First attempts

[SinDoc]

Here are my first few goes at making something. The smaller one is just made out of junk metal I had laying around. I think it was welding rod from one of the box stores. The larger is my first try at "good" metal and is 1084 bar stock (1/8 thick 1.5" wide). Learned I was hitting it a bit too hard and at a bad angle due to those hammer marks. Still working on my general shaping ability.

[ThomasPowers]

Check the working height of your anvil and that your hammers are dressed appropriately too; both can add to the number of hammer marks you are creating!

[Chad J.]

You don't get any better your not trying.   I like the shape on that top one.  Look at the weight banner you're using as well.   I started by using a 2 pound drilling hammer with a really short handle.   It gave me a bit better control,  though it still took me forever to get the hammer marks out.  What were you thinking of doing for the handle?

[SinDoc]

Haven't decided quite yet. The hammer marks were mostly me trying to move the metal on the edge to make it thinner. Quickly realized I was doing it wrong and stopped, hence the nasty hammer marks. Supposed to have my grinder hopefully next week. Until then, I haven't worried much about finishing. I just did some cleaning and what little grinding I could with my angle grinder.