bigfish

hey thanks dave ok heres some pics if i can figure it out

wanted to intro myself just found this place & i think its great. newbie from ohio have just taken up smithing recently and i must say i'm hooked my buddy made a forge out of an old grill lined w/brick and clay and we've managed to turn out quite a few decent blades over coal mainly old r/r spike knives [working on some pics] also made a few shepherds hooks and some other knick knacks @ this point working on a treadle hammer so far i have scrounged a piece of deck plating measuring 24"x52x1"thick and an old 1hp beast of a motor for free:+> made a trip to the jukyard today [despite the blizzard:>] and found a piece of steel 7"diameter X36" i think will work perfect for our anvil by my calculations thats about 220# right?@30cents a pound i think its a deal probably going to make a set of dies for it out of r/r track any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated my thanks in advance for any advice given I would like to say in parting its an honor to be among a group of individuals who have so much wisdom and experience and also willing to share it THANKS AGAIN

awesome!! i just wish it would quit snowing up here so i can take a field trip to the junkyard:] i think this place is incredibly helpful and feel honored to be a member have been reading as many of the posts i can and feel that i will benefit greatly from being around and will give our little forging operation quite a jumpstart I THANK YOU ALL in advance for any advice or answers to questions i might have

thanks ted to say i am an amateur at blacksmithing would be an understatement one of my good friends built a forge out of an old grill 6 months ago and i have been infected by the smithing bug to the point that the doctor says the only cure is a power hammer:D however we are men of fairly limited means and possibly a fuzz above average fab skills we definitely have pretty meager tool selection however this forces us to get creative but that is half the fun right:} anyways back to the hammer the more i think about it a treadle hammer may be more suited to our situation-$ also head space may be a problem by looking @ the pics holding off on the wheel hammer plans to do further research But on the upside i dug a piece of 1 inch x24"x48"deck plating out i bought @ an auction years ago i think this should make a perfect base thing must weigh 500 pounds also dug out an old 1hp motor also purchased from said auction any advice will be greatly appreciated to help pull me out of this quandary newbie=treadle or wheel hammer

very cool going to build a tire hammer as well ordering plans from mr. spencer tomorrow i would be greatful for any tips