Forge welding/blacksmithing?

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So, anyone here dabbled into blacksmithing?  I haven't, but I am really wanting to.  Been watching youtube videos of guys forging ornamental stuff, and vids of guys making forges out of brake drums and such.  It sure seems tempting.  So, anyone here get into it?  Where do you get your stuff, (charcoal, coke, chisels, anvil etc.  Which is better, a propane fueled forge or a coal/charcoal fueled forge?
Reply:Quite a few guys here do this.My coal forge build thread. I also built a propane one ( 2nd thread) but it still needs some more work.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=146321http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=64084Recent thread Brian did on doing a forge demo for the kids.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=193481Bhardy has two recently, his build thread and the one where he just fired it up.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=195701http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=208711Steve ( 7A749) and Weldbead have one and I know several others do as well.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=169881http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=89181One of my local colleges had a blacksmithing class over the summer that I took.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=141121Iforgeiron is a god site for blacksmithing questions, so is Anvilfire  and the ABANA site.http://www.iforgeiron.com/http://www.anvilfire.com/http://www.abana.org/resources/education/schools.shtmlLast edited by DSW; 12-23-2012 at 07:19 PM..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWQuite a few guys here do this.My coal forge build thread. I also built a propane one ( 2nd thread) but it still needs some more work.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=146321http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=64084Recent thread Brian did on doing a forge demo for the kids.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=193481Bhardy has two recently, his build thread and the one where he just fired it up.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=195701http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=208711Steve ( 7A749) and Weldbead have one and I know several others do as well.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=169881http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=89181One of my local colleges had a blacksmithing class over the summer that I took.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=141121Iforgeiron is a god site for blacksmithing questions, so is Anvilfire  and the ABANA site.http://www.iforgeiron.com/http://www.anvilfire.com/http://www.abana.org/resources/education/schools.shtml
Reply:Any other questions about how to do things or how to build the forge, just ask. Lots of guys are more than willing to help.Actual forge welding takes a bit of practice and skill. You need to get the metal to just about the point where it starts to burn, but doesn't quite burn. If you burn it, you get to start over. If you can find real wrought iron, it's supposed to be the best for forge welding. Ever since my class I've been on the lookout for someone whose tossing an old antique iron rails or fence that I can nab for working material. Steel is cheap and plentiful, but true wrought iron is hard to find since it really hasn't been made for years commercially. Once I get the basics down with steel, I'd like to play with some old iron.Simply heating, bending and shaping are easy. Steel is great for this. There's tons of Youtube vids you can look at. I must have at least 8-10 different guys I've subscribed to that have some really good how to videos there. If you need links, let me know and I'll pull them up and post them for you.Here's a copy of a recent PM reply I did for another member asking questions about my forge you might find useful.Smartflix has a number of blacksmithing videos you can rent.http://smartflix.com/store/category/34/BlacksmithingMy instructor suggested several books..Edge of the Anvil: is one he uses in class frequently.Mark Aspery's Mastering the Fundamentals of Blacksmithing is supposed to be very good, but quite pricy.I picked up a book Bent Iron Work from Lindsay that has some intersting stuff in it. It's an old reprint for about $10 that shows a lot of grill work and scroll work on lamps and such. Someone posted up Lindsay is clearing out what's left in their inventory and won't be doing this any longer once they are gone.Mark also has done quite a few Youtube videos that are very informative.My forge is almost an exact copy of either Centaur Forges coal forge or Pieh's coal forge. I'm pretty sure that's the ones the school had that I took measurements off of. Forges look almost the same from what I could tell online.http://www.centaurforge.com/Centaur-...oductinfo/C36/http://www.piehtoolco.com/contents/en-us/d1189.htmlI've got a line on an old hand cranked coal forge, but I haven't had a chance to go see the 4-H person who thinks they have it. If you go electric, be sure to add some sort of damper to adjust air flow. The forge the school had were similar to the air gates Centaur sells. Shouldn't be too hard to fab one up from some thin plate, but I don't have enough flow from my small blower to make it necessary yet.http://www.centaurforge.com/Airgates/products/165/
Reply:I have welded quite a few handmade barshoes in a gas forge. It can be tricky at first. Timing is important.MM252 30AMaxstar 150STrailblazer 301gDialarc 2509100XX Hypertherm PM 30                      Milwaukee4 BaldorsKohlswa shop anvilScott truck anvilStonewell farrier rig
Reply:Gas is a lot easier than coal for forge welding..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I agreeMM252 30AMaxstar 150STrailblazer 301gDialarc 2509100XX Hypertherm PM 30                      Milwaukee4 BaldorsKohlswa shop anvilScott truck anvilStonewell farrier rig
Reply:WOW,I can't believe someone here is not yelling to use the search feature. lolI find forge work fascinating. I would like to play around with it. I like coal, primitive but hard to find around here.Tim Beeker.