Bob JS

I watched a youtube video recently. The bloke was demostrating how he forged a sword from a block. He used clay on the anvil with a hammer and is was a great way to demonstrate the process, because he had to hit in the same way but it was much quicker and easier to understand without the pauses for reheats etc. I imagine it would also be a good way to pratice or experiment with how to make something. I did notice that the clay was sticking to the anvil and hammer, so maybe a light dusting occasionaly would help, like rolling pasty.

Nice one! bet you cant wait to get a fire going. (bet you already have!)

Im keeping my eyes peeled for an anvil (it will be my first ) I cant help looking on ebay, and my watchlist is full of anvils both current and ended listings. So I thought I'd try to work out an average

Thanks for sharing. What is the advantage of the angle irons? - my thinking being that if the compacted sand can support the anvil above the irons, why wouldnt the compacted sand bellow do the same? I suppose they help 'grip' the sand and stop it moving around? Sorry if this is a daft question.

Just spotted these on ebay. Ive got no connection with the seller, and no intention to buy them, but just thought some of you may want to have a butchers. Bob extremely rare!! fire bellows on eBay, also, Fireplace Accessories, Decorative Items, Home Garden (end time 23-Mar-09 17:49:42 GMT)

Thanks for nipping that idea in the bud - probably got my wires crossed. Looks like im going to have to start paying for coke soon - I think im too urban to get away with coal smoke, or charcoal making :(

I have read that soft bituminous is preferable, and that hard coal is not because the sulfur leeches out carbon from the steel. My question : Is this only a problem for more critical work, like structural and bladesmithing? Would any old coal be suitable for general work? Obviously burning anything to get the metal hot is better than nothing.

Is that a nut cracker? Nice work.

All great info so far, keep it comming. GNJC, do you mean that the bick is not manufactured round, or that the bick on a second hand anvil has usually suffered from use/abuse?

140lb is what im looking at - do you like yours? and why?

I would probably take a different view point, rather than make something out of it, I might make something to go with it...?

I may have an oppertunity to own a Brooks anvil. What do you know about them? I have heared they are good. Just wondering what are the pros, and cons if there are any? Do they ring? (not bothered either way - only if they are meant to I will give it a tap with a hammer to check all is well) All info welcome and appreciated. Cheers.

looking forward to reading more on this subject - maybe someone knows of a web page with illustated demonstrations of all the differect types of joint.

I will probably try and sell the sugar cutters - I had thought about using them in a beetle sculpture - but seems a shame to alter something that is potentially over 100yrs old (i think they are cast iron anyway) Hammer face is nice and smooth - slightly rounded, the only damage is a small nick out of the edge of the pein. Stamped L P. Sam, is it one of yours, can you be certain? 19'' long, top twist has chiseled lines, then there is an X in a box, another twist half way down then it tapers slightly then widens before it tapers to a point. Would be nice to know who made it.

Looks great! Is it going to stay on the paving slabs? I ask because Im thinking about where I'm going to put my anvil when I get one, and I have been wondering if it could crack the slabs. What do you think? I suppose the stump absorbs a lot of the shock? (ps. sorry if this turns into a hijacked thread)

Went to a local bootsale today. Picked up a nice rams head poker. It was a bit rusty but after 10mins with a wire brush it looks great. I bought it as a source of inspiration, to study how it is made etc. (they usually sell for

I use WD 40 its easy to apply repells moisture and doesnt make a sticky mess. Buy a new can and you will suddenly find your 2 old cans and probaly a couple more.

Aha, well thats the one thing I do have! Its been in the garden for as long as I can remeber as a 'garden feature'. Rusty but perfect working order. I haven't used it yet because I need to make a stand for it - but I'm going to need something to do while my 'mudpie' sets... It think it is one of the larger sizes, jaws are maybe 5'' across?? Do you think I could support my steel block 'anvil' in the jaws to hammer on?

Well I suppose its not the worst iv'e been called... at the moment Im wondering if I would be better making some bricks out of the mixture, for a bit more versitility, filling gaps with ash etc. hmm?

Thanks. It is 3/8 rebar. The buckle was drawn out from a 2'' length to make 3/16 square section, does look bigger in the photos - odd. Im looking forward to getting my hands on an anvil, Im using a block of mild steel for most of the work, and an old lump hammer head with rounded edges to start the bends. Thanks for the suggestions so far - maybe a set of identical coat hooks next?

Tried smithing for the first time a couple of weeks ago, using a tiny homemade forge (if you could call it that). As yet I dont have any propper smithing tools, and my 'forge' can only heat about an inch at a time. (the spike hook, with the motice and tennon joint probably took over two hours to acheive) Would be happy to recieve any comments or suggestions, and ideas for what to try next? Hopefully there is picture here, still getting used to the forum. Btw, all the hooks and the buckle were made from rebar, so had to be drawn out and sqaured off first to get rid of the pattern, time consuming.