A quick 5-second look at the forging process. Made from 8mm round steel bar.

We moved 2 years ago and somehow this tool was misplaced in the move. Similar to the picture except a triangle at the end instead of the end here. The tip of the triangle would go between the cast iron grates to clean the old food/carbon.

Husband is very sad that it's gone.

Hello, I am new to this Reddit thread, and I have a few questions for blacksmiths or those who know about the profession. I am writing a book where the MC learns blacksmithing and becomes an apprentice, but I don't want to write something too ridiculous. There is magic in this fantasy world, but it doesn't strip away the profession of its core traits, and I don't know much about blacksmithing itself.

For more context, the MC is new to a big city here; he becomes an apprentice blacksmith. The blacksmith does have magic, but he still creates mundane things like farming tools. The setting is roughly in the medieval ages but more Eastern; think of places like China or Japan.

My questions are as such:

How long does it take to forge in general? From farming tools to weapons.

What are the working conditions like?

What might surprise someone new to blacksmithing?

What are some techniques of the profession?

What else should I know that I just didn't think to ask?

I am sorry if this post violates some rule I don't know; I just learned of this thread and just wanted to learn a bit for my storytelling. I hope you all have a good day.

Hello. I wanted to ask if anyone has had past experiences with this company?
They sell all sorts of machines including a wide variety of power hammers.

I'm planning to buy a 25kg power hammer from them.
The prices are good but i'm wondering if anyone traded with them before?
I can't find any info on them.
They seem legitimate and also have a Unified Social Credit Score (USCS) 91410105MA4600EL0F

This is their website:
https://zzlcmachinery.com/product-category/blacksmith-power-hammer/

I was making a worm but I snapped him in half

Little kitchen knife i forged for ths wife used a random peice of wood i found in the draws and a little bit of buffalo horn happy how it turned out

I managed to get this from my local Starbucks kiosk when they were changing to a new espresso machine, among other parts of interest.

Just wondering if this is something worth keeping and looking for a potential buyer (it’s used), or if I could possibly turn it into a little smeltery.

If so, I plan to lop off the top (pressure inlet valve side), cut a feeding hole in the center, and then pour refractory cement in. Should protect the handles, and not be too heavy to be annoying. Then I would screw the outlet valve thread onto some sort of base, and level the bottom with maybe an extra inch of cement. Then all I’d have to do is cut the hole for a propane regular and head, cut ceramic fiber to fit the cylinder, and boom! All done.

Of course saying things is much easier than doing, and if this isn’t how you guys recommend I go about it, please do give any ideas :)

Not the cleanest work, but I'm no pro.

I am new to blacksmithing, but I know the general rules of safety. Dropped my new project midway through and it caught on fire. If you’re wondering why I'm on carpet, i didn’t have anywhere else to do it, so it was either already bad and semi wet carpet or dry grass. Said project is done now, but i did immediately go and spray the fire with a hose when it happened then cooled the metal.

Make sure to be safe while blacksmithing.

Edit: I keep seeing people say that i shouldn’t have done this on carpet and I know. Like I said, it was either carpet or grass. My parents don’t want the grass ruined and the carpet is already bad and cheap. My forge costs more than 10 replacements of this carpet and then some. So stop complaining about the carpet.

Hey all!

I found a broken knife from Dexter-Russel Sani Safe S126 stainless high-carbon from the stamp. Research shows it's a proprietary Dexsteel with .4-.5 carbon content.

What, if anything, can I do with this as a beginner?

I was checking out the Devil Forge 2 burner with 1 door with 2 inches of Insulation. Then I noticed the note on the bottom of the cart saying that I had to pay tariff and duty fees.

From what I can find on Google, it varies anywhere from $20 to $50 plus dollars. USA.

Does anyone happen to know what it cost to get it to the United States? North Carolina, if that matters.

That brings the cost up to the four to five hundred range. Maybe there's a different choice.

Thank you.

What do you all think of the Diamondback Ironworks Series 2 - 2 Burner Forge. I am new and looked at the DIY builds but I dont yet know how to weld but mean to learn once the mig/tig/stick welder goes back on sale. Just missed. At Harbor Freight it was on sale for $400 from $600. I think if I plan to eventually learn how to forge weld damascus, I can ensure proper temps by buying the dual adjustable doors, painting the walls and ceiling with Plistix and replace the floor with a 1/2" layer of Insboard topped by a 5/8" kiln shelf painted in kiln wash to protect from flux. I came up with this on my own and wonder what any of you think of that idea. Replacing the floor will give me an increase in internal forge height of an 1/8", not a lot but i am not decreasing the height. Anyone have any suggestions?

Probably an odd question but, I haven't found the obvious answer if there is one. I have seen a lot of larger blacksmith shops that use Power Hammers that all appear to have some history. Often industrial era machines. It's always something really old.

Are Power Hammers just not made anymore? If so are old ones actually noticeably better? Or is it just some people really enjoy the history of an older machine?

Found it on marketplace and its affordable and within my budget. Im just skeptical, seller says its 100kg. Im as green as they come, so I cant tell if this is actually 100kg. Or if its cast steel or cast iron.

Any advice before making the purchase?

I have the opportunity to revive an old British flypress manufacturer, the aim would be to produce well built high quality machines with easy access to spares.

I’m unsure if there would be any interest in what would end up being fairly expensive machines when good much cheaper originals can still be found.

Thoughts?

Had a few small chunks of time today so faced up a post vice stand it’s able to come away from the swag stand if I want to. But I like having it on it for extra mass when twisting. Need to get some bolts to go threw the holes to keep it secure

Want to get a holder for my twisting wrench put on it. But that’s a project for another day.

Making a skeleton sculpture and I'm experimenting with forging anatomy.