Rojo Pedro

Not to hijack this thread but making knives is super fun. I love making tools and knives are tools. I told myself I didnt want to be a knife maker thanks to FIF but now I want to make more. My go to camping knife was my first knife. Made from a bed frame and a piece of old hammer handle, it holds an edge really well and I take great joy in using it.

Wilkinson. Very nice english anvil

Cool knife JP. Nice tools Pat. I could not agree more about making tools. Some times making a tool needed for a project is more fun than making the project

I would suspect the ball first. It needs to be a hardened steel ball bearing. My ball bearing gets about 50% or more on my mild steel improvised anvil. It looks to me that it sat out in the weather hence the face pitting. That might lower the rebound as well Either way, nice anvil - have fun!

Me too. I would take a worn flap disc and just soften the edges a little bit at a time until it is the shape you want. I am still shaping the edges of my new anvil 3 years later but I am taking my time based on the good advice I got here on this forum

Nice. I like the shape of the red hot knife Thanks for sharing

I swung a hammer professionally for a good part of my earlier years and have always wrapped my thumb. I have seen small hammers used with the forefinger along the handle but the thumb just seems weird and how can you really put major force into the hammer blow without full wrappage of the thumb and pinky finger? Nice hammer by the way

I have trouble with nail heads too. Keep at it, looking good. Nice job Haywood. I didn't finish anything this session and I am learning its okay to put it aside for later. I used to rush to finish a project. I did however start a few Christmas presents and a straight peen hammer that currently weighs 2.6 pounds. Started as a 4.5” piece of 1-3/4” round 1045. Lots of heats. Lots of fun. Thanks for looking

Very nice Frazer. Triffids? Thats what food eats.

TW I have seen those 'future' anvils and thats a good idea. Build a mold where the face is sticking into a pan of water or something. Drill some pins .....hmmm

That is one sweet anvil. How much does it weigh?

I forged in the open air for my first year or so and used a washtub to cover my rivet forge and a soft rubber one stretched over my anvil. big ammo cans for tools. Like others, I got serious and built a 12 x 12 cover but I used corrugated steel for the roof which was by far the biggest expense. This was 4 years ago but the steel was around $120 and i used 4x4 posts and 2x8 rafters (7) 8 sacks of concrete and 4 anchors. The whole thing was around $300. That was then probably 4-5 hundred today - dont get me started-

Lots of patterns out there. I like the south german style double horn anvils. the type where there is no step and the horn and face blend together like some refflinghaus styles

Thanks all Pat - scrap pieces from my local supplier. They always have a bin filled with little squares of various thickness from about 3 to 6 inches squares and rectangles. $5.99 per pound currently. Must be cut offs from gutter or some other forming but I really have no idea. I use .032 for the outer petals and .028 for the inners thinking it might add to realism. Les - only a couple times with disappointing results. The wife liked the natural annealed look but I plan to practice flame coloring soon

Nice score. Sadly my scrap yard did the same and no more picking :-(

Very nice. The vase almost looks like a plumbing fixture or fire hose snoozle that has been cut and squished like Das said

I can see the culprit peeking out the door. Very transparent motive. The perps often hang at the scene of the crime

Thanks Gents. I am thinking of making some for sale. Pretty easy and fun to do. Probably have an hour and a half in this one. Its my third one.

I finished a copper rose. A gift for the wifes bestie. I like the shape but think I got little too heavy with the peen. Overall very happy thanks for looking

Right on George. I know you're army but Semper Fi all the same.

Yes looking real good.

Nice chunk. Nice stump. Edges look rather sharp. I like it

My answer is yes. I messed up all kinds of ways when I was beginning. Still do. I've burnt it, cracked it, crumbled melted splintered you name it. I have a pile of rejects some I spent considerable time on, only to burn up in a moment. Learn from it _was all fun for me

Maybe think of similar things to do that dont take as much physical strength for now. Research a new hobby that is within your limitations. Jewelry or copper forming, repousse or engraving with little hammers until you get back in shape. I even find filing to be fun some times. Take one day at a time and find the good- its everywhere :-)

Hope you used the latest ellipsoid although I’d bet your magnetic interference is through the roof!