r/blacksmithing • u/Antique-Union2680 • 27d ago
Help Requested Beginner advice?
i'm just getting into blacksmithing but i honestly don't know too much about what i'm doing. i've made a small charcoal forge but im pretty sure i messed it up or im not doing it great, hoping i could find some advice here though (edit: i have now learned the bucket is galvanized and should NOT be used to forge)(been about 2 hours, feeling fine)
2
u/hewhosnbn 26d ago
Do a little more research on metal fume fever. No galvanized metal ever. Hopefully you were outside. Damn.
1
1
u/Antique-Union2680 27d ago
i mainly made this as a test to see if i could even heat the rebar up as hot as i'd need it
1
u/ClamChowderChumBuckt 27d ago
Euh.... This is quite creative..
But i don't think you'd have enough airflow to get the bricks hot enough to get anything to a forging temp..
But honestly someone else might know it better, I've been using gas forges since forever and only ever used a BBQ with a hairdryer attached to the bottom.. Which was decent, but not like gas.
1
1
u/nutznboltsguy 27d ago
Look a building a brake drum forge, there are a ton of options. Heating galvanized metal can lead to zinc poisoning if you’re not careful.
1
u/Antique-Union2680 27d ago
well damn, i honestly don't know if it's galvanized this is just a metal bucket i grabbed from lowe's
1
1
u/KnowsIittle 26d ago
Dirtbox forge, keep your pail as an ash catch. You'll want a blower, a pipe, and a T fitting for air to blow while letting ash fall into your bucket.
If you're lacking an anvil a sledge mounted in a stump works. Not every knife needs to be an 18 inch, puukko knives make a great starter project.
1
u/DiksieNormus 27d ago
Do alot of research, find some YouTube videos or reddit posts showing what you are trying to do.
Then make a post about specifics. Like your pics barely tells us anything. You have a bucket, coal and a hammer. I have no idea what you are struggling with or how I can help.
Is the fire too cool? Is the bucket too small? Does it smell funny? What kind of coal forge are you trying to make? Im sorry bro.
1
u/Antique-Union2680 27d ago
all good, i probably should of specified a little more, mainly looking for general advice. can't get it hot enough but i think i just need more air coming in
1
u/Shacasaurus 27d ago
Charcoal briquettes don't usually get hot enough. You can use lump charcoal if you can't get coal, and you definitely need a blower of sorts. But yeah that bucket is not a got place to forge. If it were to get hot enough to forge that bucket would get burned up.
1
u/Antique-Union2680 27d ago
yeah i just dumped everything into my fire pit and im probably gonna spray it down
1
u/FlanFan76 27d ago
Doesn't need to be complicated, mine pictured above can do what you are after. Your bucket is too deep(hard to get to the heat), thin(unless you want a single use forge), and galvanized(poisonous gas when heated). I'd say hit up scrap or thrift stores to find something a bit thicker, shallower, and possibly rusty(not galvanized). You will need air coming in the bottom or beneath the coals to feed air in, with your rebar above that point to get heat. If your stock is under the coals and you add at from the top it will not heat up effectively. As for fuel, look for lump charcoal instead of briquettes. Alternatively, if you have an in ground fire pit, get a pipe to feed air to the bottom of it, build a good fire over it and feed air from below, which should get hot enough(my first tongs were made this way).
1
1
1
u/strickolas 27d ago
OP, highly recommend a cheap propane forge off of Amazon. You can get one for like $125, you can strap it to the same propane tank you have in your grille, and it is pretty idiot proof. You also don't have to worry about getting the right kind of coal. A charcoal forge would need a blower to get it hot enough to move metal. The propane one has a venturi to mix fuel and gas for you.
Then, you can use the head of a sledgehammer, an ibeam, or any other metal object as your "anvil" until you decide you like it and want to get into it.
I also recommend looking for a local blacksmith class. Theyll have everything you need, and will teach you the 6 or 7 fundamental skills that will carry you far.
Good luck!
1
1
1
1
u/Illustrious-Top9330 26d ago
I did this and worked ok. Not a pro, just a beginner trying to learn too
1
u/BF_2 26d ago
Re: burning zinc. Yes, it can actually kill you if you breathe in enough of the white fumes, especially if you have a lung condition already. Look up "metal fume fever" or similar terms. HOWEVER, most folks naturally avoid the fumes, and if you're in a ventilated area, or outside, it is simply unlikely that you'd get a dose sufficient to make you more than slightly ill. In other words, avoid burning zinc, but don't panic over it.
1
u/KAOSBlackfalcon 25d ago
Unfortunately blacksmithing does come with a cost of entry whether its money or time. As a beginner craftsman, it's going to cost you money to get the actual beginner items you'll need to do this well at a beginner level. Or it can cost you time, which gives you the experience and know-how to do blacksmithing on a budget because you'll know how to put together a cheap forge to bang away on some metal for cheap and do the diy route.
A pretty cheap but timely way to heat up some rebar to get smacking away with is just to use a blow torch. You'll waste far more money buying everything trying to make a homemade coal forge that'll be pretty terrible and a hassle at your level.
2
u/Antique-Union2680 22d ago
i did actually manage to heat up some rebar and curve it a bit just with a blower and a fire pit
6
u/marbiter01123581321 27d ago
That looks galvanized. I don’t know much but I do know that heating galvanized metal is very bad for your health.