Workshop & Equipment

Views of my workshop

 

 

Power Hammer

I own a 15kg Anyang pneumatic power hammer totally self-contained with hard-hitting power and plugs into a normal single phase plug socket. It’s industrial so will work all day, everyday, with reliable and efficient forging. It’s only 89cms long x 46cms wide x 155cms high. Hits at 280/per minute and weighs 540kg (mine’s a bit heavier because the base is full of sand.)

Gas Forge

I am still using a gas forge that I bought in USA and had shipped over to the Middle East in 1996 when my husband was on an Airforce posting over there. It has been relined a few times since then but still works fine and I use it virtually on a daily basis. It is basically a steel tube, lined with two inches of kaowool, sealed with a rigidizer and with a ceramic brick floor. It withstands temperatures up to approx. 1260C. I run the forge with 45kg propane gas cylinders, which lasts about a month on average. I heat all my steel up in this first before using my hammer.

To view a video of me sharing more about power hammers click here.

Anvil

My anvil is 1 cwt or 51kgs. It has England stamped on the side and the year 1964 and that’s it. I shipped it over from UK as part of my house contents. My dad bought it for me originally. It’s actually quite small as far as anvils go but I’m very happy. I’m so glad I brought it with me because it would cost ten times more here in Australia. A lot of people just starting out use bits of railway sleepers to hammer the metal on with good results.

Tongs

I have over 40 pairs of tongs that I have been given or bought and a few handmade. My favourite two pairs at the moment are a pair I bought in USA last year which step down at the front and means I can hold my steel running parallel with my tongs along and part of its length, very very useful. And the other pair I bought recently from a blacksmith called Wayne Saunders after I watched him using his adjustable tongs to fit varying widths of bar steel, great for when I’m graduating the length of my bottle openers, and can use the same tongs throughout.

Flypress

I own a flypress that has A P Lever, Mascot, Sydney written on the side and a number 1 N on the front which usually denotes the tons capacity of the flypress. I estimate it is equivalent to a 4/5 ton capacity [I am sure someone will not hesitate to correct me]. My flypress is a type of screw press that is operated manually. It has an overhead handle that has a ball as a flyweight, which makes it smoother and easier to operate. I can use my flypress for numerous activities but mainly use it for punching, pressing and forging. I do this by making punches and dies of various shapes, which fit closely together when I insert my steel between the punch and die when I swing the handle. If you’re interested in finding out more about my blacksmith equipment, or you’d like to view my workshop, (quick video here.)

Why not have a blacksmith lesson? You can find out more by emailing me here.

If you’re not in my area it would be wonderful to share my skills via Facebook with you. You can follow me here.

Female Blacksmith SHOP