ChrisB

I went down the atmospheric road. I was glad the day I went to a "blown" setup.

Ironantler if you wear a size 12, pm me I have a some low mileage boots you can have.

Having watched many a good pig be ruined by the fire or over indulgence of the "operator" things like this really interest me. Get out the sheet metal break and pop rivet gun. https://www.lacajachina.com/Articles.asp?ID=156

This is one of those things where it's easier to define your budget first and then figure out what anvils fit within the dollar parameter.

That turtle is cool. Is that a lathe dog you used for the head?

Go to the local Welding Supply place and ask them who is the big metal fab shops in the area. Go to them and explain your a hobby blacksmith looking for drops to play with forging stuff. A shop near me allows me to fill a 5 gal bucket + some for $10 from their drop pile. They also have 55 gal drums of scrap that I can usually pick thru.

Tech Tips -- Electrolytic Rust Removal Pick up a kiddie swimming pool just dunk a section at a time. Or build a box from plywood and line it with a platic 3mil drop cloth.

+1 pictures Would like to hear how they hold up under some serious forging.

Could you do 12ft walls on the 10x19 outbuilding? If so build a timber frame or pole barn ane build a second deck 6' off the floor. Think giant freestanding shelf.

Take up duck hunting and use them as decoy anchors. Weld them up into a weird sculpture or chair and sell it

Who is they and why are they trying to close you down?

Lava soap. The power of the volcano! Gorilla glue though...that's gonna be with you for a while.

The ultimate striker, it could swing a 20lb sledge all day and never get tired or miss. Something tells me it would involve too much tinkering to make it worthwhile.

And Mrs Chris B wonders why I get excited when I see a pile of scrap metal.

I think its the changes in society that have caused this shift. No one wants anything to do with a person that has no money ( remember apprentices work for little or nothing) or have no address (no $ = cant afford rent) With no $ you cant have transportation. Again no one wants to deal with someone that has no transportation.... Just my opinion.

Remind me to never eat with one of Thomas's authentic forks.

Local Welding supply carries the SAIT disks they work really good and seem to last longer than the dewalt ones from lowes.

Drako, Not trying to flame or be mean please read this as real concern. I really hope you and your brother are wearing safety glasses. A couple of noobs fighting over an anvil and fire and getting each others way with hot steel is going to end very badly.

Welcome to IFI Tannis!

We'll be waiting to hear the full report about your new anvil. Congrats!

Most tire shops will give you a bucket of wheel weights if you ask.

That could open up a hole new level of discussion. "He used a 8lb sledge.." "His anvil is 400lbs"

Each has its own unique nusiance, Coal - Finding it, Getting it, Maintaining the fire, neighors smelling the smoke, Black boogers. Gas - The forge is expensive to buy or build, dragons breath, localized heat can be hard to do. Of course this is all IMHO

A little googleing "DIY induction heating" brings back some interesting results.

Make a steam punk decoration out of the gears.