Backyard forge up and running . . . kinda

Grab some scaffolding, plywood, and Harbor Freight clamps and what do you get?

You get the Backyard Forge, a secluded five- by seven-foot space with a dirt floor and a plywood roof. Otherwise, it's open to the elements.

In this photo, the roof has not been installed.

This is a test of the entire setup. I needed a place out of the sun—not just because it's so hot, but because semi-darkness is required to see the colors of the steel. The forge (furnace) is at the upper right. The anvil, for what it's worth, is at the lower left.

The anvil was a mistake I made because of my fervor to learn blacksmithing.

Math lesson
Learn this equation: Craig's List + fervor = bad decision.


Below, I'm inserting a steel rod into the forge. This is much better than yesterday's bright, sunny, out-in-the-open location.

Bending the metal into a hook.