Metal Head

thanks Frosty,what would be the procedure to charcoal the wood?

I'm new to blacksmithing and I need some experienced blacksmith to answer my question.I can make a forge and all related equipment but where I live in northern nevada I can't get any coal to work with,but I have access to a LOT of wood from a pallet manufacturer, and could this be used in a forge to do metal work?any advice will be appreciated,thanks!

I'd like to know the proper way of heat treating,annealing,quenching,and hardening.from step 1 to?,made my first knife with a stag horn base and would like to learn more.any info will be helpful,by the way excellent knife.

Thanks,good idea,I got a response from a gentleman in michigan and he said according to the book Anvils in America my anvil was forged in Columbus,Ohio in 1899,it has the hourglass depression under the base,my next question is,is it wrought iron,cast iron,cast steel,or a mix of any of these,any info will be greatly appreciated,thanks

Grind out the crack to recieve a weld,then heat with a torch until hot, then weld with some nickle rod,i have done this with cast electric motor housings,it works well,if not find a good welding shop,if they know there stuff you will be pleased

yeah,just get someone to film you when you try this so I can watch it on america's funniest home videos!SHOCKING!!!!

for any interested,on ebay a gentleman in santaquin, utah sells soft bituminous coal,just put in item #360079300495,he sells 100#,50#,and 25#.good for those on the west side of the continental divide.

I just purchased my first anvil and would like to know if anyone can help me pinpoint when it was made and any good or bad points about it.It is a trenton anvil stamped 119 usa on one side,and on the front left side of the foot a T letter and then the right side of the front foot A2639,it's not in bad shape,just a few small chips along each side of the face,I read that the old smiths used to round off the sides of the face 1/2"to 3/8' to prevent chips accuring along the face,is this a good recommendation,let me know,any info will be helpful.