Hey everybody my name is John and this is my first post to this site and I am curious as to how everything works. I have two problems that happen every time I start a new project. First of all, I've been forging for about three years, but mainly in the spring and summer so more like one and a half years. I am only 20, so I still live at home and I can't build a workshop or anything like that, so I just forge in the sunlight out of a small brake drum forge. The first problem I have has actually only affected the last few projects I've worked on. I'm not doing anything different, so I don't know what the problem is. The last three projects end up cracking and I'm afraid that if I continue hammering the piece will break.
(First picture) The second problem I have which isn't a huge deal is that my projects end up twisting. I can fix this, so it's probably just the way I hold the piece while I'm hammering.
(Second picture) Any advice for this problem would be appreciated. And just some more info that might help you all: I use bituminous coal, I hold the piece I'm working on with vise grips because I find it easier, my anvil is the one from harbor freight (so not a very good one). I don't know if that will help, but I figured I would just put it in. Thanks everyone in advance!