Thread: Forge

Thanks Bob, that makes sense now. Though my dictionaries do define annealing as hardening.

I think the no-no I was thinking of regarding chisel sharpening was heating the edges to red hot..no doubt this would soften them. I dont think I would deliberately want to make them harder, and more brittle, by quenching them though. Best practice might be to sharpen carefully so they dont get too hot. What do you reckon?

I was taught to quench them often while grinding thus keeping them cool.

Yeah, spot on...now it's all coming back to me! Thanks Bob.

Originally Posted by JB

For potential forge builders who may have come across this thread after doing a search for Forge:

I had one very small forging task requiring flattening the ends, and a 2" section in the middle, of a two metre long 20mm steel rod.

any pics - of the forge - my sons interested in blacksmithing, might be a cheap way for him to give it a go.

Sorry no pics, but the forge was as I've described it: just a briquette fire, in a bbq or on the ground, with me pointing a blower (vacuum cleaner on blow) at it from about 2' away.

Briquettes ae not recommended by experts, and for safety have a couple of full buckets of water on hand.

I am new to this forum but found this thread very interesting and had to reply. I am in the process of making a small forge for myself as I wish to do some Blacksmithing. The forge I am making should be completed spending under $50. I picked up a truck brake drum for free, (370mm Dia x 150mm H) put a plate in it with slots for air to flow. Bolt the drum to 100mm dia x 400 long tube that has flange at the end. This needs to have a cap at the end to catch the ash and seal the air flow. You can attach a small car heater blower to the side of the 100mm tube, but I am going to try and use my compressor on low pressure with a small ball valve to control the air flow. Put this on a stand and away you go. Just having some problems getting my hands on a anvil or a anvil shaped object, but I am patient...

Originally Posted by Metaphor

Just having some problems getting my hands on a anvil or a anvil shaped object, but I am patient...

Just spotted an anvil on ebay (6179239219). Item is in Hobart so postage may be a bit hexy

By coincidence I also saw a couple of anvils in a second hand joint today. They wanted over $400 for them. Got be dreaming I thought.

John

Metaphore
You might be better with the car heater than a compressor. It is the volume of air (oxygen) that kicks it along.

Depending on what you are doing any large (heavy) chunk of metal will substitute for an anvil. I've seen railway iron locked down to a big stump and it was satisfactory. It even had a horn shaped into it. The tip is to lock it down because you do not want to be juggling with anything when you have a red hot poker in your tongs.

Traditional anvils will be expensive and in high demand but keep your eyes out for a new Asian/Indain anvil as they are reasonably priced. A bit broader and flatter in the horn but still quite usable.

Originally Posted by rodm

Metaphore
You might be better with the car heater than a compressor. It is the volume of air (oxygen) that kicks it along.

Thanks rodm, I will keep this in mind if the compressor doesn't work. Just trying to use what I have without going into undue expence. With the anvil I again just want something small and cheap as initially I want to make some carving tools.

I appreciate your approach and venturing into a new area it is not wise to invest large amounts.
Do a search on ebay for anvil and you might be pleasantly surprised.
Try this for a small anvil and the freight shouldn't scare you too much either.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....381959972&rd=1

I've seen a compressor used in a forge for air flow, which seemed to work OK, I would imagine the regulator would be set to get the air pressure as low as possible, or would you just choke off air supply a bit and let the reduced flow do the job?. Railway iron certainly works as an anvil, a bit crude but probably fine to learn on.

JohnC

The idea of tempering is to reduce the brittleness of the steel while retaining some of the hardness. A good way to explain this is a diamond, a diamond is very hard but if you hit it with a hammer it would shatter due to fact that it is extremely brittle.
The definition of tough is being able to absorbe the shock from a force/blow.
This only happens if the steel in mention is carbon steel, ordinary mild steel wont harden after quenching.

JB do a search fot 'the village smithy' this bloke is located at Logan/Logan village on the south side. He has a website. He also sells associated item including coke and second hand forges. Also teaches during weekend courses. www.villagesmith.com.au Allan and Hellen Ball i think their names are.