Mark Ling

let us know how it turns out, pics would be great! congratulations on the anvil and for starting into the craft of blacksmithing! Littleblacksmith

sounds like you got a pretty good deal at the estate sale! good job for saving an anvil Littleblacksmith

I've always wondered how it would be, to forge with a dogs head hammer. I cant stand using ball peen hammers cause they aren't evenly balanced especially the bigger ones, so I probably wouldn't enjoy using a dog head hammer. though very nicely made hammers. Littleblacksmith nothing wrong with your anvil, the londen pattern anvil has only been around for about 200 years. before that many smiths used ones that probably looked very similar to your chunk of steel. if this helps, I started out using a 10 pound sledge hammer head, than I used a "railroad plate" (not sure if that's what its called), then I borrowed an anvil, then I used a piece of railroad track, and then I finally found a 100 pound Trenton anvil.if it works for you than it works just fine.

look for crow bars, coil springs, leaf springs, old chisels and punches, lawnmower blades, old files, saw blades, all of those are great carbon steels, but you may want to do a spark test on some of them just in case. also look for any usable round stock square, flat, etc. I always come back from the scrap yard with something I wouldn't expect to find there, so just keep your eyes open. this will be a very fun and rewarding hobby. Littleblacksmith

who made it? is it a hundred pounder? how much did it cost? if you don't mind me asking. Littleblacksmith

make sure not to have your steel right over where the air enters, or else it will oxidize and you wont be able to weld. mound up the charcoal, so that it uses the excess oxygen and keeps in the heat. Littleblacksmith

yes, it took a little time (more like 41/2 hours) to forge it. John Rigoni (sorry if I spelled it wrong) does some really clean work. I watched him forge the same axe at steep hollow forge works in Bryan Texas.

cut of a piece of one of 'em of, beat on it, normalize it, quench it in oil- if that doesn't work, than quech it in water. if it doesn't hardin than just use it how you would mild steel. Littleblacksmith

theres a video of a fellow forging a colonial axe on here that might help with something, last weekend I forged an axe drift out of 4 RAILROAD SPIKES! what a project that was. a lot of forge welding! littleblacksmith

those are really nice looking knives. much better than mine, when I started out, and better than the ones im making now! Littleblacksmith

ok never tried it so, I didn't know. thanks! Littleblacksmith

how much did it cost to build it? Littleblacksmith

you might want to put a piece of angle iron or something, around the edge so that the coal doesn't fall of of the sides. Littleblacksmith

did I hear you right that that you harden them your self? that would be a very large mass of steel to heat up! Litteblacksmith

see yall there today! Littleblacksmith

see you today! Littleblacksmith

ok, thanks guys for the replies. Littleblacksmith

sorry for not thinking good point. Littleblacksmith

what were you planning on cutting of slabs for? I think it would be more usable as is. Littleblacksmith

so, I've been wondering if any of ya'll have ever tried making wolf jaw tongs. it just seems like a lot of grooves and curves in the jaws that I'm not sure how to make, do you grind them?, fuller them?- are they even worth making or should I just buy them from somewhere else, if so where should I buy them? Littleblacksmith

this is the first time I beat frosty to this! it helps if you put your general location it your profile, you may be surprised by how many smiths are in the area and can help with advice and tools. you never know someone in the area might have an anvil their willing to sell (or even give you)! Littleblacksmith

whats that? littleblacksmith

a little critter out of it is something he might like, got any ideas. he also asked if I could make a cross out of it, and I said that probably not but would have to think about it. anybody know how to make one if its even possible without welding anything else on to it???? he wasn't really wanting other stuff welded on to it, but if yall got any ideas than I can share them with him and see what he thinks. Littleblacksmith

I just use a drill to make the hallow indentation. Littleblacksmith