’ of ¼” gas rated hose & Swagelok #QC4 Quick Connect fitting.