Scott, I would suggest checking your area craigslist in tools, antiques, and collectibles. Also the Florida Artists Blacksmith Association. Anvils and forges are out there, just have to do some hunting for them. My first anvil was off ebay and there are some deals there.

Good luck.

Brion

Thanks Brion

I found an anvil. I purchased it last night.

As for a forge, I fabricated a coal forge with the help of a machinist friend. All you need is a sheet steel table (10 guage or thicker) set on some sort of frame. My first frame was of salvaged hemlock 2 x 6 lumber. I bought a fire pot from Centaur Forge, and was lucky enough to purchase an old Champion hand crank blower from a local blacksmith.

If you can't find an old blower, Centaur Forge sells electric ones (though they're more expensive), or I have heard that you can rig up a shop vac with a damper in the twere, to use as a blower.

I know a lot of knife makers out there prefer a gas forge for the uniform heat, but I really enjoy using my coal forge for both forging and welding. It is ideal for my set up, as I don't have electricity in my shop.

Good luck!

Jordan

I made my coal forge with a brake drum as a fire pot. If you have an auto scrap near you they will probanly give you one for little to no money. Mine was 5 bucks. I have that set into an old grill bottom with clay and a cement top. The fittings are galvanized 3" pipe fittings and I got a handcrank blower on ebay. The whole thing is sitting on cinder blocks. It is ugly as all get out but it heats steal very nice and cost me about 30 bucks and 90 for the blower. Don't get a cast iron anvil. They are garbage. Good luck and be safe.

Thanks ya'll for all your help.stock removal for now trying to learn the grinder. Next is to find a class . Haywood will be the closest. Have to wait till march. But that's ok.sincerly Scott gallagher

Scott,

Check facebook for a group called Southern Bladesmiths, they are mostly Southern Georiga & Alabama and Northern Florida. They have four hammer-ins in the area a year, one of them may know of equipment for sale in the area or just join in the hammer-in, meet a few new faces and maybe learn some too.

Ok thanks steve