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!

Installed my hand forged coat rack. The fastening steps went a little awry. Riveting jacked up the hooks and the base and I heated a screw too much during blackening and snapped it off in the wall. But not terribly displeased considering this is only my 2nd blacksmithing project.

Just really wanna use original material

Hand Forged out of 1080 hex stocking going to be fitted on an axe handle

Just starting out by trying a few low-budget projects to see if Smithing is for me. Cut a knife blank from a lawnmower blade and heated it with oxy-acetlyne torch to shape it.

Should I quech or temper first? Oil, Water, or Air quench?

Thanks

Cannot find much info and curious if there is any research done into modern pattern welded steels made into shotgun barrels.

Hi all blacksmiths, I have a question regarding lightning a propane furness. What is the best tool?/what do you use?

Is anyone looking for an apprentice in el paso Texas? I've always wanted to start blacksmithing but I never knew where to start.

For anyone who may have been following. The forge is off the floor lol

It took me a couple of days of trying, but I'm happy with 'em now. Gotta make three more..

Question for you all, not sure whether this is a form issue with hammering, or if it’s just normal. I keep having crescent shaped divots in my metal after I hit it. I’ve tried hitting softer, using a lighter hammer, and dressed my hammer too. Just trying to figure out a better technique so there’s less grinding on my end. Thanks for any tips!

I've started trying burn tangle handled but every time I do it, it hollows out too much. Does anybody know how to fix this

so as far i as i know differential hardening is just a way of hardening where you put clay on the spin so it doesnt harden making the spin soft and the edge hard but isnt that the same as bluebacking? and ive heard you still need to temper after differential hardening so why do it and what does it do it you need to temper after anyway?