My Forge, Air Pump, and Anvil

While at the Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction, AZ we went to the Superstition Mountain Museum.  We met the blacksmith that works at the old west town outside of the museum.  He was a really nice guy and talked to me for a long time about forging.  We actually went there three times and I talked to him for a while each time.  He owns Iron Grip Blacksmithing.  One of the times we went there he showed me how to make little patch knives for black powder shooting.  I told him what I'm wanting to do and what I need to get.  He gave me a piece of railroad rail to use for an anvil (top left)!  I think it's going to work great.  He also told me how to make a pump blower that is light and portable.  I decided his idea was the best yet so I went back to Ace Hardware and got the stuff I need to build it.  I got a piece of 4" PVC, 1/2" PVC and some kind of sink drain tool that gets bigger when you tighten the nut on top of it.  I still need to get some metal pipe to attach the pump (bottom right) to the forge (bottom left).  Let me know what you think.

     

Getting My Grill Forge and Looking For a Blower

Well, I went to Ace Hardware today.  I bought a little tabletop grill to use as a forge.  I'm not sure what to do for a blower.  I found a little foot pump made for bike tires that I think might work.  I need to find something that's light and easy to take apart.  I want to make sure I get something that is going to blow enough air to keep the coals as hot as their supposed to be.  There was a very nice man at Ace Hardware that helped me out with some ideas and showed me some things that might work for a blower.  He also told me to use fireplace tongs instead of the more expensive forging tongs.  If you've got any ideas for  a blower please let me know. 

Where I'm At

This is where I'm at with knifemaking.  I started out when I took one of Tom McGinnis', owner of Ozark Forge, knifemaking classes.  I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to keep going with it.  I went over to his shop quite a bit and learned as much as I could about making handles and doing filework.  I soon started making knives on my own, the first of which I gave to my Dad.  I also started making sheaths for the hunting knives I was making.  I kept working on improving my filework.  Soon I started buying boxes of blades from Jantz Supply and found that a lot of people would buy a handmade knife even if I wasn't forging the blades.  I started making paring, steak, and fillet knives, also.  I began thinking about learning to forge but then we left!  We've wanted to travel full time for years, Mom and Dad just finally decided it was time.  Well, that put a cork in my knifemaking for a while.  I had to leave all my tools and stock behind in our storage trailer.  Whenever I got the chance I made a few knives, though.  I used my uncle's tools to make a fillet knife while in Florida.  When we went back to Missouri I used a friend's tools to make a couple hunting knives.  Then, while in Arizona this winter, I decided I really wanted to start making knives full-time again.  For Christmas I got a band saw and a drill press.  I bought some sanding drums and used the drill press for a sander, also.  I made about ten kitchen knives.  We were able to cram the tools under our desk in the back room of the camper.  Well, that's where I'm at.  I want to go ahead and start forging while we're still on the road.  I'm gonna take it slow and learn all I can in the process.  I'm going to write about everything I do and purchase on here so you can learn from me and I can learn from you.  Feel free to comment on any of my posts.  Let me know your ideas or how you've done it!