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Looks like I don't know how to use reddit... so coment. first time poster here not english native...

Recently thanks to the show forged in fire i've decided to try and make a knife and wanted to share It.

It's not the most beautiful thing ever but looks like a knife and cuts so I'm happy, in fact I'm so happy and proud that I want to try to forge more things so, what do you recomend for starters? I whould love to make an axe but I dont know if its to difficult for a begginer specially considering that the only iron/steel I have easy acces to is rebar and i whould have to forge weld it into a more usable piece.

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Also the anvil I borrowed will be no more so I looked into a webpage that recomended this anvils wich are in my budget. you know if they are any good or a waste of money?

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https://www.amazon.es/ENERGYHit-1000-Yunque-profesional-Ancho/dp/B00LCQTYMQ?SubscriptionId=AKIAINNXJ6O5RJZV4YEQ&tag=compraryunque-21&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00LCQTYMQ&keywords=yunque%2010%20kg

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https://www.amazon.es/Mannesmann-M-710-10-Yunque-10/dp/B0002YYLD6?SubscriptionId=AKIAINNXJ6O5RJZV4YEQ&tag=compraryunque-21&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B0002YYLD6&keywords=yunque%2010%20kg

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https://www.amazon.es/Sealey-ANV11-yunque-11-kg/dp/B00S17WJZS?SubscriptionId=AKIAINNXJ6O5RJZV4YEQ&tag=compraryunque-21&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00S17WJZS&keywords=yunque

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Thanks

As well as buying that book, i also bought this book from Amazon.

The Sims book is a great resource for getting started. She walks you through the very beginnings and I loved her photos.

The Weygers book is just insane in terms of what you come to understand a qualified blacksmith is actually capable of creating. It's not as polished, but I think that you could pretty much maintain a small society with the information in that book and the proper skills. He has a special focus on tool making (he's a wood carver and looks to have made each of his tools) as well.

Backyard Blacksmith like Raeladar recommended, by Lorelei Sims
http://www.amazon.com/The-Backyard-Blacksmith-Traditional-Techniques/dp/1592532519/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341272167&sr=8-1&keywords=backyard+blacksmith

The Complete Bladesmith by Jim Hrisoulas has a TON of detailed info like forgewelding (important throughout blacksmithing, not just bladesmithing)
http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Bladesmith-Forging-Perfection/dp/1581606338/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1341272167&sr=8-4&keywords=backyard+blacksmith


and The Complete Modern Blacksmith by Alexander Weygers has good info as well
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Modern-Blacksmith-Alexander-Weygers/dp/0898158966/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c

my library is growing from these books as well as the forge I'm putting together.

I am by no means an experienced blacksmith, but I found this book to be fairly enlightening when I was first getting into it: The Complete Modern Blacksmith.

It covers stuff like the forge /u/ColinDavies outlined.. and gives a very good intro into the "bootstraping" nature of blacksmithing (IMO :D)!

If it's hot enough to melt a little bit and your insulation is good enough, then you can melt a lot.

I was going to combine this with this for the bucket build, and have holes through the lid for these. Make a stopper for the sight hole and a lip on the lid to minimize oxygen introduction. Should work out pretty OK.

Can confirm- I have this and it's a great book to learn from. If you're looking for a book centered more in bladesmithing, here's your bible- https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Bladesmith-Forging-Your-Perfection/dp/1581606338

https://www.amazon.com/Palmgren-Belt-bench-finishing-machine/dp/B0006577HI/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=2x48+belt+sander&qid=1573486028&sprefix=2x48+&sr=8-4
This is one that I've bought for my knives. It's great plenty of belts for a 2x42 to choose from.

typical beginner projects that i've seen include tongs, bottle openers, round-square-round practice, nails, hammers.

depending on how deep into the art you want to get, if you want to mainly focus on knives, then i'd stick with them; start with basic utility blades, work your way up to fighting knives, and eventually kitchen knives. if you want to dive head first into the art as a whole, then work on decorative stuff; art pieces, s-hooks, wall-mount hangers, whatever. one of the best resources for beginning and experienced smiths alike is Plain and Ornamental Forging (https://www.amazon.com/Plain-Ornamental-Forging-Ernst-Schwarzkopf/dp/1879335956)

For $651 you can buy a brand new 77 lb Ridgid anvil. It's a little smaller, but still very serviceable. Plus it's a high quality steel anvil with no dings, dents, or unseen flaws.

https://www.amazon.com/Ridgid-69622-Model-4-Inch-Forged/dp/B0015BC3GC

For $690 you can get a new 100 lb Emerson anvil.

http://www.centaurforge.com/mobile/Emerson-100-lb-Traditional-Anvil-without-cams-Eligible-for-Free-Shipping-See-Terms-and-Conditions-for-full-details/productinfo/EMERSON100NC/

Both options have free shipping.

I use these, they work quite well
https://www.amazon.com/Winco-BR-9-Butcher-Block-Brush/dp/B003HEQZN2/ref=lp_2603745011_1_5?srs=2603745011&ie=UTF8&qid=1525104804&sr=8-5

If you want hard brick, its on amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Rutland-Products-604-Fire-Brick/dp/B000UEYZ4S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500563383&sr=8-1&keywords=fire+brick

For Soft brick, maybe this one:
https://www.amazon.com/EuroTool-Fire-Brick-SOL-485-00/dp/B012C5ZIAC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500563409&sr=8-1&keywords=soft+fire+brick

I got 2 of these from Amazon. They came shipped with heat treatment instructions right on the packaging and I'm using them for stock removal.

You might/should be able to find it at your local lowes or home depot. If not: https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-207008-Marine-Varnish-1-Quart/dp/B000C011CE

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Bladesmith-Forging-Your-Perfection/dp/1581606338/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506287194&sr=1-3&keywords=knife+making This book has almost everything you need to know to get started and then some. It helped me a lot. The author is amazingly thorough. He even covers proper anvil height and hammer use.

*Edit: grammer and spelling

I think I found what I'm looking for. Just in case anyone else has the same question here is a link to what I found. https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Magic-8024-ThermoSteel-High-Temp/dp/B002UJ1EF4

Here is an option for around $60 I have been looking




Infrared Thermometer-HOLDPEAK HP-2732 Pyrometer Digital Dual Laser Thermometer 30:1 IR Temperature Gun Non-Contact Thermometer -58℉~2732℉(-50℃~1500℃),Backlit,Adjustable Emissivity for Forge Smelting https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PLHR7W1/

The name your looking for is butcher block brush.
https://www.amazon.com/Winco-BR-9-Butcher-Block-Brush/dp/B003HEQZN2

There's also a little "tee" connector that let's you attach 2 20# tanks at once, which helps with both the freezing and the stupid pressure device built into the tanks.
Said device.

I hate to break it to you, if this is a Chinese made vice it is not worth $40. It frankly it looks to be. You can get a new 4" vice on amazon for $40

Look at the name plate, if it is a better made American made vice and the rust has not pitted the way and frozen the gibs, the it might be worth $40, but will probably need some TLC to get in decent shape. I suspect it is not.

If you just want a vice to abuse, show him the amazon link offer him $15.

I wouldn't use anything with aluminum in it in any quantity at forge temps, even if it's refractory lined. Best cast scenario, it leaks molten aluminum. I don't like that best case scenario so I certainly don't like the worst.

If you live somewhere cold enough to necessitate actual wood stoves, you might check a fireplace repair or supply company or the fireplace section of your hardware stores for a product called furnace cement; if you can't find it locally, hopefully you can order it online, word is that this "Chimney Sweep" type is the highest temperature rating but any of them should work fine, especially if you proceed to line it. 4 parts perlite to 1 part furnace cement, for a coffee can forge a 1/2 pint of furnace cement should be more than enough. The cement is sticky and hard to work, it's a lot easier if you mix it with 1/8 the volume of cement in water. Here's a workthrough for a crucible furnace partially made with the perlite/furnace cement refractory. If you can order online though, there's plenty of pure sodium silicate to be found. I hope some of this helps.

If you're dead set on sodium silicate, Rutland brand cement floor sealer is apparently 100% pure Na2SiO3, and hopefully you can find this locally. If absolute worst comes to worst, you can mix those little silica gel dessicant beads (or crush up some quartz crystals) and mix them with lye (sodium hydroxide drain cleaner). Good luck, let us know how it goes!

EDIT: after doing some reading I definitely wouldn't recommend going the sodium silicate route; with a melting temp of 1,200°F (the very low end of typical working temps for forges, steel would barely be at a dull red before your forge started to liquefy. I'd love to be proven wrong, though!) Worst case scenario now is just wasted money and knowledge gained.

Well I screwed up a bit on the refractory. It was dried out and not pliable enough so I added a little water. I also didn't let it cure enough so there was some water still in it when I fired up the first time and it bubbled up and flaked about a 1/8th inch off.

Here is what I ordered.


Refractory:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002OU2Y62/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Ceramic Fire blanket:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DE2FD26/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Fire bricks
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UEYZ4S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


0 to 30 PSI regulator
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VXEW4G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1