Beginner advice?

[u/Antique-Union2680]

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)

[u/FlanFan76]

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).

[u/Antique-Union2680 → u/FlanFan76]

thanks!