MaxwellB

This is true in every facet of life, but so much more in crafting. I used to work in a bakery, and it was extremely easy to collect bowls, spatulas, spoons, piping bags and tips, sheet trays, cookie cutters, etc. all on that shelf under the table. Of course when you need something it's got a 3/4" thick buttercream stucco in it and it just breaks the rhythm you develop. You know what they say: An organized workspace is an organized mind.

No welder, and don't have the sufficient electrical to rent/borrow one. Plus I have less experience with welding than I do with smithing! This is the direction I'm leaning towards. Like you said, if it's a lemon it'll still have use.

Fantastic review! The amount of detail you went into with this is outstanding. I've seen a few videos of this type of anvil and the ring does seem to be excessive. I'm wondering if building a base and sinking the last two inches of the anvil in sand would be sufficient to dampen the ring. Perhaps smiths more experienced that I would have better suggestions. Overall your review has given me some things to ponder and debate. But at the same time I don't want to fall victim to analysis paralysis and am anxious to get cracking. Guess it's a good thing my forge isn't here yet, so I can't rush into this decision too much. Thanks again mate!

Funny you should say that, Frosty. I had a pickup many years ago that was costing more to keep alive than it was worth. 1990 Chevy C1500. I loved that truck, but it was time to send it to the boneyard in the sky. Now I drive a little sedan. I've never had issues transporting the 20# tanks I use for my turkey deepfry, but they can stand up in the trunk no problem and it's a legit straight single mile from house to gas station I exchange at, so there's little motion to cause it to rock or tip. I'm just concerned with the fact that I'm starting out and don't have the timing of things down, and will be wasting fuel. So I guess it's better for me to waste in a small tank that's easier for me to refill/replace than it is for a big boy that takes more hoops to jump through to refill. And I really don't want to spend anything extra on a new tank right now. So that's a "down the line" item for me to worry about, for when the things I make don't look like something that fell off a car crash.

I used to work for U-Haul and we'd only fill 20# tanks, and only if you had a support ring base or something to guarantee the tank remained upright. There was also a storage building in Wisconsin that caught fire. One of the units had a propane tank in it, which was against policy. When the firefighters were checking for hot spots they found the remnants of the tank. They said it looked like someone peeled it like a banana. I guess if I go big, I'll need to rent a truck to transport. Luckily I live close to places that fill, so I wouldn't be spending too much. But I'll look into the two 20# tanks connected.

Yeah, I've been looking at getting a 40# tank, but the issue would be transport once it's filled. The only vehicle I have that could be sufficient to transport would be a conversion van, and I could secure it in place with ratchet straps, but some places don't allow you to transport a tank in the same space as a passenger. So I'd need to research that a bit more. I'd also love to get a 100# tank, but absolutely no way to transport that upright, and home propane delivery is 2x the cost of taking it somewhere to fill. Options and decisions all around.

I'm stoked that you like this forge, because I have one on its way. Have you had to tinker with the connections at all, or are they good to go out of the box? Some if the reviews I read said that because it's a European design, it needs an adapter for US tanks.

Understood. I'm keeping my options as open as I can with the budget I have. If this is something that is, at the end of the day, a viable option I'll consider it. I like that it has the horn versus an improvised anvil in the thread I started, as I want to cut my teeth by forging my own tongs, and it would be beneficial to be able to craft different styles. Since the goal for me is to do hobbyist knife crafting a "travel size" anvil would be perfect, with just enough flexibility where I could make some other things as the mood strikes. I've always subscribed to the philosophy that it's better to have and not need than need and not have.

Yeah... I'm thinking this guy has a few screws loose when he feels the need to post that in the description. He's also selling this: Ebay link removed I'm curious which would be better. Cheaper isn't always better, and the 11" bar isn't as heavy as the 8" round, but it'll have more mass under the striking area. I'll still need to square off a side, it just won't be as long as the other block would be. Plus since I'm new to all this my hammer control will be non-existent, which is worrisome about the 1018 as everything I'm seeing says it's mild steel and will ding. Glenn - I saw that link and that's what's making me think that going this sort of route, coupled with sinking the improvised anvil into some of the wood stump I've got around the house, wouldn't be a bad idea. And I'm sure it'll sound better going that route too, since I do have neighbors who might get cranky.

Can you tell me how you were able to determine the type of steel it was? I might be blind and missed it in the description, or you have super powers, but being unable to find that was part of the reason I posted here.

I came across this listing: ebay listing removed and I'm not too far from the location so I wouldn't be paying a 100% shipping charge. The question I have is would it be suitable for a starter anvil? I'm sure there's someone here who would be familiar with the stamping and whether it's suitable to flatten some steel. At 8" wide I'm sure it's overkill, and I'm sure I can put a straight edge on there with an angle-grinder and some patience. Would this be something worthy of pursuit, or better left alone in favor of something more traditional? Thanks in advance for sharing the knowledge!

Thank you for the welcome!

I am really interested in your results and an honest review of performance. This particular ASO (and similar types) are popping up on every search I make. Thank you in advance for your attention to detail on this.