I’ve made this at work today, it’s pretty basic and the bottle jack can be swapped from 20t to 50t. Though it doesn’t have much use for blacksmithing it would be nice to make hydraulic hammer at some point as they are insanely expensive to buy, has anyone had much success in this endeavour? (Ps it will be painted at some point)

Hi, I’m from the UK and recently have started to get into blacksmithing. I have done one of those experience days and loved it, I’ve booked a follow up one in May. I want to see if this a career that I can pursue. I’m 24 and I’m in my last year of my degree with the open university (history and politics). I think the best way would be for me to get an apprenticeship but I’m not too sure how to go about it. Do I just email forges near me? Any advice would be appreciated.

Hello 😊 a question,, is it possible/smart to use an old oildrum to make a small forge?

Recently had a blast throwing some cheap throwing stars with a friend, but they were cheat and crappy… I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me find out how much it would cost to make ~12 heavy duty throwing stars for me from scratch.

Hi everyone ! I have a question related to a rpg I was invited to join. I want to unsuspectingly import objects in another country, that could be reforged into weapons, mainly spearheads.

I am no smith, although I did get a bit of experience forging a knife, a complex arrowhead and meat spikes (always as part of a group with some experienced people leading operations). Anyway this lead me to realize I knew very little, so I thought I'd ask. I hope you don't get spammed by these types of theoretical questions too often.

I know you need different kinds of steel for different kinds of purpose, not all steel may hold an edge or endure impacts the same.

So are there unsuspicious everydaylife objects you would find in the renaissance and medieval era that could effectively be reforged into spear or pike heads ? (Without having to go through the lengthy process of pattern wielding) "Oh no mister guardsman I just heard (Unsuspicious objects) were in high demand, this is why I bring many crates full of them. Totally unrelated to any rebellion that might spark in a couple weeks !"

Anyway thanks for your time if you read all this <3

Edit : Thank you all for your wonderful ideas ! You guys are an amazing comunity (And would make great rebel organizers in medieval times)

So mine starting whistling nonstop no matter what I did, ended up bending it and drilling a hole and now it won’t get hot enough.

So what is it even called? The brass nozzle, I’m trying to find them on Amazon but I don’t think any are for a little furnace and I wouldn’t even know what specs I’m looking for as far as the propane hole

One in the back was my first attempt, one in front is the second. Teacher told me now to brush brass on top of it when it was still warm but not glowing and I love how it turned out

Update in the comments--thank you everyone!

My 10-year-old son has expressed a strong and serious interest in learning smithing. He’s a serious, cautious, and very mature kid, and this is so fitting to his personality that it made me chuckle when he first brought it up. Because of course he does :)

I’m in a large urban area and there are actually a few blacksmiths around us that offer classes, but they seem to be one or two day workshops specifically to build something start to finish, while I know he’s thinking of something more long-term and incremental. I also understand he may be too young (most of the workshops are 14+). That said, my main question is whether teaching older kids/younger teens blacksmithing from the ground up Is even a thing? If so, what would I look for/how would I go about helping him find such a thing? Or is this more a trade that is developed independently and/or in adulthood?

I got a new anvil yesterday and plan on going to the junkyard today to grab some metal. Any advice on what to look for and what to avoid? Still really new to the hobby and trying to learn what I can. I know I can only find so much at a junkyard but I’m working on a budget and thought this would be the best way especially just starting out.

The idea of crafting things from raw metal has always been something that’s I’ve been interested in, but never had the time or money to invest in it. Now, I think I’ve been given an opportunity to pursue the craft. What should I know beforehand? Should I go to a blacksmithing class before getting my own equipment? Or is this something that you can get some (relatively) cheap equipment and YouTube guides to get you started? How much would it cost to get started?

Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

Does anybody have any tips and or spare parts/pieces. just got into the hobby through a buddy a mine after he retired I'm a reenactor by night and student by day.

I'm looking to get a polearm made by a local blacksmith, but I'm having trouble finding an appropriate haft for them to mount it to. Does anyone have any recommendations on where to look? I'm currently set on ashwood.

apologies if this strays off topic, just reaching out to those who may know.

I'm considering getting into selling basic stock. Round/square 6-20mm in 1000mm lengths through my webshop in Denmark. But how's it looking in the rest of EU? If there's demand I'll get it set up to cover more of the EU.

The reason being, that here in Denmark we have very limited options for private persons to purchase mild steel - It's essentially down for a couple of online shops that do a x5-x10 mark-up from the steel supplier for cutting it into 1 meter lengths. Being the blacksmith that I am, it rubs me the wrong way that people are being ripped off that hard simply because the steel suppliers only suppliies registered businesses. You can't buy this stuff in hardware stores at all here. If other EU countries have similar setups, I think it's prudent to supply to those places as well.

I've done a calculation that says I can cut off 1-3 euro off of the local competition's price per 1000mm length and still make a profit.

How are the options for purchasing mild steel as a private consumer in your country? Would you order mild steel online if I offered it?
As an example, the base price for 8mm round/square stock would be 4 Euro + shipping with a bundle discount. 20mm round/square stock would be 9,5 Euro per length. Those prices essentially undercuts every online shop that sells to private individuals here.

If there is anyone in the sub who is from the UK I am in need your help. I live in a town called Bourne in the south end of Lincolnshire and I'm currently trying to find some blacksmithing courses to do, I have already done a couple of blacksmithing courses at a smithy in Spalding called the chain bridge forge, but as of now they are currently only offering beginner courses so I cant really go back to them. So if anyone knows of any places that are doing blacksmithing courses that would be extremely helpful.

I'm brand new to this hobby, in my retirement. I have a nice, old, 1925 house which when built had two boilers. The larger one was removed and so my main chimney has an unused flue that comes to the basement.

I wonder if I can have an indoor forge using this flue that would be safe. I'm open to natural gas, propane, or even coal. I'm just exploring options at this time.

Thanks,

jv