I was lucky enough to have a friend who gave me an anvil and a post vice. Found propane forge for $200, bought coal forge for $75, friend gave me a hammer. I’ve been making knives for two years and recently made a tomahawk with basic tools. I love your videos! They are my go to for knowledge, thanks!
There was an auction at the end of my first hammer-in. I also got a $75 coal forge, a $20 broken anvil (a chunk of railroad track works just fine to start) and then a big ball peen hammer. My post vice I found under a work bench at the house I bought (didn't know what it was at the time. Metal came free from anywhere. Due to anvil collectors🤨(yes, I'm looking at you), that tool will be the most difficult.
This was super helpful. My husband took a bladesmithing class a few years ago and really enjoyed it. We don't have a lot of property or empty space so a small outfit is what we'd have to do. This was really good to figure out what he would need and how much space he might actually need. Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy with my harbor freight Doyle cast steel anvil and harbor freight hammer I dressed up watching an Alex Steele video, then I made my tongs out of rebar, really a fairly cheap hobby
I am a woodworker. However, once in a while I find the need to make a part or fixture from metal. The set up you just described appears to be the perfect solution. Not to expensive and won't take up too much space in the shop.👍👍 Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂
Likewise and just finished setting up a backyard smithy (no way I'm setting up a forge in a woodshop!) very similar to what he's using here. I'm really looking forward to making my own hardware and custom woodworking tools now!
Depending on how large of a part you need to make, you might be able to use a couple of soft fire bricks with a chamber cut in them and a handheld propane torch. Like this: th-cam.com/video/ifTIuNt3aNY/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for this. As someone who was just getting started, and then lost everything in a house fire, this is a great resource and reminder of basic needs and necessities of getting started. Thank you for all your time and effort.
The cinder blocks idea looks ridiculously simple. Why didn't I think about it ? This is perfect and your video came out at the perfect time. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Hi John! I just wanted to let you know that what you do is the best way to go to learn younger people how to work with steel. You are really good at explaining how and why you do the things you do. I have been blacksmithing as an hobby now for 5 years, but i really like all the content you have on your channel. You probably know it already, but if you dont flatten the top of the hanger, but form it to a spike and bend it back 90 degree you can just hammer it straight in a beam. It can be a good way for beginners to make stuff they can use or even sell without having to make a hole. Just a tip that i learned on a blacksmithing course i took. This is actually my first comment on youtube. Greetings from Norway. Stay safe.
Great video. As a beginner no one should focus on forge welding. This little forge is budget friendly and a great beginners forge. Its purpose built. One thing I do have a problem with is the gas line going straight up. An elbow or 2 to make the line go down and away from the forge is important. If that line isn't secured it could become nasty.
I picked up the two burner vevor forge, the oblong shaped one and a vevor 30 pound anvil for $400 for both here in Australia the forge was around $250 Australian dollars and the anvil was $150. The anvil is adiquate but the forge was incredibly well and after a few months use its still running well. I really enjoy your content and its helped me gain a practical understanding of some of the processes and techniques of blacksmithng and is a wonderful resource and entertaining to boot. Thanks for what you do mate and best wishes from Australia.👍
John, truly one of the best videos you have done. I have always felt like I could not afford to start blacksmithing. It is clear, though, with a little patience it is possible.
4 years ago when I started this habit, I mean hobby, this was the kind of video I watched hours of and how I found your channel. I'm so glad you're doing a series on starting out. It will help a lot of new blacksmiths. Also I have a fairly well set up shop but now I'm thinking about putting my forge on blocks just for the tong storage.
Excellent class, John. I kinda walked into a shop doing demos for festival attendees back in the 90's. An old shop with 40 foot ceiling and an abandoned railroad spur outside the backdoor. He would occasionally let an interested onlooker have a go and BAM! I was hooked. Stopped by his shop every opportunity I got and was learning quickly. Did my 1st successful forge weld while left tinkering as he walked to the diner for lunch ( we took turns). He was surprised, as he had only shown me once. Well, ABANA met at his shop the next Saturday and I immediately joined. What a group! Iron in the hat and won my first hold down. Went to several meetings at 9 different shops with demos of new techniques. Don't know if you heard of him, but Don Dillon was one of them. He was a Master Bladesmith. He made a matching pair of pattern-welded recurves In a ladder pattern in about 6 hours. Over twenty years and about $15k later. And it's all just a brief memory. Off topic question John. A scroll being the golden ratio, what is the name for one done with sharp bends @ the same ratio? 🐾🔥⚒️👀🍻
Perfect timing on this series! I've just setup a backyard smithy with that Vevor anvil and a Mr. Volcano single burner forge, currently working on some tong kits from Ken's Custom Iron, looking forward to putting in some time on these skill building projects coming up in this series. You have an excellent teaching style in your videos, very easy to follow and very clear camera work too. Thank you so much for all you do!
@@TheUncleRuckus The advice that I've seen is that unless you know you need a double burner, you only need a single. People get ambitious about making things like swords without realizing how many hooks and bottle openers and letter openers they have to make first. Even with swords, as I understand it (still working on bottle openers myself), you only work a few inches at a time, so that for much of the work a small forge like that is adequate. You only need to get the whole thing hot for heat treatment.
@TheUncleRuckus I disagree with the gentleman who said to get a single burner. I own the double burner and you can simply leave 1 gas line out and run 1 burner. If you follow the directions properly, the Mr volcano forge gets insanely hot. Melting steel hot With 1 burner. The 2 burner forge offers versatility if using 1 or 2 burners. And the 2 burners makes heat treating a knife much easier as the heat is more even
this might be one of the best videos on the subject i've ever seen! i remember trying to budget out what it'd cost to start learning, but since i had virtually no experience, i was scared to start throwing money at it without knowing how good the tools and such in the budget could be. thanks a lot, Black Bear forge! i'm gonna have to save a little up and finally start moving some metal!
wheni started, i went with a big bag of refractory cement and an old bbq and an old vacuum ... and made my own charcoal..... mixed with a few garage sale hammers and a piece of railroad as an anvil... old leaf springs as mats.... prob 50$ to start... just to get the feet wet... and the experience of building it myself was priceless... nobody waas selling these lil guys... would have neen an easy start
John: Your video this morning was excellent. Very simple instructions on what you need, where to get it, and acceptable quality. Anyone that is not interested, as a result of your video this morning, needs to stick to knitting, 😂. Thanks John.
Great timing! After gathering all my equipment I can afford right now and watching a ton of your videos and others, I made my very first projects yesterday…a chisel and punch/drift out of 1/2 rebar that I found on our property. FYI, you can pick up a cheap, but very serviceable grinder at HF for $16. Thank you so much for your instructive videos!
Just re-watching this video because I'm think of switching from a DIY charcoal forge to propane. Not bc there's anything wrong with the charcoal , just to make the best use of my limited time. Thanks for this and all your videos.
my best starter forge was when I got a GREAT deal on some 5 gallon buckets of railroad spikes, for 200 bucks I got some train brake drums, 5 feet of rail, and some rail tie plates. I found someone who had an old telephone pole so I got it for free and cut it up to mount the rail on. Used the drums as a makeshift coal forge, the rail as an anvil, and attached the rail tie plate to my "anvil" to twist the handle for railroad spike knives
This video is awesome. I found you because you commented on Alec Steele moving back to the UK permanently. I recently was at a renaissance fair, and loved watching the smiths work and talk to them. This video is super inspiring.
I built 2 forges . My 1st was the old BBQ and a hairdryer Then built my 1st propane forge from scrap steel some fire brickand a new burner from amazon. Gave that one to a friend of mine who wanted to start smithin'. My 1st anvil is a 100 lb block of mild steel from the scrap yard. (Now making it into a swage block) . My current anvil is a 100 lb block of annealed 4140 that my boss gave me. It works really well and 4140 is great for dampening sound, energy ,etc... I made a horn out of an old railroad spike hamer and I rounded it out with a grinder and mounted it on a steel rod and sunk it in the stump behind my anvil block.. Iam currently building a new forge. If there is a will .... there is a way. Thanks john and also Roy From Crist centered iron works!!
I got started with a homemade bellows, dirt forge, piece of railroad track, vice grips, and ball peen hammer. I forgot where I got the coal. Made some reenactment fire irons, hooks, etc. probably less than $20! that was enough to get me hooked. So I spent more to get better stuff and have been smithing for 40+ years.
This video was a great idea. A lot of great information for those of us who are trying to get started in blacksmithing. Keep up the amazing job of teaching us
Im looking at a career change from diesel mechanic to farrier. While I am saving for farrier school, im planning on getting some basic blacksmithing equipment to practice with. Thank you for this awesome video!
Wish I had seen this before I started putting my forge together, but thats ok I'm still under 500 and the advice is great. Thank you sir you have been an inspiration to me on my newest journey in life. Keep up the good works god bless.
Very clever use of the same round stock to make a bending fork, I like it! I know one of the early tools that helped me was a hot cut hardy, now you've got me wondering if you could somehow make something like that out of the same 3/8" stock, hmm... Also, if you have a re-creation village around you (like one that's set in the 1800's), if they have a blacksmith shop there you might check to see if they offer lessons. That's how I got started, and it was a great way to try it out before investing in my own setup!
Thank you so much for this new series, I hope it continues. I wish I had seen this earlier in my journey. I could have saved myself alot of cash. Look forward to the next Affordable Blacksmithing vid.
I'm very happy to have found your videos.I love to share educational stuff with my two grandsons. The soon to be 16 yr old is very interested in bladesmithing. Now I have an idea how to help him. Thank for your videos.
Very very good demonstration and boost to beginner/would-be blacksmiths. Really wonderful. Personally, I built my own anvil and forge (due to lack of affordable options, shipping issues, etc) - but Vevor's assorted anvil/forge/tongs/etc sounds great! I'd definitely go for it!!! Looking forward to see the hooks video (that's how I found out about your channel). "Hook of the week" series was a huge inspiration for me. Hmmm... never made any so far - focused on learning to make leaf keychains - I guess I really have to make some hooks :)
I looked at similar products in our country. one burner forge €200 /coal forge - used €400+/, anvil €200, tongs /used/ €15-20 propane filling €25. so €500 without material. but... our monthly salary is €700. so my whole blacksmith workshop is made of scrap material. Total price €50
About $500 is almost exactly what my initial cost was. Same anvil, two-burner forge (anvil and forge off Amazon), a cross-peen and a ball-peen hammer from Tractor Supply, and a few pairs of long pliers to stand in for tongs. My wife surprised me with a drill press and I was off to the races.
Tha no you sk much fir yourtime and effort. After wstching a couple similar thened tutorials, i have to say yours to me was perfect. Honesst practical stuck with the budget, and used what you had and nade it work. Didnt hear you conplain about not having the top of the line, just showed us aspiring smiths how to get ut done. Information was perfect as well, no information overload, but still feel like i learned and understood.. wish j wouls bave lucked into your content sooner, but very glad thst i dud. Looking forward to more of your wisdom, and cant wait to get started!
My now 8 year old is very interested in blacksmithing. He has been researching and pricing for about a year. Thank you for this video. This gives me a place to start in getting some tools to work with.
John, this was an excellent video on introduction to blacksmithing, the basic tools you might need and how to save a little money getting started. I think that the upcoming videos will help starting smiths tremendously with getting into the craft. Keep 'em coming!!👍 For acquiring tools and some equipment, the fun of it all is the "chase". Hit up garage sales, bargain lines, flea markets, salvage shops for some really good and cheap deals on quality tools. (BTW, for hacksaw blades, I have found that the Lenox brand lasts much longer than many others.)
Thank you for all the knowledge you share. I had an idea about using concrete nails to make carving tools. the nails are a good steel that can be very useful. I have been mounting the finished blades in deer antler. I used a propane tourch to heat the steel up holding with vise grips. the nail head is the end forged into the short blade. the other is the tang to hold in place with epoxy I was able to make the first one for about 30 dollars. I have enough nails to do at least 40 more. with whatever funds this creates I can invest in better things. you are one of the best teachers that I have come across. What you teach here will not be lost and forgotten because of your legacy you have given.
I got the vevor double burner $125, harbor freight cast steel anvil $150 and hammers $10 each ×2 and $6 welding gloves so far a little over $300 I am excited to get my forge up and running.
Just what I needed ❤ Ive been wanting to start for years and have just never been able to get to it The real trick will be finding a place to set up because I don't have a dedicated building, so I can't get my great grandfather's anvil from my neighbor's shop and have it set up (he's keeping it safe)
I recently got started blacksmithing with a zero-cost setup in the garden, consisting of a wood fire in a trough in the ground, ventilated with a handpump (intended for inflating mattresses and the like) connected to a steel pipe from an old vacuum cleaner using some clay, and with the back of a large axe stuck in a chopping block as an anvil. Probabl, wouldn't work for biggee projects, but it was quite adequate for forging a couple of knife blades from an old broken gouge, and for heating and straightening some garden tools.
That's a great setup for $500 that's about what i spend to setup. first made hooks to sell then invested the money to build my shop. going to get making things again soon. have a great evening
I left a comment on the patreon, but I’d like to reiterate, it’s important for a smith to have a source of clean-ish cool water somewhere in the shop. Another excellent video sir, your channel has taught me a lot in my own blacksmithing journey.
can sponsor the anvil, very well made for a good price. i have a small collection of three tongs, four hammers, and some punch/cut tools i made. The forge i made is a self made firepot on top of 55-gal old oil drum.
Definitely hit the yard sales, I just picked up more tongs, a old school wood carry box and punches, all for $10 and about fifty new files of different sizes for $20.
Thank you for this video. I’ve always had a desire to work with metal. Be it welding or black smithing. I joke with my wife that I was born with a dwarf spirit to work with metal. This video gives me a good starting point and may even kick that hobby off.
I am lucky enough that that I have most of my stuff and have been learning from you for years now. but it still amazes me how I can still glean things even from the basic stuff. wish this video had been around when I started! thanks!
I've been wanting to get into blacksmithing myself, so over the years I've been collecting everything that I need to get started. Material wise I been checking the local scrapyard for materials and I have a sizable pile of angle and round bar and flat stock already. Just need a shed to put it in!
This series is just what I needed. At the moment I'm in it just for the hobby, and already had some of the gear. I did end up getting the Vevor forge thanks to your recommendation (currently on order, can't wait!! ) I started making some J hooks in my soup can forge, but it's just not big enough to put the bend in them. Thanks again, following this series closely!
I built my forges and burners. Made my own tongs. Made an ASO. Bought a HF cross peen. I started for 100 bux and I did not buy any cheap Vevor garbage. Forge On!!!
I was very lucky starting out. My grandfather was a blacksmith and my grandmother gave me his entire shop. He probably had about 40 different types of tongs, some of which I use and some that just hang on the wall because I honestly don't know what to use them for. His anvil was 400 lbs, which is bigger than I really need, but I use it anyway. I get a lot of my metal from scrap yards for cheap.
Great help for the ultra beginner. I just received my Vevor anvil, and worked with a local tree arborist to get a suitable log. My next step is to use the router technique to level off the log for the anvil such that it's around knuckle height with the anvil mounted.
Made my first forge with a baking pan, some steel pipe, an air mattress pump and some salvaged wood for the frame. Didn’t work great but worked well enough to move metal. There’s always a way to get started. Edit to add: it wasn’t my idea. I got it from a TH-cam video but I can’t remember the creator.
Yard sales, I have found alot of my tools at yard sales and flea markets over the years. There is still alot of nice stuff out there you just have go look for it.
John awesome and very informative and very helpful video this week. Can’t wait to see more videos soon. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work my friend. Forge On. Fab On. Weld On. Keep Forge lit. Keep Making. God Bless.
I just rec'd my forge from Vevor, the single burner you suggested. I will be setting it up and running this weekend. Thank you for the great video and recommendations.
I've often thought about trying to learn forge work. Been around several blacksmiths in a reenacting setting, but never had the chance to try it. They, of course, use the old school coal forge. Closest I ever got was "getting" to pump the billows! :) I think I might try this!
Merci pour votre expertise. J'ai beaucoup d'admirations pour votre travail, ainsi que pour votre présentation simple et compréhensive, pour le débutant que je suis. J'ai, grâce à vous, une liste d'achats pour mettre en pratique ma propre forge. Je vous souhaite le meilleur et un très bon Noel depuis la France !
I told a friend of your show who wants to learn blacksmithing , All he watches is is forged in fire. I tried to show him some of the things you showed me for beginners
Good video. Thank you for sharing this knowledge! I think we're about the same age. Some opinions from past experience: Whatever hacksaw frame works for me, but I will now only buy Starrett blades. The difference in cutting quality is absolutely night and day. A pair of blades (I like 24tpi) will cost you $5.24 at Amazon and will cut like new for years. 22:30 Yeah, try the Starretts yourself. That cutoff would have taken a dozen strokes, not 3-4 dozen. ;) A friend with too many hammers will usually give/sell you some if you ask. I got 9 once, free. My $27 Harbor Freight 5.5" mechanic's vise is still kicking. I bought it in 1976 and beat it weekly. The 3" vises aren't much cheaper than 4", and 4-incher (and up) usually come with pipe jaws built in. I researched small anvils and the Acciaio 30kg got good reviews. My $97 Vevor is due tomorrow. Southern Oregon, my propane refills average $8. And, $3.99 earmuffs at HF plus a pair of 33dB ear plugs save your ears handily. Liked and subscribed!
Really cool $500 build. I will say, for the cost of the hacksaw, blades, and file you can get a corded angle grinder and disks instead. If I had a super tight budget, that's probably the route I would go. You can use the grinder with a cutoff wheel for hogging off material, then clamp it in the vice with other wheels and disks for finer shaping, sharpening, or polishing. It's much more versatile on a tight budget, and you'll end up wanting to buy one in the long run anyway.
I’ve used the Vevor forge for a year now, and I am new to the hobby still trying to get nicer stuff, but it has worked very well. Make sure to get firebricks to hold in the heat on that little beast!
Great content, very well spoken, for all my file handles I have found that golf balls work the best for me, plus they are cheap,drill a hole and drive it on,it fits comfortably in the palm of my hand! 🏁
We operate with the very same set up for our side set up, a mobile set up and when we have others in the smithy. Great video and great way to enter the craft with new tools and quality way to get started.
Last August, I won the Mr Volcano forge from Roy @ Christ Centered Ironworks. I love my little one burner forge, and I have a homemade solid fuel forge for anything that doesn't fit in the Mr Volcano.
I was lucky enough to have a friend who gave me an anvil and a post vice. Found propane forge for $200, bought coal forge for $75, friend gave me a hammer. I’ve been making knives for two years and recently made a tomahawk with basic tools. I love your videos! They are my go to for knowledge, thanks!
There was an auction at the end of my first hammer-in. I also got a $75 coal forge, a $20 broken anvil (a chunk of railroad track works just fine to start) and then a big ball peen hammer. My post vice I found under a work bench at the house I bought (didn't know what it was at the time. Metal came free from anywhere.
Due to anvil collectors🤨(yes, I'm looking at you), that tool will be the most difficult.
@@brokenrecord3523 railroad track is an excellent starting point. Used track is extremely well work hardened.
A real bear to cut though.
Actually found this not only informative but inspiring. You'd be surprised at how many folks have tried to discourage me because I'm 53. Thank you.
Go for it! I've known plenty of folks that started after retiring from their regular job
I'm 68 and just starting... Got the wife's support first though...
young man I'm 61 and ready to retire, this is my new hobby lol
Don’t let people talk you out of what you want to do no matter the age
I’m 14 and I might start forging
I do woodworking, but enjoy watching blacksmithing and commenting to help you in the algorithm!
It really is great to see how accessable forging is to the average person.
Tools, supplies and education is all way more accessible than ever. Unfortunately prices are also higher.
you could potentially diy most of this too, even if it's not ideal it's a good easy way to get started
This was super helpful. My husband took a bladesmithing class a few years ago and really enjoyed it. We don't have a lot of property or empty space so a small outfit is what we'd have to do. This was really good to figure out what he would need and how much space he might actually need. Thank you!
I'm glad it helps out. Have fun
Love your kitty pic! I'll assume he's in charge of the workshop?
I am so incredibly happy with my harbor freight Doyle cast steel anvil and harbor freight hammer I dressed up watching an Alex Steele video, then I made my tongs out of rebar, really a fairly cheap hobby
this man is probably the best what could happen to anyone who wants to start smithing
you really are an invaluable resource to this community
I am a woodworker. However, once in a while I find the need to make a part or fixture from metal. The set up you just described appears to be the perfect solution. Not to expensive and won't take up too much space in the shop.👍👍 Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂
Likewise and just finished setting up a backyard smithy (no way I'm setting up a forge in a woodshop!) very similar to what he's using here. I'm really looking forward to making my own hardware and custom woodworking tools now!
Depending on how large of a part you need to make, you might be able to use a couple of soft fire bricks with a chamber cut in them and a handheld propane torch. Like this: th-cam.com/video/ifTIuNt3aNY/w-d-xo.html
John, I watched this video a year ago and it kickstarted an amazing first year as a blacksmith. I can't thank you enough for what you do!
Glad I could help!
oh hey that's a really affordable little forge and anvil. Ive been collecting stuff for years to get started but this put's me closer to my goals.
Thanks for this. As someone who was just getting started, and then lost everything in a house fire, this is a great resource and reminder of basic needs and necessities of getting started. Thank you for all your time and effort.
The cinder blocks idea looks ridiculously simple. Why didn't I think about it ? This is perfect and your video came out at the perfect time.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Glad it helps
Hi John!
I just wanted to let you know that what you do is the best way to go to learn younger people how to work with steel. You are really good at explaining how and why you do the things you do. I have been blacksmithing as an hobby now for 5 years, but i really like all the content you have on your channel. You probably know it already, but if you dont flatten the top of the hanger, but form it to a spike and bend it back 90 degree you can just hammer it straight in a beam. It can be a good way for beginners to make stuff they can use or even sell without having to make a hole. Just a tip that i learned on a blacksmithing course i took. This is actually my first comment on youtube. Greetings from Norway. Stay safe.
Thanks
Great video. As a beginner no one should focus on forge welding. This little forge is budget friendly and a great beginners forge. Its purpose built. One thing I do have a problem with is the gas line going straight up. An elbow or 2 to make the line go down and away from the forge is important. If that line isn't secured it could become nasty.
I picked up the two burner vevor forge, the oblong shaped one and a vevor 30 pound anvil for $400 for both here in Australia the forge was around $250 Australian dollars and the anvil was $150. The anvil is adiquate but the forge was incredibly well and after a few months use its still running well. I really enjoy your content and its helped me gain a practical understanding of some of the processes and techniques of blacksmithng and is a wonderful resource and entertaining to boot. Thanks for what you do mate and best wishes from Australia.👍
Yard sales and estate sales. You can find a good bit of these tools for great bargains. Sometimes you can score some amazing old tools!
At some point I will have to do a video on just hunting for tools, great excuse to go to sales and auctions.
John, truly one of the best videos you have done. I have always felt like I could not afford to start blacksmithing. It is clear, though, with a little patience it is possible.
I'm glad it helps. Have fun
4 years ago when I started this habit, I mean hobby, this was the kind of video I watched hours of and how I found your channel. I'm so glad you're doing a series on starting out. It will help a lot of new blacksmiths. Also I have a fairly well set up shop but now I'm thinking about putting my forge on blocks just for the tong storage.
Excellent class, John. I kinda walked into a shop doing demos for festival attendees back in the 90's. An old shop with 40 foot ceiling and an abandoned railroad spur outside the backdoor. He would occasionally let an interested onlooker have a go and BAM! I was hooked. Stopped by his shop every opportunity I got and was learning quickly. Did my 1st successful forge weld while left tinkering as he walked to the diner for lunch ( we took turns). He was surprised, as he had only shown me once. Well, ABANA met at his shop the next Saturday and I immediately joined. What a group! Iron in the hat and won my first hold down. Went to several meetings at 9 different shops with demos of new techniques. Don't know if you heard of him, but Don Dillon was one of them. He was a Master Bladesmith. He made a matching pair of pattern-welded recurves In a ladder pattern in about 6 hours. Over twenty years and about $15k later. And it's all just a brief memory.
Off topic question John. A scroll being the golden ratio, what is the name for one done with sharp bends @ the same ratio? 🐾🔥⚒️👀🍻
Perfect timing on this series! I've just setup a backyard smithy with that Vevor anvil and a Mr. Volcano single burner forge, currently working on some tong kits from Ken's Custom Iron, looking forward to putting in some time on these skill building projects coming up in this series. You have an excellent teaching style in your videos, very easy to follow and very clear camera work too. Thank you so much for all you do!
@@TheUncleRuckus The advice that I've seen is that unless you know you need a double burner, you only need a single. People get ambitious about making things like swords without realizing how many hooks and bottle openers and letter openers they have to make first. Even with swords, as I understand it (still working on bottle openers myself), you only work a few inches at a time, so that for much of the work a small forge like that is adequate. You only need to get the whole thing hot for heat treatment.
@TheUncleRuckus I disagree with the gentleman who said to get a single burner.
I own the double burner and you can simply leave 1 gas line out and run 1 burner.
If you follow the directions properly, the Mr volcano forge gets insanely hot. Melting steel hot With 1 burner.
The 2 burner forge offers versatility if using 1 or 2 burners.
And the 2 burners makes heat treating a knife much easier as the heat is more even
this might be one of the best videos on the subject i've ever seen! i remember trying to budget out what it'd cost to start learning, but since i had virtually no experience, i was scared to start throwing money at it without knowing how good the tools and such in the budget could be. thanks a lot, Black Bear forge! i'm gonna have to save a little up and finally start moving some metal!
Picked up my 4 1/2" angle grinder from harbor freight for around 50$, put it through a lot and it's held up for about 2 years now, still going strong.
Nice instruction. Very concise. Earned a sub. Good job
I’ve been looking for this video for like 2 years. Thank you for making this. Now I’m gonna start
wheni started, i went with a big bag of refractory cement and an old bbq and an old vacuum ... and made my own charcoal..... mixed with a few garage sale hammers and a piece of railroad as an anvil... old leaf springs as mats.... prob 50$ to start... just to get the feet wet... and the experience of building it myself was priceless... nobody waas selling these lil guys... would have neen an easy start
John: Your video this morning was excellent. Very simple instructions on what you need, where to get it, and acceptable quality. Anyone that is not interested, as a result of your video this morning, needs to stick to knitting, 😂. Thanks John.
I like the cinderblock idea
Thank you, thank you! This is the first actually good, in-depth, beginner blacksmith guide I have found. Wonderful!
Great timing! After gathering all my equipment I can afford right now and watching a ton of your videos and others, I made my very first projects yesterday…a chisel and punch/drift out of 1/2 rebar that I found on our property. FYI, you can pick up a cheap, but very serviceable grinder at HF for $16. Thank you so much for your instructive videos!
Just re-watching this video because I'm think of switching from a DIY charcoal forge to propane. Not bc there's anything wrong with the charcoal , just to make the best use of my limited time. Thanks for this and all your videos.
my best starter forge was when I got a GREAT deal on some 5 gallon buckets of railroad spikes, for 200 bucks I got some train brake drums, 5 feet of rail, and some rail tie plates. I found someone who had an old telephone pole so I got it for free and cut it up to mount the rail on. Used the drums as a makeshift coal forge, the rail as an anvil, and attached the rail tie plate to my "anvil" to twist the handle for railroad spike knives
This video is awesome. I found you because you commented on Alec Steele moving back to the UK permanently. I recently was at a renaissance fair, and loved watching the smiths work and talk to them. This video is super inspiring.
Welcome to the family
I built 2 forges . My 1st was the old BBQ and a hairdryer
Then built my 1st propane forge from scrap steel some fire brickand a new burner from amazon. Gave that one to a friend of mine who wanted to start smithin'.
My 1st anvil is a 100 lb block of mild steel from the scrap yard. (Now making it into a swage block) . My current anvil is a 100 lb block of annealed 4140 that my boss gave me. It works really well and 4140 is great for dampening sound, energy ,etc...
I made a horn out of an old railroad spike hamer and I rounded it out with a grinder and mounted it on a steel rod and sunk it in the stump behind my anvil block..
Iam currently building a new forge.
If there is a will .... there is a way. Thanks john and also Roy
From Crist centered iron works!!
Im looking to get into black smithing and this video has been extremely useful. Thank you kindly, you’ve earned my viewership
I got started with a homemade bellows, dirt forge, piece of railroad track, vice grips, and ball peen hammer. I forgot where I got the coal. Made some reenactment fire irons, hooks, etc. probably less than $20! that was enough to get me hooked. So I spent more to get better stuff and have been smithing for 40+ years.
I say its amazing that your encouraging whoever to get into the trade an helping them along. Thank you SIR
This video was a great idea. A lot of great information for those of us who are trying to get started in blacksmithing. Keep up the amazing job of teaching us
Im looking at a career change from diesel mechanic to farrier. While I am saving for farrier school, im planning on getting some basic blacksmithing equipment to practice with.
Thank you for this awesome video!
Wish I had seen this before I started putting my forge together, but thats ok I'm still under 500 and the advice is great. Thank you sir you have been an inspiration to me on my newest journey in life. Keep up the good works god bless.
Very clever use of the same round stock to make a bending fork, I like it! I know one of the early tools that helped me was a hot cut hardy, now you've got me wondering if you could somehow make something like that out of the same 3/8" stock, hmm...
Also, if you have a re-creation village around you (like one that's set in the 1800's), if they have a blacksmith shop there you might check to see if they offer lessons. That's how I got started, and it was a great way to try it out before investing in my own setup!
I'm hooked on these videos.
Thank you so much for this new series, I hope it continues. I wish I had seen this earlier in my journey. I could have saved myself alot of cash. Look forward to the next Affordable Blacksmithing vid.
Glad it was helpful!
I'm very happy to have found your videos.I love to share educational stuff with my two grandsons. The soon to be 16 yr old is very interested in bladesmithing.
Now I have an idea how to help him.
Thank for your videos.
Very very good demonstration and boost to beginner/would-be blacksmiths. Really wonderful. Personally, I built my own anvil and forge (due to lack of affordable options, shipping issues, etc) - but Vevor's assorted anvil/forge/tongs/etc sounds great! I'd definitely go for it!!! Looking forward to see the hooks video (that's how I found out about your channel). "Hook of the week" series was a huge inspiration for me. Hmmm... never made any so far - focused on learning to make leaf keychains - I guess I really have to make some hooks :)
I really love and appreciate this series. As a less-than-novice blacksmith it is extremely helpful. Thank you.
Glad you enjoy it!
I looked at similar products in our country. one burner forge €200 /coal forge - used €400+/, anvil €200, tongs /used/ €15-20 propane filling €25. so €500 without material. but... our monthly salary is €700. so my whole blacksmith workshop is made of scrap material. Total price €50
About $500 is almost exactly what my initial cost was. Same anvil, two-burner forge (anvil and forge off Amazon), a cross-peen and a ball-peen hammer from Tractor Supply, and a few pairs of long pliers to stand in for tongs. My wife surprised me with a drill press and I was off to the races.
Tha no you sk much fir yourtime and effort. After wstching a couple similar thened tutorials, i have to say yours to me was perfect. Honesst practical stuck with the budget, and used what you had and nade it work. Didnt hear you conplain about not having the top of the line, just showed us aspiring smiths how to get ut done. Information was perfect as well, no information overload, but still feel like i learned and understood.. wish j wouls bave lucked into your content sooner, but very glad thst i dud. Looking forward to more of your wisdom, and cant wait to get started!
My now 8 year old is very interested in blacksmithing. He has been researching and pricing for about a year. Thank you for this video. This gives me a place to start in getting some tools to work with.
John, this was an excellent video on introduction to blacksmithing, the basic tools you might need and how to save a little money getting started. I think that the upcoming videos will help starting smiths tremendously with getting into the craft. Keep 'em coming!!👍
For acquiring tools and some equipment, the fun of it all is the "chase". Hit up garage sales, bargain lines, flea markets, salvage shops for some really good and cheap deals on quality tools.
(BTW, for hacksaw blades, I have found that the Lenox brand lasts much longer than many others.)
Thank you for all the knowledge you share.
I had an idea about using concrete nails to make carving tools.
the nails are a good steel that can be very useful.
I have been mounting the finished blades in deer antler.
I used a propane tourch to heat the steel up holding with vise grips.
the nail head is the end forged into the short blade. the other is the tang to hold in place with epoxy
I was able to make the first one for about 30 dollars.
I have enough nails to do at least 40 more. with whatever funds this creates I can invest in better things.
you are one of the best teachers that I have come across.
What you teach here will not be lost and forgotten because of your legacy you have given.
I got the vevor double burner $125, harbor freight cast steel anvil $150 and hammers $10 each ×2 and $6 welding gloves so far a little over $300 I am excited to get my forge up and running.
Just what I needed ❤
Ive been wanting to start for years and have just never been able to get to it
The real trick will be finding a place to set up because I don't have a dedicated building, so I can't get my great grandfather's anvil from my neighbor's shop and have it set up (he's keeping it safe)
I recently got started blacksmithing with a zero-cost setup in the garden, consisting of a wood fire in a trough in the ground, ventilated with a handpump (intended for inflating mattresses and the like) connected to a steel pipe from an old vacuum cleaner using some clay, and with the back of a large axe stuck in a chopping block as an anvil. Probabl, wouldn't work for biggee projects, but it was quite adequate for forging a couple of knife blades from an old broken gouge, and for heating and straightening some garden tools.
Thanks I didn’t even know how to get started. You differently changed my life
Thank you for taking the time to make this video! :)
Excellent video. Thank you so much! Never considered how I could step into blacksmithing till now.
That's a great setup for $500 that's about what i spend to setup. first made hooks to sell then invested the money to build my shop. going to get making things again soon. have a great evening
I left a comment on the patreon, but I’d like to reiterate, it’s important for a smith to have a source of clean-ish cool water somewhere in the shop.
Another excellent video sir, your channel has taught me a lot in my own blacksmithing journey.
can sponsor the anvil, very well made for a good price. i have a small collection of three tongs, four hammers, and some punch/cut tools i made. The forge i made is a self made firepot on top of 55-gal old oil drum.
Definitely hit the yard sales, I just picked up more tongs, a old school wood carry box and punches, all for $10 and about fifty new files of different sizes for $20.
I've thought about how to get into crafting and it's genuinely hopeful to see that such a fine craft is not out of reach
Thank you for this video. I’ve always had a desire to work with metal. Be it welding or black smithing. I joke with my wife that I was born with a dwarf spirit to work with metal. This video gives me a good starting point and may even kick that hobby off.
I am lucky enough that that I have most of my stuff and have been learning from you for years now. but it still amazes me how I can still glean things even from the basic stuff. wish this video had been around when I started! thanks!
I've been wanting to get into blacksmithing myself, so over the years I've been collecting everything that I need to get started. Material wise I been checking the local scrapyard for materials and I have a sizable pile of angle and round bar and flat stock already. Just need a shed to put it in!
Fantastic beginners forge John, thanks for sharing with us. Got to send this to a couple folks for sure. Fred.
Excellent video. I didn't know that I wanted to be a blacksmith until I watched this. Best wishes from Wales, UK
This series is just what I needed. At the moment I'm in it just for the hobby, and already had some of the gear. I did end up getting the Vevor forge thanks to your recommendation (currently on order, can't wait!! ) I started making some J hooks in my soup can forge, but it's just not big enough to put the bend in them. Thanks again, following this series closely!
Glad to help!
I built my forges and burners. Made my own tongs. Made an ASO. Bought a HF cross peen. I started for 100 bux and I did not buy any cheap Vevor garbage.
Forge On!!!
I was very lucky starting out. My grandfather was a blacksmith and my grandmother gave me his entire shop. He probably had about 40 different types of tongs, some of which I use and some that just hang on the wall because I honestly don't know what to use them for. His anvil was 400 lbs, which is bigger than I really need, but I use it anyway. I get a lot of my metal from scrap yards for cheap.
This is such a valuable channel. What an opportunity to be able to profit from your experience! Thank you!! Greetings from Germany!
Great help for the ultra beginner. I just received my Vevor anvil, and worked with a local tree arborist to get a suitable log. My next step is to use the router technique to level off the log for the anvil such that it's around knuckle height with the anvil mounted.
Great to hear!
Love this new side step you are taking! It reminds me of some years ago I started watching your channel and starting blacksmithing.
Excellent tips and video , appreciate your honest comments , good to see Blacksmiths are alive and well!
Super appreciate this outlook. Extremely in-depth with a no nonsense approach, and gained a subscriber. Excited to watch the next videos!
Welcome aboard!
I really appreciate all you do to help others.
I just found your channel. I LOVE IT! I am looking forward to watching more videos in your library!
Welcome aboard!
Excellent teaching presentation/demonstration!!!
Enjoyed your instructions
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hello John. I am looking at your video on blacksmith for beginners. The red vise Wilton is the one I will find for my grandson Wilton .
Made my first forge with a baking pan, some steel pipe, an air mattress pump and some salvaged wood for the frame. Didn’t work great but worked well enough to move metal. There’s always a way to get started.
Edit to add: it wasn’t my idea. I got it from a TH-cam video but I can’t remember the creator.
Yard sales, I have found alot of my tools at yard sales and flea markets over the years. There is still alot of nice stuff out there you just have go look for it.
Yard sales in our area don't seem to have much other than hammers and hack saw frames.
John awesome and very informative and very helpful video this week. Can’t wait to see more videos soon. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work my friend. Forge On. Fab On. Weld On. Keep Forge lit. Keep Making. God Bless.
I just rec'd my forge from Vevor, the single burner you suggested. I will be setting it up and running this weekend. Thank you for the great video and recommendations.
Enjoy using it.
I've often thought about trying to learn forge work. Been around several blacksmiths in a reenacting setting, but never had the chance to try it. They, of course, use the old school coal forge. Closest I ever got was "getting" to pump the billows! :)
I think I might try this!
Glad to help
Merci pour votre expertise. J'ai beaucoup d'admirations pour votre travail, ainsi que pour votre présentation simple et compréhensive, pour le débutant que je suis. J'ai, grâce à vous, une liste d'achats pour mettre en pratique ma propre forge. Je vous souhaite le meilleur et un très bon Noel depuis la France !
I told a friend of your show who wants to learn blacksmithing , All he watches is is forged in fire.
I tried to show him some of the things you showed me for beginners
Forged in Fire is probably the WORST program to learn the fundamentals of blacksmithing...pure theatrics.
Watching this at 23:10, hit subscribe five minutes in. Binging content tomorrow. Outstanding.
Very excited about this series! I have been wanting to get into the craft for a number of years, this weeks to be a great starting point.
Good video. Thank you for sharing this knowledge! I think we're about the same age.
Some opinions from past experience: Whatever hacksaw frame works for me, but I will now only buy Starrett blades. The difference in cutting quality is absolutely night and day. A pair of blades (I like 24tpi) will cost you $5.24 at Amazon and will cut like new for years. 22:30 Yeah, try the Starretts yourself. That cutoff would have taken a dozen strokes, not 3-4 dozen. ;)
A friend with too many hammers will usually give/sell you some if you ask. I got 9 once, free.
My $27 Harbor Freight 5.5" mechanic's vise is still kicking. I bought it in 1976 and beat it weekly. The 3" vises aren't much cheaper than 4", and 4-incher (and up) usually come with pipe jaws built in.
I researched small anvils and the Acciaio 30kg got good reviews. My $97 Vevor is due tomorrow.
Southern Oregon, my propane refills average $8.
And, $3.99 earmuffs at HF plus a pair of 33dB ear plugs save your ears handily.
Liked and subscribed!
Really cool $500 build. I will say, for the cost of the hacksaw, blades, and file you can get a corded angle grinder and disks instead. If I had a super tight budget, that's probably the route I would go. You can use the grinder with a cutoff wheel for hogging off material, then clamp it in the vice with other wheels and disks for finer shaping, sharpening, or polishing. It's much more versatile on a tight budget, and you'll end up wanting to buy one in the long run anyway.
I’ve used the Vevor forge for a year now, and I am new to the hobby still trying to get nicer stuff, but it has worked very well. Make sure to get firebricks to hold in the heat on that little beast!
Plot twist: The *actual* initial investment you need to make is renting/buying land on which to work.
Ouch
I loving the idea of this no reason not to start now
Great content, very well spoken, for all my file handles I have found that golf balls work the best for me, plus they are cheap,drill a hole and drive it on,it fits comfortably in the palm of my hand! 🏁
thank you for sharing your experience
Thanks John. I really enjoyed that. Looking forward to more in this series.
We operate with the very same set up for our side set up, a mobile set up and when we have others in the smithy. Great video and great way to enter the craft with new tools and quality way to get started.
What an amazing, informational video that really covers all the bases for getting started!
Glad it was helpful!
Last August, I won the Mr Volcano forge from Roy @ Christ Centered Ironworks. I love my little one burner forge, and I have a homemade solid fuel forge for anything that doesn't fit in the Mr Volcano.