Subject: Re: rings

From: [email-masked] (Elton O Grubbs)
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 14:15:48 -0700

You wrote: 
>
>At 2:05 PM 7/26/96, Elton O Grubbs wrote:
> Hi Buster
>When did you come on line?
>Glad to have you with us.
>Clay
>
>Hi Clay
Icame on about a week ago and its been fun.
I had a little trouble with the online but I know less about computers 
than I do blacksmithing. Ha Ha!

---

From: Chris Hunter <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 09:33:12 -0700 (PDT)

Hi. I'm just getting started with blacksmithing
	and wanted to get your (collective) opinion on
	what tools are essential to get started. And
	also, where you found your first hammer, tongs
	etc...

	Thanks in advance...

	Chris Hunter
	[email-masked]

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From: "[email-masked] 415.855.5707" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 10:53:50 -0800 (PST)

I think I had the same question not all that long ago...

without sounding too flip (I hope) I think you need something hot, something to
hit with, something to hold with and something to hit on.

I built a gas forge using pipe and bricks along the lines of the "cuneca forge"
and it works well.  It is cheap (under $100 including a huge bottle of propane
and regulator) and easy to build too.  Gas forges are nice because they are
easy to learn on, with coal you have to learn smithing and fire tending at the
same time.

see: http://www.nets.com/bsmithplaza/mrocks.html for forge details

Then get a hammer, almoast anything will do.  A one or two pound cross pein -
available at most hardware stores will do just dandy.  I started with a piece
of I beam for a temporary anvil, railroad track would be even better.  Long
handled vise grips, pliers or real tongs will get you in business.

Don't make the equipment an obsticle - like I sometimes do.

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From: Bob Bigelow <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 19:54:28 -0700

Chris,
  Might check out farm sales if you are in a rural area.  My anvils and
most of my early tools came from such auctions.  Antique stores are an
expensive way to get tools.  Figure a pair of tongs can take a couple 
hours to make, and you'll be much happier with them anyway.  Leave the
dealers the customers who want decoration, most of the things I have 
seen in antique stores were fit only for decoration anyway!  Anvils
at farm sales can usually go for about 1.50 to 2.00 a pound in decent
shape, don't settle for one thats broken, or has a badly damaged face or
horn, they are of little use.  (Unless you can find a good Antique 
dealer.) :-)
  Bob

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From: "Dr. Mark E. Williams" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 07:15:20 -0400

On Jul 30,  9:33am, Chris Hunter wrote:
> Subject: Beginning Equipment...
>
>
As has been said many times, one needs a way to get metal hot, something to hit
it with, something to hit it on, and someway to hold it while hitting.

A coal forge is the easiest way to get metal hot. One can be built for cheap. I
got my first forge at a farm auction.

A hammer either ball peen or cross peen answers the next need. Sears has a good
stock of hammers as do yard sales, flea markets, and auctions.

A large rock will do for a time, maybe a piece of railroad rail, or a new or
used anvil will fill the third need.

As for holding devices, until you can make what you want, use vise grips.

I'd also use safety glasses from the outset. Read "The New Edge of the Anvil"
by Jack Andrews and/or the Cosira book on Blacksmithing for more ideas and
practical help.

Check out ABANA and your local chapter. Call 314-390-2133. That's Missouri.

Mark

-- 
Dr. Mark E. Williams
Bldg N-159, Rm E-215
NASA/GSFC/WFF/EG&G
Wallops Island, VA 23337
804-824-1744
[email-masked]

Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, lest ye deceive yourselves.
New Testament, the Bible

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From: Jim McCarty <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 09:02:13 -0500

If you are anywhere close to Ohio come to the SOFA Quad State's 
round-up. This event has the best tailgate area of any blacksmithing 
function. Basically, if you need it you can find it for sale here, and 
there will be plenty of advice to go around. Think at least one of the 
demonstrators will be talking about getting started and mistakes he 
has made along the way.

For more information contact: Brian Thompson, (513) 878-7084. The 
event is  Sept. 28-29 at Troy, Ohio which is just north of Dayton.

Demonstrators are Bob Patrick, Ken Sharabock, Bob Becker and Phil 
Baldwin (knives).
-- 
Jim McCarty
Father Helias Forge
Taos, MO
Editor Rural Missouri Magazine
Newsletter editor, Blacksmiths Association of Missouri

³Foolish consistencies are the hobgoblins of little minds³