Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
10:09 pm
NWBA Member
February 17, 2011
Offline
I've been running a smithing program at Hahobas Boy Scout camp for the last few years, and the program has been growing by leaps and bounds.
Right now nearly all of our tools and equipment are either stuff I built myself or bought on Craigslist. We're desperately in need of more anvils and post vises, but also need lots more hand tools (tongs, anvil tools, etc.) We could also use another coal forge or two.
I have a very small amount of money set aside to buy anvils, but that's it. We're using railroad rails for most of the anvils, but need to be able to teach the boys how to use an anvil horn. We only have one anvil with a real horn, so this gets difficult when we're busy with a lot of boys in the smithy.
If you have an anvil you'd be willing to sell cheap to the scouts, let me know. Even better, if you're willing to donate anything, that would be fantastic. (I can make sure you get a receipt from the camp if you want to claim the tool's value as a charitable donation on your taxes.)
Even hand tools would be helpful. For example, if you want to spend an evening making tongs to donate, we would gladly put them to use.
Thanks,
--Tracy
4:37 pm
We could also use another coal forge or two.
look up plans for an easy to build sideblast or side draft forge. cheap easy from scrap.
5:34 pm
NWBA Member
February 17, 2011
Offline
jack frost;7587 wrote:
look up plans for an easy to build sideblast or side draft forge. cheap easy from scrap.
Yep. We currently have 5 forges. 3 are rectangular forges I built myself, and two are small "riveter' type forges. The forge bodies themselves are very straightforward to build, particularly since we have a pile of 1/2" steel plates at camp that used to be concrete stove lids. They make excellent forge pan bases. I just add a dropped section in the middle for a firepot, put sides on it, and add legs.
However, hand crank forge blowers aren't something I can easily build myself. I prefer not to use electric forge blowers, as I want something that will shut off when a scout isn't busy turning the crank. One of our riveter forges has an electric blower on it- it makes a heck of a lot of noise, and we have to constantly remember to get the scouts to turn it off when they walk away.
I've been thinking of rigging up a foot switch to it, as well as any new forges I build with electric blowers, but the hand crank blower setup is definitely my preference.
Like I said, we'll use whatever tools folks are willing to donate. If that's a complete coal forge, it saves a lot of time in building more forge pans. If it's just a blower, that's great too, I can build the pans myself, though the construction of the new smithy is obviously higher on the list of what to spend my time on. 🙂
With 5 forges, we usually had 4 or 5 boys sharing each forge. I'd like to add a couple more, both to ease congestion when we get busy, and to plan for the fact that the program seems to be growing each year.
Thanks for the tip!
--Tracy
Most Users Ever Online: 668
Currently Online:
22 Guest(s)
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
Larry L: 1566
Grant: 1420
Bruce Macmillan: 625
Lee Cordochorea: 595
Lynn Gledhill: 572
JNewman: 520
Gene C: 504
J Wilson: 426
Eric Sprado: 383
Tom Allyn: 340
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 22
Members: 8725
Moderators: 4
Admins: 1
Forum Stats:
Groups: 23
Forums: 97
Topics: 3538
Posts: 20289
Newest Members:
churndashmaven, cameliacity, fred.f.chopin, RuoYi, rodeoneerer, NWBABjorn, mddangelo, Nevillberger, Crusty Veteran, redwoodforgeoaklandModerators: Steve McGrew: 77, N.W.B.A.: 72, webmaster: 0, bluehost: 0
Administrators: admin: 540
Usage Policy