beslagsmed

I'm guessing if angle grinders were available in the "old" days they would have been used. What ever it takes to get the job done. I've got a screwed up left shoulder, so if I was doing all the filing by hand, well it takes the toll faster on me. For the same reason I built my power hammer!

I started out with a tree stump, but soon learned I didn't like it. This is my anvil and stand I built. Serves me well.

I had a tree stump, but wasn't happy with it so I built my own. Now I am really glad with it as it is more durable and workable than the stump.

My anvil is about waist high. I think no matter how thick the base plate is, you should have a way to anchor it down. Have some holes in the corners, then drive some metal rods in the ground at aposing angles to keep it from walking. Mine is on a concrete floor and I got it attached, but have a piece of rubber matting between the hammer base and floor. I think a dirt floor might be the same. And if not holes, then you can drive rods round the outside edge.

After I retired from the U.S. Army, I grew a beard. Once my wife, while giving me a hair cut ask when I was going to "shave that thing off". My reply was - "When the army recalls me to active duty"! She has neve ask about is since and a razor has not touched my face since I retired. Also I feel - If God had intended for man to be clean shaven, he'd never put a beard on our face.

So you going to post a video when up and running? Congrats and enjoy!

I voted "other" because my homemade one is not a tire type, its mechanical.

Here are a couple of mine. First one is the one I work mostly on. The other sets next to my coal forge.

I'm a farrier, so swing a hammer every day. Like Frank said, shake hands with the hammer. I think you might be holding it too tight. Someone should be able to take it easly from you. Correct weight also helps. I also like to wrap my handles with the stuff they wrap tennis rackets with. It gives a little softening of the blow and lets me grip the handle lighter when my hands are damp.

MarkChiara, The main mast on mine is filled with sand. I believe this gives it a little more stability. Something to think about.

Oh I know that. I done some damascus knives, tomahawks. I also use it to make some of my special need horse shoes. It is such a great work tool. I think the best part was the build. Actually making something myself and having it work the way I planned.

Here's a video of my hammer working for the first time. Since building I have had many hours of good work with it.

Grahame, I built one of the Krusty hammers. If you go to Youtube.com and type in: danish krusty you can see in in action. I made a few changes from the plans, but it works real well.

Here in Denmark if you are smithing traditionally (viking) you use charcoal. Coal is readly available here, and very good stuff at that. I was to a friend's place in Portugal and we got some coal - was not so good, not washed, sorted or sized. I spent about an hour or so washing it so we got a better fire. Was suprised at all the rock we got in a bag as well.

Also take a straight edge and run from horn to heel, and across to see how much the face has been pounded down. Sometimes this can get you a few bucks off the price!! Did it with the first anvil I bought and got about a third off the asking price. Then took it home and with the help of my trusty angle grinder, elbow grease and time, got it pretty good!!

Good looking pair. How much time did you have in making them? How did you weld the wings to the body?

Nice lookin tongs. Bolt tongs are so versital - really enjoy mine. I know you will get lots of good use out of those. Best part is when one needs a tool, it is great to make one instead of buying.

This is a pic of my daily working anvil stand with my Future I anvil mounted.

This is a pic of the stand I have in my van for everyday use. It is a Future I anvil.

My shop anvil stand is shown in the below thread. http://www.iforgeiron.com/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=30925

Great pics. Would be great to see a video of this one working.

Great lookin avnil. I know a piece of rubber mat work great for taking away the sound as well. This just proves the point - The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys!!! Have fun and enjoy!!

That was the best for me, making something then getting to use it. Yes it did take a long time as I made trips to the scrapyard and came back empty handed. But in the end it was well worth it. If it was a project I needed completed right away or I had contracted to build for someone, I would have gotten new stuff and went from there.

If a farrier has his anvil that close to a horse, then he needs to get stabbed!! I was shown by Michael Wildenstein at Cornell how to pull clips using the point of the horn. Works great.

But for me that was part of the fun - being able to build something, have it work, and then use it. Sure it took time to build, but hey sometimes we don't need everything "right now".