Brand new to the forum and the forge. I have always loved working with metal and always had an interest in blacksmithing. Until now, getting into the community hadn't been anywhere close to the top of my financial priority list, but now that I have a little bit of disposable income, what better way to use it than by introducing yet another hobby because guns, race cars, and off-roading don't cost enough by themselves. I convinced the Mrs by saying that this one could potentially make me some of the money back...she bought it
I'm currently in San Diego, CA and research has shown that this is likely the LEAST popular place for blacksmiths, can't blame y'all, I'm surprised CA doesn't require forges to have catalytic converters. Anyway, I digress. I've been doing a lot of Google Fu and out seems that a lot of what in looking up brings me to this forum, so I figured I might as well join the party. About the only things that I have so far are plans for a small foundry and a forge and have started gathering my materials for the builds. Both with be propane fired to avoid hassle from the EPA. Kidding. About the EPA, not the propane. I hope. Time is a luxury and I'd rather not spend it getting/keeping coals hot. Besides, I have a gas grill so I have the fuel source already on site and built a burner for the price of a big bag of charcoal, high pressure regulator already purchased. I have access to a couple 10 gallon air tanks that I will be cutting open and lining with ceramic wool and covering with satanite (sp?).
Now for the expensive part, an anvil, I don't have THAT much disposable income. I had kicked around a couple ideas for this. First starters, the ones that would cost me $0. Taking the head off the 12lb sledge I have in the corner and sinking it halfway in a stump. Research on this showed that it is a VERY controversial topic, some say absolutely no way ever, some love them. So I took another walk around the garage and saw an old hitch, 2x2" steel bar welded in an L, the long end being 12" and the short at 10" with a 1/2" plate gusset welded in. That could definitely work. Then there's the fact of the small work surface with both options. Usable? Yea. Ideal? No. But like many have said, a less than ideal anvil is better than no anvil. Today I got my big break, found out about a shop that has a couple big fork tines laying out back that have been there a couple years. I went to check them out and they're 2 1/2" thick by 6" wide. Dear diary...JACKPOT. Just need to wait until next week when the manager is back so I can find out if I can repurpose them