Forges

[deerhunter_98520]

My oldest son has shown some interest in knife making. Says he wants his own fordge and it would be fun to learn this with him....I know there's a few  knifemakers here...did any of you make your own fordge? Any suggestions? Tools? What should I get to start out with for making knives.

[carpsniperg2]

I have a home built one I made and a NC professional. They are both propane. Which is what I suggest coal is nasty and fumes and harder to work with.

You can buy the propane burners on eBay, if doing a diy. I welded my frame and used fire bricks from the hardware store. Some people use fire proof insulation for the builds as well. YouTube is great for dyi info.

Anvils are getting spendy try to find a gem that pops up on Craigslist or yard sale.

Tongs and hammers and hand and belt grinders a must. If doing a cheap belt grinder build buy a 4x36 and get the jiffy belt grinder kit and turn it into a 2x48 much better belt selection. If he gets into it later upgrade to a 2x72 to hog metal. Look at oregon blade makers for a quick easy or diy that to.

Masks gloves magnets files punches etc all tools to get

Welder bandsaw and press good to get to. Oh and power hammer lol but I don’t have one of those yet lol.

[deerhunter_98520]

Sounds like my son is going to need to get a job 

[carpsniperg2]

Lol it’s a expensive hobby. If he just wants to tinker try looking up one brick forge or buy the 50 knife shop book. About 50-100.00 you can get a little setup to tinker with.
Coffee can forges if your handy can be made for not much money.

[deerhunter_98520]

I found some videos about the coffee can forge, I think we'll try that setup first, along with an anvil and see how much he gets into it. I may end up getting into it more than him 

[carpsniperg2]

There is for sure a chance of that A lot of guys like to start trying to forge and move lots of metal. Which is cool and dandy but starting out I would highly recommend bar stock and preforming to start with if you need to just pound the hammer and move metal get some rail road spiked and hammer away always good to burn some arm muscles on

[Wazukie]

I create knives with a pencil - paper - sharpie - Craftsman 2x42 belt grinder - 8 reclaimed fire brick - and a $10 dollar weed burner from Harbor Freight.  Oh ya, the flat stock I buy is probably the most expensive part. 

[AWS]

I used to make trapping supplies, stakes, drags and stuff.  I made a forge out of an old brake drum and a shop vac.  Ended up picking up a "Buffalo" hand crank forge as it was lighter and easier to move. 

[jasnt]

I have a home built forge.  Stay away from fire brick, plaster of Paris and weed burners. Any self respecting forge will reach 2600f and that will quickly eat up your run of the mill fire bricks. Been there done that.  Weed burners put out way too much oxygen and that will eat up your steel through scale very fast and won’t get steel to non magnetic temps for heat treating.

If you want to build a safe forge that works more than it causes frustration read. https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/47439-forges-101/

You could always start him off with a charcoal forge.  Search jabod forge(just a box of dirt forge)
Much cheaper to build and will teach him fire control.
I have an anvil made from rail road track I’d be happy to pass on if you make it to Spokane area

There is a hammer in coming up end of June here in Spokane that would teach you both a lot pm me for details

[jasnt]

You may like this thread
https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,210375.0.html
That rail anvil is posted there some where. It just sits on the shop floor now

[deerhunter_98520]

This hobby is looking to be a fun addictive one  thanks for the offer on the anvil  if I make it over that way I'll shoot you a pm

[jasnt]

👍🏻