1. Mike Strausner
2. Littlestown, PA
3. Haven't really made anything yet in my own forge, but for starters planning on Trinkets, S hooks, Colonial period stuff, anything that seems interesting to try and that I can use to improve experience and skills... Oh, and tools, I want to eventually make my own tools - tongs, hardies, etc. I'm an 18th century reenactor..
4. Really just getting started... About 20 years ago, with the help of a good friend, I built a smoothbore flintlock. He had a brake drum forge, and I, with a lot of guidance from him, made the butt plate, trigger guard, side plate and ramrod pipes. Even before then I was completely fascinated with blacksmithing, and have always thought I'd like to get into it. So, finally.....
5. First anvil? A treasure of a 107 lb Peter Wright, that was gifted to me by someone for helping to clean out her garage a while back.. Don't know how old it is, and it's quite worn, but for starting out it's perfect. I also have a 50 pound scale weight with a flat bottom about 6 inches or so square, figure that'll come in handy for something. An elder relative has an anvil that supposedly came over with our ancestors from Germany, he says I'll get it someday... I'm hoping since I have my shop started I can persuade him to pass it on now... Not sure what it is, other than it's a London style that looks like it's around 150-200 lbs...
6. First forge? I found an old farm forge and a hand crank blower a few years ago at a farm sale -- Paid $15 for the forge and the blower. Basically it's a big steel pan about 3-1/2 feet across, 5" deep, with a sheet metal chimney. The fire pot was missing, so I modified it a bit and dropped in a brake rotor.
7. The good friend I mentioned above, and all the awesome folks who share their knowledge and skills in these forums and youtube videos.
8. Like I said, I've always had an interest, figured it was time to start to do something about it. I think the catalyst was when I came across a Purgatory Iron Works video on youtube a few months ago, and I realized "hey, you have a forge, and an anvil, what the heck have you been waiting for..!!!???".
9. I'm extremely grateful for the anvil I got...especially when I see what the prices of good anvils are...
10. Being a newbie, guess there isn't much I could offer in the way of advice to someone starting out... I will say that I appreciate that there are experienced smiths out there willing to share so much of themselves. At the same time, I feel like I have to earn the stuff they're passing on, and in some ways learn by making my own mistakes, but as I gain experience, I plan to pay it forward.
11. See above... All I ask for is patience and understanding. Everyone is a newbie at some point...
12. I'll answer this one in a few years...
