4elements

Thru history anvils have been used that have were lots of different shapes. Look thru the improvised anvil thread for so many ideas. Round will work too. There is a video called iron making in Africa that's amazing. The smiths at the end of the video use a round anvil and round hammers. Also you can look up an article about a pictish stone anvil that was found in Scotland

To some degree mass makes more difference than weight. Look at the discussions on RR track. The same piece set with the flange up is nearly worthless. Set it flange downward it's better because there is more mass under the hammer. However set on end you maximize the mass under the hammer and it is the best, all with the same weight piece

Very nice. I like the heat colors on the crosses. Are they finished to protect that?

Alexandr, the iron work in the 2nd picture is amazing. Is that work you did? I've seen other posts by you and have been impressed. Merry Christmas

Thank you. Now she wants more

A window planter box for my wife. My son and I installed it after she went to bed last night. All the iron is forged including the nails.

Very neat! (That is way TOO neat). Where is your resource accumulation area (scrap pile). That reminds me, I need to do some straightening up in my smithy.

The coloring was with Testors model paint followed with 2 coats of clear coat. I tried to do a dry brush job so it wouldn't be boldly overpowering colors. Now my wife wants more towel bars

Thanks

I confess my faults and submit to my punishment. I'm sorry.

I finally proved to my wife that I CAN finish a project, then she mentions cleaning out the gutters!

I made my own bellows. I didn't use leather due to cost. What I got was the vinyl coated fabric that is used for awnings, the kind that are used on store fronts and are stretched over a frame. I went to a place that makes them for businesses and bought the yardage I needed. They have held up for years.

Glenn, thanks for the comments. The towel bar is going over a sink where the is no possibility to run against it. There aren't any catch points and it's getting painted then an automotive clear coat. I like the vinyl tube idea but I'll see how the finish holds up first

I finally finished a towel bar for my wife. It will go above the sink in our laundry room. It has taken me months to figure out all the elements and bring it all together. I don't get enough forge time. I'll finish it with paint and a clear coat. I don't want rust on the towels.

Try asking a brick Mason for the residue from his brick saw. You'll have to dry it out

There are a lot of us close to you. I'm in Granite Falls, WA. There are at least a couple of other smiths I know of in Olympia. Are you acquainted with the North West Blacksmith Association?

I have a similar tool, bought at an antique store but I've never used it. I believe they are "veiners", top tools for making a raised linear bead

I work in the aircraft industry. Titanium has flammability characteristics similar to magnesium (not identical). I have had drill chips spontaneously ignite from too high of a drilling RPM. It has its uses, and limitations.

I notice you have only the one cutout in the front to allow the stock to enter the fire level but there isn't one opposite that one to allow you to heat the middle of a bar. That might be a good thing to consider. Glad to see your progress.

How do you control and vary your air input?

In a pinch you can use tongs to break it, just a little squeeze will do. That's especially useful if the piece is already in the fire. Also a large piece on the top of the fire can create a chamber which is sometimes useful. As the fire burns that piece will spontaneously break up into smaller bits without your intervention.

Theoretically a disc with the same area as the intended 1/2 sphere would work, but that doesn't take into account stretching and forming

Surface area of 1/2 sphere; A=4pi(r sq.)/2. Sorry I don't have symbols Alternatively; A=C×r, C is circumference and r is radius of the sphere. The area of a sphere is equal to the lateral area of a cylinder circumscribed around it. So A=C×D

I have seen antler sold as chew toys for dogs at my local COOP. You haven't put your location in your profile so it's not possible to give you a definitive reply for your area of the world

This Saturday 6/23/18 at 9am in Longview, wa is the next meet. Check blacksmith.org for details and directions