Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Pat B on January 28, 2018, 09:56:16 pm

Title: At the Forge
Post by: Pat B on January 28, 2018, 09:56:16 pm
I'm starting this poll to see how deep the interest in a dedicated blacksmithing/bladesmithing forum would be. If we decide to go ahead with the new forum   we'll also need to set up rules so I'd like input on that also. After that a decision will be made by the Administrators and Moderators. This poll will run until next Sunday night February 4, 2018.
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: Pat B on January 29, 2018, 09:02:48 am
This poll will determine whether we start a dedicated forum for blacksmithing/bladesmithing so if you're interested get your votes in and let other members know about the poll. Only one vote per member.   :OK
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: bjrogg on January 29, 2018, 09:05:39 am
I voted Pat.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: BowEd on January 29, 2018, 09:37:34 am
My only thoughts are is that I'm for it even though I don't have a home made forge,but should other forums for tanning/leather work/wood carving skills/pottery/or basket weaving be given as much consideration also?I suppose Primitive Skills cover those topics.

Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: Pat B on January 29, 2018, 10:18:12 am
Ed, we can't get carried away. I'm sure there is lots of primitive skills we could dedicate a forum to but lets keep it simple. Primitive Skills can cover the rest. I don't have a forge either but I'd be interested in trying to build a simple one for a few projects.
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: osage outlaw on January 29, 2018, 11:26:09 am
I voted. 

Pat, I made a very simple gas forge for heat treating knives out of a coffee can, plaster of paris, and sand.  Bubby told me how to do it.  I use a small torch for the heat source. 
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: bjrogg on January 29, 2018, 11:58:26 am
I think I understand what Ed is saying. I also think I understand what Pat is saying. I think the Primitive skills and around the campfire covers most stuff pretty well. I do think there's probably enough information to learn about forging that it could if accepted become its own section. I know I've got a lot of high quality steel that gets hauled to the "recycler" scrape yard every year. Wouldn't mind learning how to make forge and turn some of it into swords. Just the opposite of from "swords to plow shares"lol.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: Pat B on January 29, 2018, 11:59:21 am
Clint, once(if) we get the new forum up maybe you could post pics with a description.
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: Stoker on January 29, 2018, 12:40:08 pm
Voted..
Thanks Leroy
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: MWirwicki on January 29, 2018, 01:52:20 pm
I voted.  Have always had an interest.  Would like to try my hand at some smithing, myself.
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: JEB on January 29, 2018, 02:26:02 pm
voted.  I would like to learn something as simple as making fire strikers.  I like to give a few things away for donations to archery shoots and other fundraisers and that would just add to my collection of giveaways.
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: ---GUTSHOT---> on January 29, 2018, 05:27:45 pm
Big yes from me.
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: Greybuff on January 29, 2018, 06:48:59 pm
I say leave it as it is. As a blacksmith with a fully functioning blacksmith shop (power hammer, hydraulic press etc.) there are numerous places on the internet, youtube even state and a national organizations devoted to blacksmithing by itself and also knife making. The name of the magazine and this forum is "PRIMITIVE ARCHER" this is a very unique place that covers a great subject (PRIMITIVE ARCHERY and it's tools)
That to my knowledge, is not found anywhere else. If you try to be all things to all people, you lose sight of what your main focus was all about.
PM me if you want to learn about the national organization and it's state affilates. They are a good source of info and also offer monthly/bi-monthly get togethers for the purpose of spreading the art of blacksmithing.
Thanks.......paul
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: Trapper Rob on January 29, 2018, 07:52:28 pm
I voted also.
I've got a coal forge made out of a tractor trailer drum & a blower from a oil furnace.
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: vinemaplebows on January 29, 2018, 07:53:03 pm
I say leave it as it is. As a blacksmith with a fully functioning blacksmith shop (power hammer, hydraulic press etc.) there are numerous places on the internet, youtube even state and a national organizations devoted to blacksmithing by itself and also knife making. The name of the magazine and this forum is "PRIMITIVE ARCHER" this is a very unique place that covers a great subject (PRIMITIVE ARCHERY and it's tools)
That to my knowledge, is not found anywhere else. If you try to be all things to all people, you lose sight of what your main focus was all about.
PM me if you want to learn about the national organization and it's state affilates. They are a good source of info and also offer monthly/bi-monthly get togethers for the purpose of spreading the art of blacksmithing.
Thanks.......paul

Well as a archer I don't gut things with a broadhead, and since not "all" archers carry stone knives, and flint knapping along with several other topics on this board have nothing to do with primitive archery, we would be left with quite a dull board. So, you can imagine how I voted  :)
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: Pat B on January 29, 2018, 09:34:15 pm
Keep the votes and opinions coming, folks. We're interested in all opinions. That's how we'll make an educated decision.
Thanks for your opposition opinion, Greybuff. You've made some good points.
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: lebhuntfish on January 29, 2018, 11:43:53 pm
Well,  I was a little up in the air about this, especially after reading all the comments.
At first I thought,  heck yeah, thats a great idea! 
But then I thought,  just how many post have I seen on black smithing of any sorts in around the campfire over the last few years.  There has been some really interesting ones on there.  As well as a lot of other special skills. Heck I even posted a set of cabinets I built and a reperpased entertainment center I made into a kitchen for my neices. 

I guess what I'm saying is,  I really enjoy the variety in the campfire.  Anything from guns, to knives, to toys or even new shops and man caves. 

Blade and black smithing is a fine art of its own for sure.  But I think we can all agree that if someone asked a smithing question in the campfire they would get all the help they needed.  So that being said,  I vote to leave things the way they are. 
Don't get me wrong,  I would partake in a smithing forum in a heart beat.  But I just think the way things are on primitive archer is good just like it is. 

Patrick
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: Parnell on January 30, 2018, 08:10:37 am
Haven't read through all the comments but my first instinct is perhaps a child board for around the campfire.

Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: Stringman on January 30, 2018, 08:38:28 am
I’m not normally so neutral on a topic. More often than not, my opinion is much more firm. In this case, however, I really don’t care one way or the other.
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: bjrogg on January 30, 2018, 09:30:49 am
I’m not normally so neutral on a topic. More often than not, my opinion is much more firm. In this case, however, I really don’t care one way or the other.

Scott that's honestly the way I feel to. I understand the different view points. I feel them myself. I'm fine with whichever way this goes. I'm sure if I wanted to go to another site I could learn a enormous amount. I do believe this site should always keep its "Primitive Archer" as its number one priority. I am however kind of a jack of all trades master of none type guy. I'm interested in forging but not enough so far to visit another site. I would watch this one though. This is the only site of any kind that I belong to and I do feel like I belong to it.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: osage outlaw on January 30, 2018, 10:14:47 am
I don't think it would take anything away from PA.  It's more of a way to organize posts based on topic.  The search function on this site sucks.  Having all the metal work posts on one page would make it easier to find one if you wanted to. 
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: jeffp51 on January 30, 2018, 11:40:48 am
I don't like child boards much.  I love seeing knives and blacksmithing--I think they go really well in the campfire section, and I hope to see lots and lots of them there.

Also, to the comment above about flintknapping--it absolutely does have something to do with archery--it's the whole point of archery, you could say :-K 8)  far more than smithing does--except for making bodkin points an the like.
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: Hawkdancer on January 30, 2018, 12:56:49 pm
My thinking is similar to Clint.  Forging is actually a rather primitive skill, even with all the modern advancements in equipment.  The organization advantage is my logic.  A better search function would also be very nice.  "Primitive" is a rather large tent, tipi, or lodge, and the skills are many.
Hawkdancer
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: bubby on January 30, 2018, 01:04:26 pm
Well I don't have a problem with it, most of the guys I know that do it build most of their equipment or remake it. I saw the argument about this being a archery forum, but when's the last time you read the magazine? It has strayed quite a ways from just archery, in fact under the name of the magazine it used to say classical archery and now it says classical weapons
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: Stringman on January 30, 2018, 01:26:12 pm
(ducks as daggers whiz past my head.)

Look out Bubby!  :o
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: cjkopec on January 30, 2018, 08:47:39 pm
I voted. I have been wanting to get back at the forge for some time now.  I’d love to see some inspiration and get some advice.
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: UtahChippewa on January 30, 2018, 09:50:39 pm
I voted as well.... also, quoted from my favorite Blacksmith of all time Rory May... aka dirtysmith  “Blacksmiths, since 1500 B.C....... even welders need a hero”

And amen to Osage outlaw’s post!!!
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: JEB on January 31, 2018, 08:04:31 am
I did vote for it earlier.  If there is no additional cost to have a separate forum thread then I say go for it.  It will make it much easier to find black smithing when you want to view it.  Black smithing has about as much to do with Primitive Archery  as the Black Powder and Cooking threads do.  I also noticed that Flintknapping, which  really has a limited group of people that do it, has a sub forum ABO that hasn't been visited since July of 2017 yet there is no harm in having  that forum.

Consider giving it a go and if it fails to have an active following you can eliminate it down the road.

Thanks to the admins for their hard work on this site.
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: Stoker on January 31, 2018, 08:43:13 am
A very good point JEB. Maybe a sub forum in primitive skills similar to ABO..  :OK
Thanks Leroy
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: bjrogg on January 31, 2018, 11:15:28 am
I personally think forging has more in common with primitive Archery than muzzle loader. It's a very old skill that has changed some but still mostly the same.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: Strelets on January 31, 2018, 12:51:44 pm
I voted "yes". Although I don't have a forge I am very interested to know how it is done. It is very relevant to medieval archery, my main interest. If the forum goes ahead I will draw Hector Cole's attention to it. He is a professional arrowsmith, making a range of arrowheads based on medieval originals. He also makes swords, daggers and the like.
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: bjrogg on February 05, 2018, 01:02:46 pm
So does that mean we are going to have a forge section on this site or are there further considerations?
Bjrogg
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: Stoker on February 05, 2018, 02:06:21 pm
So does that mean we are going to have a forge section on this site or are there further considerations?
Bjrogg


They the powers to be will discuss it..
Thanks Leroy
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: Pat B on February 05, 2018, 05:22:49 pm
Sorry guys. I forgot about. 58 people voted and 42 were for the dedicated blacksmith/bladesmith forum. I'll send Marc a PM about getting it set up.
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: ---GUTSHOT---> on February 05, 2018, 07:16:03 pm
https://imgur.com/a/v4Pcj Found this forge for $130
Title: Re: At the Forge
Post by: UtahChippewa on February 05, 2018, 07:27:50 pm
Ya better snag it! At that price it should offset the 1200$ price for a haybudden anvil! ;D