Brian Dougherty

Oh man, I'm so sorry! Glad you are ok.

I got a lot out of that same video. The way those hammers work was a mystery to me until I watched that. Now I want to go off an build my own

@ChrisBriggs I'd love to see your build progress if you can take the time to share it with us. That's a big ask, but something like this is about the only way I would get a hammer in the next few years.

A single black beauty burner is probably plenty for a 20lb propane tank forge, and it will be much easier on gas use. I currently run 2 of them in a forge made from an old forklift propane tank which is several inches longer than a 20lb tank. It welds well, but is definitely a gas hog. My last forge had a single homemade burner in a 20lb tank shell, and it welded fine. Listen to Geoff's advice above. I don't have electricity in my forging shed, so I can't use a blown burner, but I really wish I could. I've also found what Charles said to be very true.

Feel free to add on...

For first forge, and one made out of a 20lb tank, I would recommend one burner. Two burners will use up a lot more gas, and won't net you anything when you are just starting out. I used my single burner forge made from a 20lb tank for 4 or 5 years, before I decided I really needed a second burner in a larger forge. That was only because I primary do pattern welding, and I wanted to get a 6-8" section up to welding heat. If it weren't for that, I'd still be using a single burner.

Ba-dah dah-dum I’m sittin’ in a basement office Tryin’ hard to work from home I was the last in the family to work remote So there was nowhere in the house to roam. Ba-dah dah-dum Stumbling around with my mini-laptop Lookin’ for a nice place to sit But every time I entered a new room They’d say “Dad you’ve got to split!” Ba-dah dah-dum Finaly, down to the basement I retreated full of hope I was eyebalin’ my messy work bench Could hear my boss in my head sayin’ “Nope!” Ba-dah dah-dum I shoved a mess aside, and sat my bottom down Now I’m trying real hard to work with all my toys around! Ba-dah dah-dum

This, my friend, is a matter of taste

I love the Private Snafu cartoons/fables!

yeah, to either sit or or lean against so you aren't trying to get a hold of the blade while it is sitting flat on the floor. This is clear in my head, but I may not be describing it well.

You'll need to get or make yourself some tongs. There are a lot of different types for holding different shapes, and everybody develops their own favorites. You also need to just leave the blade in the forge without holding on to it. Even tongs will loose their grip if you let them get to forging temps, so you can't really just leave them in the fire all the time Looking at your forge, it might help to put a small piece of brick on the floor to hole the blade up a bit to make it easier to grab.

That is an interesting idea. I would think the coal would use up any excess oxygen in the forge creating a neutral or reducing atmosphere which is ideal for welding. Now that you have a press, every millimeter of a billet won't seem as precious. Do yourself a favor, and make yourself weld one up without flux. Once you do, I bet you won't go back.

Neat. I could actually do that, where as I am terrible at forging a socket the "traditional" way. The fixture he used for quenching was something I have never seen before either.

How does one make a hollow ground leaf shaped blade? The bevel angle must change subtly as it passes through the concave section of the blade. I assume this is one of those high level craftsman/artist things where the changing bevel is just blended in by eye?

Wow, nice piece. The steel looks ancient. Your hands made that oosic stand proud! (Sorry, cabin fever is taking hold) Are all the little lobed sheath fittings investment cast? If so, could you tell me what investment you like to use for bronze? It's something I want to try soon, but the options are baffling.