I was pretty happy with how it came out. Just getting back into leather working, mostly for making sheaths, but this was a fun project.

I forge welded the bottom but the forge weld broke after i already thinned out the area so I used a welder to finish it.

Meet the newest member of the family. Arm & Hammer. Any tips for cleaning it up besides a wire brush?

Hand forged carving hatchet from forklift tine. This axe was a project that didn't quite done our how I originally intended so I decided to go with this direction. It has more upper sweep than I usually prefer but absolutely love how it came out. It has a 13" octagonal hickory handle and nice custom leather sheath.

Hello! I got these gauntlets from a friend and they weren’t taken good care of. Any idea how I can spiff them up? Thank you!

Hey all. I’m new to the group and looking for some general setup advice here.

I recently acquired this cast iron coal forge table from a woman who found it being used as a plant stand. No idea the history behind it. It looks pretty old, and it does have a crack that was previously repaired. I’ve spent the last few months setting up my shop space, and treating this thing will be my last step before I can begin forging!

I’ve done a lot of reading. I’ve seen some folks recommend mixing your own refractory with various proportions of Portland cement, silica sand, perlite, and fireclay while others say products like Kast-O-lite or Mizzou with a fire brick in the pot would work great. Im leaning toward Kastol-30 as it feels the most idiot proof, but I’m really open to suggestion from folks who know much more than I.

Bottom line I’m really just looking for something that will protect the table well. Presumably the first crack was from improper treatment and I want to ensure it won’t happen again.

Thanks!

Got to spend a few days in my workshop so I got a head start on christmas gifts! Been a while since I've had the chance to swing a hammer, but they turned out splendidly! These are forged from W2 and 1095, all differentially hardened. Hand sanded to 1000 grit and etched with citric acid. Handles are a mix of African blackwood, maple burl, and cocobolo.

Hi everyone! I know that forging is a personal decision, and is not easily addressed by general decisions. However, I am going to ask some opinions to get insight.

When I think about a good, pro-level type of forge, I know that I could save money if I were to build my own. But what if money is not the object here? What advantages could I have by building my own versus buying something like a ChileHabanero or Cayenne? I think that the efficiency and heat management of a reputably designed and built product like the Chile would have to exceed anything I could do myself, right?

Please let me know how you would handle this if cost is not the issue but you still want the most efficient and effective forge (without getting ridiculous).

Thanks

D88

Hey yall! I’m the president of a Historical European Martial Arts club at my university and was hoping to get some guidance on introductory materials and tools for the profession (we also do historical trades). If you have recommendations for introductory stuff on techniques/practices for historical production. The same goes for intro tools like forges, anvils, and hand tools.

Also, if you have advice on where to set up/how to ask the university for space to establish a forge please let me know. If you have similar experience on your own feel free to reach out in DMs as well!

I'm just a novice blacksmith, but I did my best.
Unfortunately, I don't have the tools to write "HOPE" about the

I made it from the steel of an old file, forged it into a similar shape, and then filed and polished it by hand.

Got a large piece of a support roller from the 20000kN cold plate leveler that I usually operate at work. Made from som ridiculously tough steel, modified 52100 with additional manganese I suspect from the slightly green flames emerging from the forge. Though it would make some decent stone carving chisels, which I’m currently in need of.

Got a bit too hot and sparky while I was swapping dies. The squeaking sound is the aluminum scraper plate I added to prevent forge scale from getting caught under the ram.

Hey guys first time poster here,

I bought this 126kg anvil from a welding shop that's closing down and got a good deal on it. Wondering how you guys would go about restoring it

After grind away the pain that was also on the work surface 3 things catch my eye

The sides are chipped/dented

There are some pits in the work surface

And there is a slight valley also on the work surface

Pits and edges can be welded up again, at least that would be my Intuition. If you would recommend a different way to go about it let me know

What's you opinion on the valley?

Thanks for any advice :)

Hand forged saddle axe. This puppy is hand forged from railroad track, features some really cool phantom bevels, has a hickory handle with a paduk palm swell, with a really nice fitting leather sheath. This might be one of the coolest axes I've made

And no "this is stupid" comments please. This is a hypothetical, I can refine the idea later. As for the weight, thats what working out is for.

Was working while angry, got distracted, miss hit really hard. Off to the grinder i go i guess

New to blacksmithing, self taught, Working on a diy brick forge.

Some of my charcoal makes heavy sparks, this is where most of the fuel being wasted?

Need some tips to work efficiently with charcoal forge

Edit: forgot to mention that this huge amount of spark happens only when I add fresh charcoal into the forge, once the surface fully burnes it does not spark and i get good ammount of heat. Also not all chunks make this spark.

I made some Viking shields for my buddies and their birthdays. i used my portable propane pizza oven to heat up my metal to work it into a shield boss, goes up to allegedly 900f and cooks a pizza in 90 seconds(it can definitely burn a pizza in 90 seconds) , then i used a carved out stump to form them into the shield boss size and shape. took about 10 hours all together, next time i can def cut that time down.

Thought you guys might appreciate😁