BCUK smiths

**Everything Mac** · 16-12-2010, 14:32

Make yourselves known.

As suggested on the other thread - lets keep this Bushcrafty.

Coming to thing about it - everything I have made has been bushcrafty in one way or another.

been doing it for *counts fingers* the best part of 4 years now, though it is a hobby for me - I'm no pro. Just an apprentice.

atb
Andy

**Dave Budd** · 16-12-2010, 15:17

well, I guess I would count

most of the stuff I make could be considered bushcrafty, as is the way I teach/demonstrate forgin

I'm self taught and have been at it full time for getting on for 8 years now! (crikey is it that long now?)

**Nagual** · 16-12-2010, 15:45

Originally Posted by Everything Mac

been doing it for *counts fingers* the best part of 4 years now, though it is a hobby for me - I'm no pro. Just an apprentice.

atb
Andy

eeeek... sounds dangerous if you have to count your fingers...

I have my wheel rim, I have a few bits of metal.. all I really need is inspiration now...

**SteveW** · 16-12-2010, 16:28

This sounds like a good idea...

I have been working and training as a Smith for the last four years or so, but have only this year branched out and set up on my own. The link in my signature will show you a wee bit of what I've been up to, though it's still very much a WIP.

**robin wood** · 16-12-2010, 16:28

Well I have been forging my own woodworking tools for 20 years but I wouldn't call myself a smith.

**jojo** · 16-12-2010, 16:35

well, I guess I would count

Ermmm... I dunnow...had a look at your website...borderline reallly...

Count me in, I'll stick to bushcrafty stuff...Promise.

**launditch1** · 16-12-2010, 16:48

Ello!As you all may know i make Strike-a-lites and a whole manner of bushcrafty type metalwork like tripods, trivets, pot and utensil hangers, firegrills, knives&axes ect...
Im self taught and have been forging for about 6 years*i think*.

**Loenja** · 16-12-2010, 16:49

i am lucky enough to do metalwork at school,
and i have made 6 knives and some other things so far so i dont know if i count.
Lonja
ps will try and make a forge of some description asap

**dorkingbushcraft** · 16-12-2010, 17:19

i enjoy forging knives as a hobby, and i love it

**addo** · 16-12-2010, 17:29

Ive been doing a bit over the last year, just the basics though, still learning.

**Whittler Kev** · 16-12-2010, 18:54

Originally Posted by addo

still learning.

Me three.
Most know what I do, if not have a look at the link in the signature

**Silverhill** · 16-12-2010, 19:27

Cheers for starting the thread up Everything Mac. I've been snowed under since I 'invaded' Jojo's thread with the tentative suggestion yesterday..... I had no idea what volume of response it would receive!

I've been 'smithing for a couple of years now (I class a my start date as the date I purchased my first anvil back in 2007) although I was taught the basics of shaping metal and repairing various implements by my grandfather on my mothers side who was what you'd probably call 'an old-school general agricultural labourer and general fixer of things'

but when I grew older, my love of beer, women and motorbikes took priority.

Over the past couple of years, I've gravitated back to traditional forging having only just found the time and the room to make it work. Initially my forge was outside, so everything was hauled out of the shed and then put away again after a couple of hours forging which was a pain! The good news is, that I now have a roof so my forging will hopefully become more prolific.

How are we fixed for a group for BCUK smiths as per the Groups already within the community (such as Urban Bushcraft, Dark Ages Group etc..) ?

**Everything Mac** · 17-12-2010, 11:56

No idea.
As I said I'm only an apprentice - the likes of Dave and Robin, would be able to answer most questions far better than I.

Most of the smithing thread on here are the generic "I want to make myself a knife."

The smith who taught me most of what I know always said to me anyone can do blacksmithing as long as they can lift a hammer "Gravity'll do the rest

"

I must admit I do enjoy trying to teach people what I know. Lots of fun.

I'd be up for a wee group though.
Andy

**Tony** · 17-12-2010, 12:25

A group of smiths would be cool

**robin wood** · 17-12-2010, 12:48

Originally Posted by Everything Mac

the likes of Dave and Robin, would be able to answer most questions far better than I.

All the theory you could ever want and more is now easily accessible over the web. It took me years of chatting with all manner of folk to get details of different qualities of different steel, heat treating info etc, now it is all there for the sake of a few clicks. The theory is nothing though without practice. Anyone that fancies a go should set up a simple forge and bash hot metal. Only after a few hours bashing can you begin to ask the right questions and understand the basic theory. Then the more hours you bash the better you get. I have no doubt, as with most skills, that being shown exactly how to use a hammer, how to manage your fire and how to heat treat, would save a lot of failed experimentation so if you can afford it a basic intro course would speed the learning process lots.

**lannyman8** · 17-12-2010, 14:08

count me in, im very very basic and just starting, but OMG is it awesome....... did my first forged blade not long back, and im the same as Silverhill Forge when he started, out side and a tiny blade forge, its powered with coal but i like it alot.......

my big aim is to start doing dammy at home....... some way of yet though....... i have asked dave budd some questions, he is very very helpful and always willing to take time to help.......

so thanks dave........

chris....

**CaptainBeaky** · 17-12-2010, 15:08

Err...

I've forged a couple of knives and a couple of pokers, and I made a set of fire irons at school - I don't think this quite makes me a smith, tho'

Aspiring basher of hot metal, perhaps?

(Or maybe that should be "perspiring"...

)

**bilmo-p5** · 17-12-2010, 16:41

Total beginner here.

**Silverhill** · 17-12-2010, 20:08

Thank you to all those who've expressed an interest in a Blacksmith's group within the BCUK community, and thanks to Tony for the 'thumbs-up' to go ahead. I've taken the first steps towards getting things moving along. If I manage to get any time in the forge this weekend, I'll take a few photos and hopefully write a basic tutorial for one of my current personal favourites; the steel striker.

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/group.php?groupid=13

Please feel free to join the group and post any questions or photos of projects etc that you feel may be of interest or benefit to the group.

Regards,
Steve

**FreddyFish** · 17-12-2010, 20:27

I'm another newbie

**Neumo** · 17-12-2010, 21:50

I tried a DIY forge I made a few times last year & want to get back into it again as it is so much fun. I have seen Dave Budd’s knife making demo a few times & found it fascinating . I love the idea that you can get into it very cheaply & start making things out of metal that are useful, to me anyway. I will keep an eye on this & will join the group as I want to learn more. Maybe we could do something at the moot if it takes off.

**Whittler Kev** · 01-01-2011, 16:16

Another customer request for you perusal

He wanted three simple hooks to hang his new fire tools on (including his new poker I made him)

detail of the log dog

**ForgeCorvus** · 02-01-2011, 16:22

I was apprenticed for three years in my late teens, fell out of it for a while but have since done some odds and ends using other peoples gear

Once made a Dane-Axe for a TV program, it did air but I never got to see it

Looking to get my hand bellowed forge up and running again, space has been the biggest problem.

**JohnC** · 02-01-2011, 16:37

Would like to know a bit more about smithing after Everything Mac's tutorials at the Comrie Croft meet, I'm hoping to get a piece of rail knocked more into shape as an anvil...
I've made a knife, and made a fork (under supervision) but I'd like to do a bit more.

**Everything Mac** · 02-01-2011, 16:52

Did that turn out ok John?

Hope you took something away from it.

Andy

**Allybally** · 02-01-2011, 18:45

After seeing the rail anvil at Comrie getting a beating, i've made my own and have made my first knife, sooo much to learn!!
Hope to see some tips

Aldo

**lannyman8** · 02-01-2011, 19:15

funnyn this thread should come up again, it must be fate.......im making, or addleast trying to make damascus steel next weekend at a meet....

im going to useing a sledge hammer as an anvil (my normal one as its all i have) and club hammer, air bed foot pump with steel pipe as air flow, raised earth nest shape and will probably line it with some gravel of some sort, this should keep it nice and hot.....the fuel will be wood and coal......

the billets are going to be realy small though, probably just enough for a carving type blade.........

well we shall see how i get on, will be sure to take lots of pics (if the battery in the cammera dont die....lol...)....

regards.

chris...................

**cletus** · 02-01-2011, 19:23

Hello lads i'm new to all this just have been watching for a while,made a few knives and odds and sods just finished my forge and going to krank it up tomorrow. Made from an old landy wheel so will be asking all sorts of questions like coal or charcoal that sort of thing. Ill try and put some picys up well i'll get the wife to anyway.

**Everything Mac** · 02-01-2011, 19:37

I think we need pics.

Chris - don't line it with gravel mate - there is a good chance that the gravel will pop and maybe explode everywhere - not ideal.

you could line the forge with sand though mate. Pm Dave Budd - he uses a forge like that. You are in for one hell of a job though mate - I suggest you get something like this if electricity isn't an option.
http://www.tents-sale.com/index.asp?...ing&l3=Outwell

it pumps on the up and down stroke so you get a more even air flow.

I've never had any luck with damascus myself. - make sure you have lots of flux though.
Best of luck!!!

Hi Cletus - welcome aboard! I look forward to seeing your forge.

Ally - can't put a face to your name but best of luck mate

Andy

**lannyman8** · 02-01-2011, 19:46

hi Andy, ye i know about the gravel, what i mean is sand stone small pieces like grevel, no the normal flint type.........doh should have said......

i have flux coming this week (borax) and if i run out i will have to burn some straw (im using it as tinder for teaching) and use the ash as a flux, this has been used for thousands of years, so i have been told, also sand can be used.......

realy realy looking forward to it, if it does not work out i have plenty of 01 to play with........

chris...

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