WL smith

I, we, are now permanent home owners in Mesa az  and loving it.

You are a winner use it in good health!

Terry sir not all of us are grouchy mostly just old and tired!

That is why God made Arizona and all the other southern states We only have July, august and September to worry about! 

I know what it is! It is a winner1

Never get butted by a hydraulic ram is my policy!!!

Thank you John McP

In your first post you said it was a hydraulic ram.

They are chrome plated. Pounding on it will eventually crack the chrome and it will cut you. Bad bleeding  situation--trust me. Find a round piece of stock and weld it in that cut out. Then forge on into the future. Welcome to the fun!

The more you use it the harder the face will become

My anvil was owned by a chisel maker also. And he was proud of his chisels judging by the depth of the cuts. It also has sway But it works just fine! I was going to "fix" mine but never got around to it. Glad I never did. I just add to it's character.

Years ago I made a large grill out of A36 ( 24" X 48") worked great for camping. Just keep it lightly oiled between use. I don't know the designation G40.21 so you are on your own there!

There is always a flat section fore or aft of the sway section. However the sway section is usually flat from side to side . I like the sway in my PW.

Intruder 357 What did you do???

I always go with NEW hose for peace of mind. New looks better than old dull hose.

Sorry about that ausfire I misread the post. But I still think it is zinc. However if I didn't need it  it would go to a commercial plater!

The second photo explains it all. The lower right hand corner has the symbol for zinc and the purity. Try selling it to a commercial plating shop! 

This is why I gave up on watching football decades ago!

Joel I think you are a genius for starting such topics.

I agree with Glen and Stash BOOKS last a lifetime and they never wear out. You will learn something new every time you read them.

One thing no one has mentioned yet about blacksmiths, we are a hot, sweaty, dirty bunch of people. Get your anvil and forge and join us in sweat and dirt!  Welcome to the fun!

I have made them for knocking loose jamb nuts when one can't get a wrench in to turn it. Hard on the nuts but they are cheep!

Always check out flea markets and nickel page type advertisements. I found my vices at flea markets. LOOK MORE IN THE COUNTRY THAN THE CITY.

I had an anvil with the face plate missing plus the tail  But the horn was perfect

I used to carry my 150# PW around all the time. Kept it in the kitchen for theft problems the forge two people could not pick up.(single at the time) I would drive around and find out of the way places to forge. If you still can afford the other anvil buy it you will not regret it. Now I'm 71 years old and my knees are shot from work. Not from carrying that anvil!

Just make it and to hell with all of the above advice. Some times you win.