coot
City-dweller
Posts: 152
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Post by coot on Feb 8, 2021 14:30:51 GMT -7
Can anyone recommend a source for blacksmith coal and nail rods? I live in central Virginia & would like to forge some 18th c nails.
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Post by hawkeyes on Feb 8, 2021 16:45:32 GMT -7
I make nails from piano wire or drill rod. I rarely ever buy anything online, just source materials locally mostly... Same for coal as I'd expect it would be rather expensive. See if you have a smithing club nearby for coal.
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Post by Black Hand on Feb 8, 2021 17:55:26 GMT -7
...would like to forge some 18th c nails. Have you visited the Tremont Nails site (https://www.tremontnail.com/)...? |
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Keith
City-dweller
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 990 
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Post by Keith on Feb 8, 2021 20:03:51 GMT -7
Your local iron monger should be able to supply rod for nails, & I won't burn fossil fuels for this type of work. I just use dead wood.
Keith.
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Post by hawkeyes on Feb 9, 2021 6:53:41 GMT -7
Your local iron monger should be able to supply rod for nails, & I won't burn fossil fuels for this type of work. I just use dead wood. Keith. While I agree, depending on the type of nail being made wood fuel such as hardwood lump charcoal can be used with great success and is easy to make and source. Anything larger the heat required to move serious metal definitely requires coal. I use coal, charcoal and propane interchangeably depending on what I'm forging. In fact, often times when forge welding is required, or making billets I'll use coal due to the amount of concentrated heat in the fire pot to fuse the material under mallet blows. Shoot... a simple propane torch can make good nails. I've laid two fire bricks on right angles to center the heat, very important. This setup actually is ideal for small projects. I try and find reasons not to fire up my big forges for small projects such as this, the effort isn't worth the expense of fuel. |
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Post by Black Hand on Feb 9, 2021 7:20:48 GMT -7
For something that small, a paint can propane or MAPPS gas forge would work well.
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coot
City-dweller
Posts: 152
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Post by coot on Feb 9, 2021 14:42:23 GMT -7
...would like to forge some 18th c nails. Have you visited the Tremont Nails site (https://www.tremontnail.com/)...? Actually, I have bags of various sizes of the Tremont nails & recommend them. I also have a rivet forge & plan to make some nails as a learning experience. I think 1/8" sq rod will be a good intermediate size. |
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Post by artificer on Feb 19, 2021 8:50:00 GMT -7
Can anyone recommend a source for blacksmith coal and nail rods? I live in central Virginia & would like to forge some 18th c nails. Coot, Are you going to set up a bunch of rods around a "Nail Brazier" to keep rods hot and ready for cutting/forging as you work on each rod? Gus |
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coot
City-dweller
Posts: 152
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Post by coot on Feb 20, 2021 7:57:04 GMT -7
Likely not. As a learning process, I expect it to be somewhat slow & inefficient in the beginning. I have found two sources of coal - still need a source of nail rods (1/8" square stock). Other projects will keep this one near the back burner but it will be good to have everything in hand.
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Post by hawkeyes on Feb 20, 2021 8:27:00 GMT -7
No need for a nail brazier on a small scale, though be nice just to "have one". I forged a nail header which really is all you need for repeatability.
I'm assuming you'll likely be tinkering with nails and such like myself, so no need to get crazy. Forging nails is a fun little project, perfect for teaching aspiring smith's.
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Post by artificer on Feb 21, 2021 1:07:13 GMT -7
Likely not. As a learning process, I expect it to be somewhat slow & inefficient in the beginning. I have found two sources of coal - still need a source of nail rods (1/8" square stock). Other projects will keep this one near the back burner but it will be good to have everything in hand. Coot, I realize what you really want is hand forged or puddled Iron stock, but the last place that made that closed in the 1960's. Have you tried one of these? www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-8-in-x-36-in-Plain-Square-Rod-800747/204325639Gus |
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Post by hawkeyes on Feb 21, 2021 6:57:02 GMT -7
My best advice for stock is check your local metal recycling site. Usually for the price of a coffee one can waltz out with enough steel to make plenty of nails and other accoutrements. I'll spend the better part of a morning just browsing through the treasure trove of scrap steel.
Also, most of the fellas working at many yards can direct you to the higher grade tools steels. My local center labels everything as MS but you can easily pick through and find good steel.
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