WildManJason

Nope. That's why I am here.

Steve Shimanek, that is awesome.

I have a bro in law that works for a metal fab company and he is looking for a nice chunk for me. He has even offered to cut it. Granted it won't be hardened, but I might be able to have someone weld a hardened plate to it.

By "real" anvil, I mean something has a flat, hard face and is significantly heavy. My rail peice (about 30 lbs) is curved on one side and I don't intend to spend a lot of effort grinding it flat. It works for what I use it for right now. However, my 2x4 stand does not appear to be heavy or flat enough, because it walks about 1 foot over the course of an hour of striking. I have an old  wagon axle skein that I found buried on my property that was heavily rusted that I intend to fashion into a "horn". I am all about repurposing and refurbishing stuff. 

Thanks for the welcome.

I didn't even know about ABANA until you mentioned it. Found an affiliate about 1.5 hours from me. Will check it out, but, being that far, I probably won't make it a weekly visit.

Hi.

I have had a very technology centric life since college. I have always liked using my hands though. Some people call it handy, I call it capable. Blacksmithing appears to be everything I have been craving my entire life. Problem/puzzle solving, creativity and very useful. Very much looking forward to learning all my brain will hold about blacksmithing. I have a dual burner forge, a small piece of rail, and a few hammers and tongs I have refurbished. Good beginner setup I think. Just need a vice that can handle blacksmithing work. And eventually I will get a real anvil when I feel I have advanced enough. All in all, I love hitting hot metal. Glad to have found iforgeiron.