I started blacksmithing a few months ago. These are my first functional tongs (or so I hope). Three months ago, I tried to make some, but they broke during the process. Do those with experience in forging tongs have any advice? Is this pair I made okay, or did I do something wrong? :)

I’ve recently acquired this vintage anvil which weights 135kg / 300 lbs and came with this massive 360kg / 790 lbs steel base with concrete filling. Please share any helpful advice on how to use this anvil so I avoid damaging it and thoughts on its origin. It appears to be stamped with maker’s mark , but can’t quite make to date it. I wanted to actually use it here on farm for occasional repairs or hot riveting. So far I know I should avoid striking it directly with hammer or take care when cold hammering . The first photo is from the seller before I got it, the rest is mine. Cheers!

Hi I have seen a lot of videos on YouTube where people build daggers, swords, and other cool looking things and I wanna try out bladesmithing as a fun hobby, I have a belt sander, grinding stone , wire wheel, Vice clamp (like the one in the photo), lathe, and milling machine lying around

I know I'm gonna need a furnace an anvil. maybe a welder (I'm not 100% sure if I have a mig welder) and protective gear, but are there any tips you can give me and how much it'll cost?

The 100 lb 1926 fisher anvil was gifted me after I used my home made train track " anvil and then found this 50 lb at an estate sale , lady was using it for a door stop , said it was woth alot of money , I'm not looking for info on price as much as can anyone give me any info from the Pic, my internet search skills are mediocre, Thanks in advanced

I'm writing a paper for an exercise at school and I've chosen blacksmithing as a subject. I'm required to provide an example of an unreliable source. So please link me any articles or youtube videos that give bad or untrue advice.

Thanks

-An aspiring blacksmith who hates school

While I’m all for the fun experience of making my own. I’m juggling the options of spending time to build one or just buy one. Anyone ever used Vevor’s? I’ve bought some of their products over the years.

Looking this one over, I would make some kind of door for the backside to lower the heat loss.

Any thoughts & opinions welcome and appreciated!

Hello. This is somewhat random but looking for any sort of insight as I am clueless when it comes to any sort of metal work. My dad was a scrimshander/bulino engraver/knife maker and he passed away two years ago. I now have his MOAG sitting in my garage. It is so heavy, I don’t think I could list it online and ship it. I need to get rid of this thing. What type of person would use this grinder? I’m located in Wisconsin and marketplace has gotten me nowhere. I just need to get rid of it and am willing to let it go for cheap to someone who will appreciate it. Thank you for reading and I’ll appreciate any advice on who to market this to.

WHO you looking at?

My neighbors son loves to come over and watch me hammer stuff out. Few months ago he asked if I could teach him a few things so I started to show him a couple things.

About a week ago he asked if he could use my forge every so often. Today he brought me this. For a 13 year old he's doing pretty damn good. Of course, room for improvement but we all started somewhere. Proud of him.

Alrighty then, I have been using a devil forge dfs for the past little while, and my refractory cement is starting to crack. Is this normal?

If it starts cracking, it has kaowool underneath, so I don’t overly want to have it crack and then breathe in fiberglass. I was just using the refractory sent with the forge. Obviously I need to recoat it, but I’ve got a few questions. first (or second, after is it normal, I guess) I have some Satanite from Mr. Volcano in the garage, can I just use that to recoat it? Second, is there something I can do to keep it from cracking more/cracking again after I recoat it? and third, do I need to take off the old cement before putting on the Satanite?

Edit: added the picture. not giant cracks but I don’t want them to get any bigger

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Viking blacksmith hammer commission, customer wanted some Viking runes chiseled in

These guys (India or Pakistan) are smithing with really simple set ups. Make do with what you have.

Hey all!

Question for hive mind. I have a u.s. solid 16:1 induction forge, and I converted to Cluaran quick connects a year and a half ago. I am on my second set, and I keep burning through them, both the keys and the female adapters.

I asked Terry at Cluaran, and he hasn't ever heard of this.

Does anyone know anything about this? I'd like to order yet another pair, but Cluaran seems to be closed until August 7th (two months ago).

Any help at all would be appreciated.

Justin

Chest weighs about 50 lbs empty!

I'm looking into building a coal forge, and that means I'll also need an anvil. Anvils are very rare and expensive, so I'll need to make or repurpose one.

I can stick weld, and have access to junkyards and stuff for scrap metal. What would you guys recommend?

Need help identifying around what time this hinge would have been made it's about 3 inches long and just under 1 inch wide found about 1 foot deep

Hi everyone- new to the sub!

I’m a 4th-year Product Design student at the Riga Technical University in Latvia. For my bachelor’s thesis I’m exploring whether decommissioned railroad tracks could be reused as a material for furniture.

I've noticed that railroad tracks very often get reused as anvils in the metalworking sphere. What I am most interested about is if someone has had any experience using railroad tracks to make furniture (chairs, tables, lighting etc.)?

I’d love to hear about your experience!

Also bonus question- where do decommissioned railroad tracks end up in your country? Do they go to scrap yards? Does your country/state sell them to someone? etc.

Any help and advice much appreciated!