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Hi All, New to this site, I just purchased my first anvil and I am very excited. I wanted to get your thoughts on the condition and whether or not to clean it up as it is so old. Here are a few pictures. One thing is that on the bottom it says May 13, 1884/1894 but the back says 1900 can someone clear that up for me? In addition I think I got a really good deal on it but I dont know the going rate for these types of things. For more information I am located in New Hampshire. Thanks, Dally

Hi I’m a new blacksmith in Manchester England I’m 17 and currently doing my alevels so money is tight so I am looking for a good starter anvil I know going as cheap as possible is a waste so I’m looking for a good starting anvil at around 100 pounds Thanks in advance. Josh

Hey Fellows! Here you can watch the tutorial that I made on how to forge Brian´s pick up / hammer making tongs. The video is part of a series of videos Alec and I are going to make to support Brian´s "Tools to make Tools" curriculum the International YoungSmiths team will be going through during the event at Tannehill Forge School of Blacksmithing Summer 2013.

Hey Fellows! Those of you who frequently read my posts, respectively watch my videos, might already know that I try to work with as many blacksmiths as possible. Especially those in my youngster age. And also that I always have my camera at hand to capture the best moments for me and those that are interested in it as well. So was it that I visited Alec in England over the Easter holly days. I´ve already worked with him two times before and he is not only a colleague, but also became a good friend of mine. We had four days to work, but unfortunately I´ve been sick in the beginning, so we weren´t be as productive as we could have been. Nevertheless we made a bunch of very cool tools both for me and Alec and also some nice artistic items. Furthermore it was a good preparation for he demo at the NWBA in a few months. This is all we´ve produced (On the huge sledge I´ve only made a new handle): This is what I´ve taken home with me: Our last project: A Brazeal style fullering hammer (not a rounding hammer) from 40mm square 1045 steel: One day I was so sick that I could not forge. So I decided to film Alec whilst forging and we made a real little image film for his work. I put all my expertise and efford in the filming and the edit and I really hope it paid for it! (For who is interested: Camera: Canon EOS 650D (Rebel T1i), Lens: EF 24-70mm f/2,8 L II USM) But see yourselves: Last year Alec was on tour with the YoungSmiths, which is an international group of - who guessed it - youngs blacksmiths that was founded by Brian Brazeal. They traveled around the USA and gave public demos. I am always impressed, what skills this young lad, who only reaches up to my chest and is with 15 still three years younger than me, already has. This year I am supposed to also take a course at Brian´s and join the YoungSmiths as well! So my visit at Alec´s place also was meant as a preparation for summer. We also filmed a tutorial about how to forge cranes: There are some more video that are not edited yet. If I decide to upload them I´ll post them here later. I hope you enjoyed my little diary! I am looking forward to a lot of very cool experiences and good crafsmanship with Alec, Brian and the YoungSmiths in summer. This was it from me so far! Yours - Daniel