Well here's the closest thing to an anvil I have. It's just an ASO and still going to add more filler and refine it a bit probably later this week. I'm just getting started so hoping (and expecting) this to function well enough to get into some basics.
So far it weighs in at 106 lbs. but will probably add another 10 or 20 lbs. by the time it's "done".
The short horn is something hardenable (evident during turning) but the top face is just mild steel, so I'm not expecting any magic. I started this about 3:00 this afternoon and took this picture about 7:30, so all in all it hasn't been too bad so far.
I'm a machinist by trade and I can't hardly believe I haven't dipped my toe into blacksmithing before now, here at age 57. Speaking of which, I milled the hardie hole and just had to file the corners, so at least it's square and plumb.
My brother picked up a decent forge at auction about 30 years ago and neither one of us ever got around to much more than a short try. But I found a good local source for some coal and we gave the thing its first real go last night. The forge isn't too bad at all - not too fancy but the real deal nonetheless. So I tried my first actual heating & hammering and it went OK. The available ASO was a railroad track thing my brother had. It isn't particularly small track, but seemed pretty light once you put a hammer to it. Probably only 30-40 lbs. if I had to guess. By the end, kinda had a jones for something a bit heavier.
Anyways, I know this isn't a dream anvil, but it's heavy and useful enough for a beginner to get started I think maybe. Hope it suffices to either discover this just ain't my "thing" or (much more likely) that I really enjoy it and step up to a nice real anvil in the future.
Let me know what you think!
BTW, this is my first post here.
