Hi all! Im making a tool for knife straightening after quenching and I see a lot of videos of people inserting a tungsten carbide ball tip on a hammer, is it possible not using a hammer and just put the tip on a metal rod? Wouldn't working with it be more precise and easier? I would love for all you thoughts and comments as I'm clueless with this topic :)

I made this courting candle holder today. It was a real “experience” without having a jig. It certainly is fun to try something new and I’m certainly thankful for the forgiving nature of the craft. Mistakes were made.

I had my forge running for a good 15-20 minutes just practicing my hammer skills. Then I noticed my firebricks literally melting on the inside. I'm assuming it's just poor quality bricks but holy hecks, man! Something I absolutely never expected to happen!

Any advice or concerns beyond, "Buy better bricks next time, newbie?"

Little bit of hammer making process.

I’m looking to get into smithing and maybe making some knives, what is everything I would need, and what would the prices be? Also if you have some specific recommendations they would be much appreciated. Thanks!!

Can someone please for the love of god do a Christmas list for me (like kind of in detail) for me to get my husband a good hammer, some good medal and handle stuff to play around with and anything else like Accessories (punch hole stuff and bevels) around $1000 or less? I can pay someone to help me out here $50 for a legit good list I can just go off of. He works so much and never wants anything for himself. I bought him the forge (with his money) and he is really good at it. I just need to get him a variety of stuff. Thank yall in advance

Hello all, back at it again with yet another question! The past two times I’ve lined this forge, I’ve used Mr Volcano hero’s lining. And both times, their lining sags at the top and ends up falling off in big chunks. I went ahead and bought Kaowool that’s rated to 2700F, as well as rigidizer since I was out. I still have a full bag of refractory cement. Just wondering if you have any tips on gluing the lining to this shell. My research so far has given me answers regarding round forges, as well as square ones, but I want to find a solution to lining something in this shape. Sick of having to replace the lining all the time! Been pretty much every year that I’ve had to replace it. I did read on I Forge Iron that some use a special type of glue to stick the lining to the steel, but I haven’t been able to find what type of glue they’re talking about. Is it the JB Weld Extreme Heat? Or something else? My goal is to get this to stick and stay stuck to the shell, so that I can maximize my forging area inside. Thanks all for any links/tips!

Does anyone recognize this anvil or its markings? I have had it for decades.

https://preview.redd.it/zotyaw16905e1.jpg?width=2484&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da6c2adec9441e67f673f666f66d1c3264c19d52

https://preview.redd.it/3vzcj3g7905e1.jpg?width=2776&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3af8817092cd103df12f4a977dab359ff99d092c

Alright, after tons of searching online, I've discovered that, if you want something done well, you do it yourself. So, this is where I am. I am a complete novice and have never once worked with blacksmithing. And I want to make the relatively simple shape (I think so at least) of a executioner's sword of those seen in mainland Europe during the 17th century. I'm only asking either a list and steps on how to make this thing, (what I need to get, look out for, etc) or a video or something that explains this.
You can assume I have:

1. a workshop full of machines used for -- you guessed it-- machining.
2. several other people-- more skilled in woodworking, and metalworking and machining than I am. More than happy to help me. 3). until the next summer ends to finish this project.

I'm asking for what I can do to get the coolest executioner's sword possible and what I need to get before hand.
*P.S: Sorry if this is dumb, I'm just not willing to spend over $400 on a sub-par piece of metal that rusts. Link to what I'm reffering to incase image doesn't show: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.1620*

If toxicity is unavoidable, I take it anyway.

Hello all, I recently found a well-priced Champion Rivet Forge with a hand crank blower. If all goes as planned, I’ll be picking it up this weekend. Did some research on getting coal for it, and unfortunately what I’ve found so far is pretty pricey with shipping costs. I do plan on asking the Southwest Ohio Forge and Anvil association where they get their coal, and I will be joining them as a member soon. In the meantime, however, I’ve been looking at alternatives so that I can pick up solid fuel somewhere and skip the shipping costs. Tractor Supply has anthracite coal for cheap, but from what I understand, it’s difficult to maintain since it needs constant air. Which, with a hand crank, I won’t be able to achieve. Preferably, I want to stay away from putting an electric blower on there, as I’d like to eventually do some on-the-road demonstrations at craft fairs and such. I’ve done some research as well on charcoal, though it seems that it burns up pretty fast and you have to make a deeper bed for it. The posts I found on Reddit and iforgeiron are a couple years old, so I’m curious if any breakthroughs have been made since then that would make lump charcoal a viable option in terms of lowering the rate of consumption. I know it certainly gets hot enough, and the cleaner burn seems attractive. Also curious if that would even be an ideal option with a rivet forge, since the fire has to be deeper than coal. I’ve been using a propane forge for the past two years, so I’m hoping to branch out with this so that I can work on larger pieces. Any advice or links are appreciated!

Does anyone out there have the full set of Blacksmith's Journals? I have five binders worth, but sadly, I'm missing a lot of issues, and I'd really love to complete my set.

I've been in contact with the people who own them now, and they're no help. They've reorganized them into books, and they won't make the back issues available.

Thus, I need to find someone who actually has the physical copies and is willing to scan & email or copy them and send them. I'm willing to pay for the trouble. I'm just dying to complete the set!