Thinking I needed this or that to get started helped me waste a LOT of time that could have been spent actually blacksmithing. Finally running across the JABOD and improvised anvil threads here was an eye opening experience. I was beating hot steel within a few days. I always tell people, "Just get started with whatever you have access too because waiting on the perfect forge, perfect anvil, perfect hammer or whatever will have you waiting forever."
Pnut