Rob Browne

Looks like a snail is in my future. The candle is a great design which I will have a go at. Thanks for showing us :)

I have a printed set from Anvilfire. Have a look at articles 139, 140,145 & 149 a really great set of articles that make lock making seem to be within the scope of us mere mortals. Cheers

Any chance of some closer photos and a few more details on the twist Brian? I would like to make something for the primary school my kids have been to, last one moving up this year and a candle holder would be brilliant for the school church. I've been thinking of a Fredericks cross but having trouble with the stand. Your design fixes that and the extra of a candle holder is brilliant. Cheers

If its not so close try getting a bucket full and giving it a try to see if its good coal. Then again, if its close, just bring it all home at that priced.

Use the side draft otherwise you will be banging your head on the hood or it will be in the way of you seeing your work. Cheers

Check out this thread. It refers to a blueprint by Hofi but you will get the idea.

A change in cylinder could suggest an inbuilt safety feature in newer cylinders. Its basically a ball valve in the neck of the cylinder and when the flow increases suddenly the ball is pushed up and cuts off the flow. Easily pushed back down with a bit of wire but if you have one of these cylinders you have to increase the flow slowly and it will be OK. Just something else to think about.

Side draft that go out through your wall and up the outside is the way to go. Make sure you have the horizontal part from your forge to your chimney a bit lower outside. A couple of holes in the bottom and all water will just fall out the bottom. I think there was a thread a while ago showing Hofi's school set up where he had a whole rack of these along his wall.

Looking good although I would draw the reins a bit more. Tongs are both challenging and fun to make.

You are right in that most use heavier anvils but they are not always necessary. If you are into BIG forging then a heavy anvil is a necessity but for hooks, etc a lighter one is more than enough. I forge on a 26kg anvil quite successfully but it has to be used within its limits. I don't get real strikers to work with me, but don't tell my boys that. The heaviest hammer I work with is about 4kg and that's not too often and is always in the middle of the anvil not on the bick or tail. The anvil is virtually locked down to a tree stump set in the ground so I am using the mass of the tree stump to increase the mass of the anvil so its basically the hard top to the stump. One day I would like to get a heavy anvil but considering what I work on the little one works really well and I simply can't afford a heavier one at present.

Don't knock the computers. They support my hobbies........................

I've seen too many older fellas, and quite a few my age (am I getting old??), who suffer industrial deafness. Plugs or muffs is the only question. Not will I use anything. Personally plugs are my option.

When you hold your beer in your non-hammer hand at the end of a day..........

You are so right about the share your parents days/nights. Trouble is that I think the days of me showing up at school with a fire and hot iron are over. I have to do a FULL risk assessment and submit it to the school before even turning up, not to mention the Child Safety course I have to complete. Its all in the insurance industry and the Australian habit of importing all the american hobbies, like suing each other. Still, the kids keep dropping in for an arvo of hammering but not through school.

Have a look at this thread, you couldn't want a better example of how to get them going. Good luck and report back on your progress.

Looks like a great day. Now for you to work on your fire control, that's an awfully big fire for such a small job.........

Very clever thinking. Probably what the old timers did all the time but we have to reinvent the wheel for many operations that they took for granted. One for the memory banks.

Have you opened it up yet and had a look at the gizzards? Then you can make some informed decisions and also take photos for posting here for more advice.

You have been well and truely bitten by the bug, haven't you Even set yourself up with a striker, now that's thinking ahead.

You're right, they are ugly but they have taught you LOTS about smithing and will do good work for you while you make some pretty ones. Great first effort.

Do they have any other markings than the weight? That small one looks exactly like my 28kg one but mine has nothing but the weight marked on it.

Looks like you are off and running. Welcome to IFI :)

My bit would be not to get too hung up on a "proper" anvil. I know quite a few people who have forged for years and never had a "proper" anvil. I would suggest that you look at this thread for some possible alternative ideas. 35lb is a bit on the light side for an anvil so I would be going for an alternative. Cheers P.S. Remember its the mass under your hammer that matters. You could set your rail road iron on its end in a bucket of concrete and have a functional anvil.

Really nice knife. I would love one like that in my kitchen.

I think its time for me to leave if that is your first go! Well done :)