JHCC

Take a look at this video (from IFI member Tubbe), if only for ideas and inspiration:

Turning back to the original question, I suppose one might use wrought iron when making exact reproductions of historic tools such as the Mastermyr tongs.

An open-top box full of sand is a good option: very easy to realign the knuckle, and it'll be equally stable in pretty much any orientation.

Another good church-related activity is to show them nailmaking.

No clue. We'll see what projects present themselves.

Use it for a while in a variety of orientations and see how you like it. If it does turn out to be very much in the way, get rid of it. Otherwise, it’s another shape that you can make use of.

About 8-10 feet of twisty rebar picked up from the side of the road on the way to the airport, a 6 lb or so lead sash weight that was given to me by someone I was meeting with on other business, and the obligatory note from the TSA. (The rest of the scrap was already in the car.)

A woodcut from talented artist Claudio Orso:

A bottle opener forged from an identifiable car part is also a winner with most mechanics. Definitely cheaper than a hospital trip. On the other hand, if you really want to try this, please put me in your will for the induction forge before you get started, just in case.

Start with an informal get-together for lunch or coffee, which is a great way to get to know each other without the pressure of dinner and a movie. Listen more than you talk. Respect the anvil's boundaries, and don't try to take things too far to fast. If it's right, you'll both know.

Next time, I promise! (And thank you!)

That’s a really nice piece. Well done.

Leave it alone for a couple of years. If you decide to grind it smooth at the end of that time, go for it, you'll be making a decision formed by the experience of working with this anvil and seeing how a ground face will help you, rather than a guess about how it might.

Got together with IFI member Lou L at his home forge. We made wineglass holders and a pair of tongs, and afterwards we drank bourbon. Fun was had.

Nice!

MY EYES!! MY EYES!! Great work, as always. Good luck!

Nothing wrong with rail, especially if you stand it on end. If you haven't seen the thread on improvised anvils, definitely check it out. Is that you in the photo with the vise?

No idea what prices are like in SA, but we have some other members there who (hopefully) will be along to weigh in. If you do a site search* on the ball bearing test, you'll find what we mean. *There are tips on how best to do this on the link I posted above.

Nice vise! How's the condition of the screw?

Another great video with a lot to think about. Thank you, Jennifer. Interesting thought about the weight of the hammer. If the lighter hammer is half the weight of the heavier but you have to swing it four times as much to get the same effect (since it's much harder for a lighter hammer blow to penetrate to the center of the workpiece), then it makes sense that a heavier hammer would actually be easier to use in such a situation.

Hello, and welcome to IFI! If you haven't yet, please READ THIS FIRST!!! It looks like the heel got broken off this anvil and took the original hardy hole with it. Like ausfire says, if the rebound is good, it should still be functional. Anvil prices vary widely by region, so if you could tell us what the seller is asking and put your location in your profile settings, we could give you a better idea as to whether that's a decent price. Half the price of the others isn't a good deal if the others are priced at four times the local going rate.

Maybe the blood sample was too high in iron.

So, they had the competition locked up?

If you can’t buy tin pants, steal a pair.

Glad you had a good experience. It’s been fun to watch from a distance.