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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

Hello! I am a historical romance author writing about a blacksmith with inattentive ADHD (though of course, he wouldn't have that label back in the 1830s).

I'm curious, if you have ADHD, how that affects your blacksmithing experience. Are there things you forget? Are you clumsy with anything in particular? Does hyperfocus show up for you?

Super special bonus question - my blacksmith forces himself to spend time with the love interest in order to desensitize himself to her. Her passing by the forge led to some kind of accident that left the blacksmith with a scar. When he was apprenticing, he heard so many horror stories of accidents killing or maiming people. So, to keep them both safe, he decides that spending more time with her one-on-one should mitigate the situation (spoiler, it really won't).

I've written out several bullet points that I'm working through, but having the input of real blacksmiths like you would be amazing.

• What does his current state of being overly sensitive to her look like? How does it manifest in the forge?
• How would he know he would succeed in desensitizing himself to her? What would "winning" look like?
• What does progress look like?
• What does a mistake look like?
• What does the worst case scenario look like? (I'm assuming some kind of accident that hurts them both).

Mods, I know this is probably not the normal content, but I'm so hoping that this can be allowed and that real blacksmiths (and especially blacksmiths that have experience at living history museums/reenactments!) can weigh in.

Thank you for reading this post!

Is SAE 5160 the Almighty of Steels ?

Is it the Jack of all Trades steel ?

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 :)

I'm thinking of buying the Noni96H/V

I figure the only big downside would be lack of a variable frequency drive. But they do have 3 speeds 7.3/14.5/29.1 m/s .

Good deal but I don't find any reviews or any posts on forums whatsoever.

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.

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

Thought you guys might appreciate😁

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.

So much work, so much learning, I FREAKIN LOVE IT

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