Hi all, I am glad to say that I will be building my first forge this weekend. I am 16 and live in PA and I can't wait to get to know people on the site. I am full of questions and a desire to learn many skills. For now, I plan on forging Railroad Spike Knives for personal use mainly. I figure I will ask my first question right now, is there anything that I can use as a makeshift anvil until I can buy a good one?

Anything with a mass of 50 to 100 pounds will do as a beginning anvil.

May want to go to IForgeIron.com > lessons in metalworking > blacksmithing. It will answer a lot of your questions.

welcome to I Forge Iron, there are many beginning smiths here. some younger than you are good place for friendship, and instruction.

Great to have you here, Glenn has told others in the past to pack a lunch and a tall cold beverage before going into the depths of this site... and for good reason! There is a wealth of info here and lots of people of every skill level.

Great to have ya around.

James

Thanks for the warm welcome and tips. Just wanted to hop on and wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy holidays.