Doug C

LDW,
That is one nice looking leaf. How do you get the center split to look the way it does? Are you forming this over a ball shape? Do you have blueprint to share?

Welcome from New England. You will be amazed at the good stuff you'll find here and at the great people the inhabit this site. Make the time to visit often and you won't be disappointed.

I like it. Find a way to project someones face through it(via mirrors?) and it becomes an interactive sculpture. Anyone could become the man behind the iron mask.

I think Thomas and I are saying the same thing, though with 27 years he gets to say it with way more authority and experience. Do what works best for you. Change it continually until it works right for you. There are lot's of opinions. Listen to them all, try what makes sense, share what you learned!:)

The have been used to forge lot's of things. Here is a good url that shows examples: How-To Make Things From Railroad Spikes

These guy's run the Boston Marathon every year and have for 26 or 27 so far. Every year they get written up in the local papers. It gives us an annual wake up call which we all need. Great story, great family.

Finnr, maybe I'll bring it West for a visit and you can show it and me how an experienced smith treats his anvil.

Kevin, it is a nice anvil and neighborhood. Lots of good people who like the sound of smithing as long as it is not too early or late in the day.

Thomas' experience versus mine, which is limited, shows that there is no right way except the one that works for you. Watch how you move from forge to anvil to vise. I Move clock wise, forge to my left, anvil to my right so cranking with the left hand just feels right for me. Vise and bench is behind me to form a small triangle.

I agree with Finnr that you burn way less coal and steel with a hand blower.

Thanks for the input. I'll have to look more at the gallery and compare it to others.

I learned on forge with an electric blower and thought it was great, until I used a hand cranked blower. For me, having the ability to control air flow is more important than running hands free. I am sure that you can do the same thing with an electric blower by restricting the air intake.

Every hand crank forge I have used or seen is set up so that you crank with the left hand if you hammer with the right. This assumes that you move from left to right when going from forge to anvil. Stop cranking, pick up iron with left hand, start hammering.

Looks like a nice setup. Your a fortunate guy. Give us a report once you get it all set up.

I goofed and added a letter. Would help if I could remember the rules. Scratch Stirk. back to stir.

stirk - as in a yearling heifer or bulluck

Too bad about the blower. Nice pictures though You did a great job on the grate. How did you punch a hole in the twist without damaging it?

Wow. I would love to have a place to scrounge that had that much good stuff. Keep digging. I bet some of your granfdather's smithing tools are laying about too.

coltpax,
there is a 'iforge how-to' at anvilfire.com. Go to that page and search for 'Cross' or just go here iForge Blacksmith Projects

I bought this anvil a few months ago and can find no clear markings on it. I have brushed off much of the black paint, applied flour and can see nothing. It weighs about 150LB, looks like the plate may have been ground once already. It has handling holes and on one end what looks like a slot to use in holding the anfil down. Anyone got any ideas what I've got.

Hi all. I have been smithing for about 4-5 months. Learning a lot. Taking lessons at a local forge ( Prospecthill Forge ). Just doing the basics: making a lot of drive hooks, s hooks, forks and fire pokers. I have also managed to successfully fagot weld and loop weld. Just learning but loving every minute of it.