Hello I have this abandoned fireplace in my backyard and I really got into blacksmithing and want to take it as my new hobby.

I thought it will be cool to remake this place for forge but I really don’t know what to be aware of or what should be my game plan. Any advice is welcomed and I wish you great day!

Sorry for my English I am not native speaker :)

We finished this project a few weeks ago. Manzanitas are a quirky little tree native to the far west of the US. When we finished it, they asked to see what it would look like to add a couple midrails, so we came up with an idea for that which they later decided against.

Very excited to be finally starting this project.

I've been forging birds for a handrail out of 1" round stock. I'm demonstrating a few more places this year. (I'm demonstrating forging bronze) I'll be in Oklahoma with Ellen Durkan in October. In NW Texas the first week of November. And at the ABANA conference in Arkansas in November.

I also teach out of my shop in Richmond, CA

Using a guillotine tool to true up the transition between the eye and the poll

I have hit a milestone in my forging abilities! Apparently I am finally getting good enough that my wife invites me to add hand forged accents to OUR HOUSE! (It’s a remodeled 1860s log cabin so forged accents fit the them)

I stole the idea for floating shelves that look like canoe paddles from an Etsy shop and made them better by using the cedar and walnut strips look of Feather Brand paddles. I actually thought about using real paddles but they aren’t really flat like shelves should be!

The brackets are forged from strips of wrought iron wagon tire that I salvaged from a wagon whee that had been used for yard decoration until the wood rotted away.

Thak Ironworks has a YouTube video series on forging the parts of a fleur de lis. That was a great start for making the finials. I ended up making multiple versions of the spears and side petals to get the hang of it. Then I picked the peices that mated best for two sets.

The band is decorated with a hot chiseled cord pattern and the metal got a black oxide finish (ferric nitrate solution) with brass brushed accents.

This particular horseshoe doesn’t want to harden so it’s a letter opener. Don’t wanna push it as the nail holes are still there. Still a fun project and am looking forward to sanding this to a mirror finish if i can.

Has anybody ever Beaten there plowshares into swords like from joel 3:10?

Hey everyone

I just got my first gas forge lined in kaowool and I was wondering if there's any Aussies who have gotten refractory cement in Australia?

I’m interested in building some dies for my press. I want them to be durable but as economical as possible. Material needs to be roughly 1.5x3 inches. Other than h13 what would be a good option?

Sharing one of our All-Purpose Tactical Ginunting builds.

This version features a traditional-inspired Ginunting blade profile paired with a more tactical handguard setup. The build uses a rat-tail tang, stainless steel pin and ferrule, and an extended stainless steel handguard.

Specifications:

• Blade Length: 15 in
• Blade Material: 5160 Carbon Steel
• Hardness: 57–60 HRC
• Handle: Chico wood
• Scabbard: Mahogany
• Belt Loop: Stainless Steel Belt Loop
• Finish: Standard Satin
• Intended Use: Collection / Display

Mostly sharing this one for the showcase — would be interested to hear what you think about the blade profile, handle, and extended guard design.