MrBackpack

That is pretty awesome.

I never meant to infer that I was only looking for a London pattern or that anything other was inferior/not really an anvil. Really, the only thing that I am looking for is mass behind my hammer blow, a hardy-like hole, and something that can function as a horn. I don't have access to somwhere that I could harden a softer steel. Sorry if I cam across as arrogant or unwilling to work to find something to use, I only posted this thread because I've been looking and saving for a couple of months and was looking for some advice.

I just got the notification, thanks for the heads up though. I sent him an email and am keeping my fingers crossed.

I saw both of those ads on craigslist, the $75 one has had several emails from me with no response, and the $300 has gotten a couple as well, but no response either. And I have an app that send me notices every time anyone posts anything in Texas or in surrounding states. I'll take a look at the TPAAAT method and take notes. My hammer is one that we made in class, i think it has a 1.5" rounded-square head, so much better than the one that I bought at lowes.

So, I'm a new blacksmith, taking all the classes that I can at my local community college and fine myself wanted to work on more things at home. While my teacher is trying to help me find a proper anvil from various places that he knows of, but I want to try to get my start sooner rather than later. So I'm on a quest to find a decent stand-in until I can get a 'real' anvil. I know about using a bit of railroad track, but I'd like some more area to work with as opposed to the end of the track standing on one end. I've also seen one person who managed to procure a very large/heavy gear-like thing, I've seen forklift tines used, and I've seen sledgehammer heads as well. I don't live in a rural area by any means, Austin TX, so I'm on the hunt through craigslist, ebay, and everywhere else that I can think of. Does anyone have any tips to find a proper anvil or can point me in the right direction for something that I can use in place of one? thanks.

First of all, hello all. So, after some long discussion with my wife about me needing a hobby outside of playing video games and modeling, I've decided to take up black/blade-smithing; something I've always wanted to do, and I have the ultimate desire to forge 'Libertas,' the sword wielded by by a character in one of my favorite books. That being said, I fully understand that I cannot go straight into forging swords, I have to crawl before I walk, walk before I can run, and run before I can fly. Now that I have my own yard to do whatever I want to do with, and I want to build myself a forge. A fellow user, Toolish, posted pictures of his forge in the "Show Me your Forge" thread that is along the lines of what I want to build: A longer, trough-style forge. Now, I fully understand that most beginners use a brake drum or something similar or even folded and welded steel plate, but I have no access to one, the money to afford my own nor know-how of how to use one. Basically, I have a drill, a wood saw, and a hammer. I just got out of college, got married, and bought a house. So I, while I have the plans and ideas of how this forge should be built, but what I need some help with is material selection. With the understanding that I don't have a welder nor do I know anyone that has one to help me, how do I go about building my forge? I have tons of red brick that I plan on using as the outer construction and basic support and, from the little that I understand, I can use a long metal pipe along the bottom of the forge to supply air into the fire . But what do I use to build the walls of the forge that the hot coals will sit on, the fire pot/pit I believe? I've read to use fire brick, to use a homemade clay with sand, fire-cement and I'm so confused that I don't even know what to think. Thanks for any help that anyone can provide.

I love this, do you mind is I copy this design?