hi, are you wanting to forge or cast? I ask because you don't need a melting pot or ladle for forging, only handling liquid metal as in casting! Easiest place to find forging gear (hammers, tongs, forge, anvil, etc) is ebay or look up local blacksmiths and see if they have anything they would like to sell. Ebay again for casting kit (crucibles, other tongs, furnace, etc).
Hope that helps a little. Start by working out what you want to make and then look at the kit needed
dave