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[Anvilfolk]

Yeah, I'm a grad student too. Was an apprentice smith for 1 year, but then I took a university to the knee. I'm going back home now for one year, and my biggest hope right now is to get back into smithing

I hope you recuperate well from the surgery and start this again. It's an amazing craft. First thing I ever did was burn half a horseshoe because I was just looking at everyone else unbending theirs. It's just gorgeous, beautiful, and hard!

I keep trying to convince people that swords and knives are the most boring things you can do. Some smithing, then infinite amounts of polishing, which has to be the most boring occupation in the world. Check blacksmithing sites, not bladesmithing sites, and you might just be surprised at the wonderfully aesthetic stuff you can do! Check these guys, for instance: http://www.redstarironworks.com/portfolio/portfolio

[kisame12794]

I agree with the knives being very boring to make. The latest knife I made took two hours to forge, then six hours to sharpen. Granted, I was doing it by hand with a whetstone. Polishing hasn't started yet, and neither has the sheath. By the end, I probably will have spent over ten hours on one knife. But the satisfaction you get from looking at that knife and saying "Yeah I made this knife." is amazing. Totally worth it to me.

[Anvilfolk]

I get it from all the other pieces I did. Heck, I even get it from the tongs I made

[klingon13524]

What I don't have, I can always purchase from the Amish. - Kilroy the Grand

That's a great philosophy on life. I'll have to coin that.

[Kilroy the Grand]

my current setup isn't working at all. I went to an Amish auction and they had squat. I don't have any of the right tools and until I get them, making much of anything will be hard to do.

[kisame12794]

Do you have an anvil? You can use a chunk of a railroad tie to get started, and use pliers as tongs until you can make them.

[Anvilfolk]

What do you have? That info might help us help you!

I've personally had bad luck with charcoal, but I think mine was made from particularly bad wood. I would definitely go for mineral coal if you can find it.