Vascar

How'd that go?

I figure by the time I've gotten a good handle on the skills needed to turn out a good blade, I'll have the money to afford the mats :).
Don't get me wrong, every time I go to a flea market or garage sale I keep an eye out for anything that has metalworking capabilities. I just think that, from a beginner's perspective, having to make all your own tools due to a lack of funding can only help in learning the craft ^.^

It's 2# thick, not sure on the weight but it's certainly more than 100#, I can't lift it without help and I'm not exactly weak lol. That's my room mate's planned anvil, so while I'll have access to it, I'd like to have my own as well.

Also, what does "ILL" stand for? Google is not helping me with that acronym.

I don't plan on ever really buying any smithing tools, because...money, and stuff. Is there a specific reason hardy holes are usually square?
The opposite side of those holes are oval, instead of circular. I'm thinking since I'll be making my own hardy tools anyway, I could just make them to fit the existing holes. In my head this seems feasible.
The counterweight is steel, I'm glad to say, has a very nice ring to it when struck (my understanding is that cast iron usually has more of a dull thud).

Also, I've no idea why ifi rotated my pictures.

So, here's what I'm starting out with. I made an anvil stand out of 6x6 and 4x4 for the track, before I asked for suggestions on here. I'm going to attempt to attach the big plow counterweight to the stand instead, and do the bucket thing with the track.
Thoughts?

Thanks for the tips y'all ^.^
So, here's what I'm going to try: I'm going to fill a 5 gallon bucket 2/3 with cement, and the top third with sand. I may just end up using quickcrete mortar, as I have a rediculous amount of that on hand (product of being a floor installer). I don't suspect it will work as well as concrete, but it's what I have (not spending money is good, in my situation).
Once I've got it all together, I'll likely post a pic or two.

For some reason, setting the track vertically hadn't occurred to me.
My primary focus, once I develop the fundamental blacksmithing skills, will be weaponry. I plan on forging arrowheads, spearheads, war hammers, axe blades, knives, and eventually swords. Thinking in the long term, would an anvil surface that small still meet all my needs?
Would setting the base of the track in concrete or mortar work for standing it up?

I'm fairly new to blacksmithing, with very little money to invest in it. At the moment (and for the foreseeable future) my only anvil is a 3' section of railroad track. I've read from multiple sources that they make great beginner anvils, provided you cut in a hardy hole and a horn.
How exactly does one go about cutting these?

Projects I have aplenty, right now I'm gathering the bits to put together a forge. I've been snatching up every bit of solid metal scrap I could get my hands on for awhile now, so I've got enough iron for quite a few toys.
I've been making due with a leather trench coat as an apron, and it hasn't failed me yet. Fuel and tools provided? Is it newbie friendly?

Awesome! If I can manage it, I'll be there this coming Wednesday (assuming they're still doing the meetup, it being New Years and all).
I'll be the younger bearded fella with a pony tail....as I've not met this group, I don't know how much that'll narrow things down lol.
What do I need to bring on the open forge nights?

I will be checking out the sofa, as it's only 5 minutes away. I wonder if they'd be ok with me showing up to one of the open forge nights with the $20 for membership.

Whoops, lol. Troy, Ohio is the one :).
I've been casually digging through the forums for awhile now, and have indeed found a wealth of information.

Hey y'all,
Name's Vascar. I did a bit of forging while participating in reenactments as a kid, which was many years ago. I've finally bought my own place with a decent barn, and am working on setting up a forge of my own (there will be a post related to that shortly).
After I forge a few sets of tongs (that aren't crap) I'll be focussing primarily on the forging of weaponry. Knives, axes, swords, war hammers, and the like. Once I've established a decent level of competence, I may expand into armor smithing, but that's still a long way off.
Just dropping in to say "sup!" ^.^

~Vascar