Anjin

Hi gents, beginner here, just signed up. Been looking into different types of anvils to start out with, I have a piece of RR track but also came across a 75# piece of truck axle. couple of questions, for starters I am assuming I would want to heat treat but would I just want to do that to the face or is this even necessary? Secondly, has anyone tried this on here at this forum? I am interested in buying an anvil, but have had a really hard time finding one in NE Kansas so I'm just making do with these items

They say that the best things in life are free...well i think maybe they are wrong. The best things in life are what you work for, the skills obtained and how they serve you. I have been a collector of sorts, collecting skills and hobbies and giving myself all sorts of tasks until I gain proficiency. Starting with bushcraft knowledge, I gained a love for self reliance. It evolved into a desire to know mechanical things and that developed into my career. I learned of Ishi the Yahi and then decided that I would learn how to make stone tools and realized after many cuts and broken arrowheads, knives and various pieces that I am a modern day caveman and flintknapper. I enjoy the process of troubleshooting all sorts of things, from materials to processes and systems. And now it comes to this: I will build a forge and gain new knowledge. I will make a new skill set that will serve me further. There can be more than a hobby in this, I realize, and with a lot of help maybe even mastery of a craft. The best things in life are built in sweat, aches, dedication and time. Please be kind to this newbie, I'll have a thousand questions. Anjin