Any of you boys Smithies?

J R Green

J R Green

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I want to do some knife making and need a few tools. Maybe a small gas forge anvil and a welder on the cheap.

If you have any sources or extra stuff laying around I have a couple of guns for trade fodder.
 
Good luck finding an anvil on the cheap unless it is a POS Chinese made one. The anvils I have found in decent shape are running $4-10/lb.
 
beamernc said:
Good luck finding an anvil on the cheap unless it is a POS Chinese made one. The anvils I have found in decent shape are running $4-10/lb.
Click to expand...
I have a piece of railroad track I intend to make into a mini anvil but yeah I haven't been overwhelmed by what I've found out there so far.



No welders laying around?
 
I started out on train track and a cheap Chinese anvil from Harbor Freight. You may already know this, but a good anvil makes a world of difference. For $400 +/- you can get a decent farrier's anvil at NC tool. However, some as-is train track and some elbow grease can get you started.
Forges are easy enough to make if you watch a few YT videos.
 
Mattyb said:
I started out on train track and a cheap Chinese anvil from Harbor Freight. You may already know this, but a good anvil makes a world of difference. For $400 +/- you can get a decent farrier's anvil at NC tool. However, some as-is train track and some elbow grease can get you started.
Forges are easy enough to make if you watch a few YT videos.
Click to expand...
This. NC TOOL has anvils, gas forges(though they’re $600 for a small one, I know a guy that just bought one). They also give away old horse shoes, and rasps/flies to folks that want them for projects
 
I also use an NC Tool anvil and anvil stand.
 
I built my gas forge though.
 
Single burner (Ron Reil atmospheric design).
Open ended for pass thru. Used an old helium party balloon tank lined with kaowool and satanite.
 
That all being said my next big tool purchase will probably be a 2 or 3 burner forge from NC Tool.
 
Right now it is pointless given my time constraints. But some day.....
 
I am currently using a NC Tool 2 burner. Pretty good. I had a DIY forge, a one burner deal, but this one is much better, burns "cleaner", etc...
 
There's a guy on CL up around Denver NC that sells a lot of anvils, coal forges, post vices, & other smithing tools. I never used a gas forge but if I was gonna start again I'd probably go gas. RR track Anvil's will work for starters. But a good anvil is a good investment.
I sold Green Heron a nice coal forge w/blower & a post vice some time ago that I don't think he ever used.
 
for a forge check out atlas knifemakers. Charles has a nice selection and good prices. I have a mini forge and a graham, both are perfection of the art. the mini is very efficient and runs a long time on a 25 lb. bottle. yes it does get hot enough to forge weld. anvils in decent shape are big bucks. I use a 125 mostly have an 85 and a 225 peter wright I use some the 225 is for big stuff and the 85 is on the bench for straightening warps. tongs and grinder try polar bear forge, he has tong blanks and the frame for several nice 2x72 grinders, you supply motor, wheels, hardware and labor. I bought two grinders from him a g.i.b and a combo wheel flat platen grinder.
 
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