Blacksmithing tools part 2 of 2

Part 2 of basic blacksmithing tools

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• blacksmith
• metal
• wood
• work
• craft
• art
• education
• instruction
• how
• to

[Hornbag73]

Do you have any ideas on alternatives to anvils for someone wanting to start out on a tight budget. i have seen forklift tongs used, railway line, steel hard faced, what can you recommend as a place to start.

[patrinrom]

@Hornbag73 ok anything large enough with a flat surface can be used as an anvil. in a pinc ive used larrg rocks hardwood stumps steel i beam whatever i could find. you will get better results from a real anvil with a hard flat face but use what ever you can get your hande on try looking in junkyards or metal scrap yards also harbor freight has a low cost 55 lb anvil not the best but i use 1 in my portable rig.

[Ginyru]

@patrinrom I wouldn't recommend habour freight. Their anvils are cast iron which means that they are soft and brittle and will break if used regularly. I think the best way for a started is a railroad track.

[patrinrom]

@Ginyru unless you get a written statment of sale from the railroad it is ilegal to have a piece of track. I am 3rd generation railroad family. Now I know lots of ppl have them and I dont ever call them on it, use what you can get, but still I do several public shows if all it takes is ! person to get a bug up thier b**t to ruin your day. also RR track is not hardned so u need to do that and grind the surface flat. Harbor freight used to sell a cast steel anvil out of russia just recently stoped

[okieheadhunter]

very good scentsable video about what you really need to start forging metal.

[Hornbag73]

Thanks for your comments. I don't have access to a harbor freight here in Australia but i will keep looking for a cheap anvil. I have taken your advice and have watched many you tube video's. I see you point on how so many people do thing differently Thanks Again

[johnnysgretsch]

Ya I learned lots especially the one about keeping your tools inside out of the rain.

[patrinrom]

@purejpm try making charcoal purgatory ironworks has a great demo on how he also discuses the diff between using char and regular coal.

[purejpm]

@ThePhantomBlacksmith ya iv no made a pair and just used up the last of my coal after i just started my second pair need some more hard to find here in ontario

[ThePhantomBlacksmith]

@purejpm go for it! Make a pair. They're a no-brainer. Just look at a pair you like and copy them. Something you can just wing without really knowing what you're doing. After about your second or third pair you'll be an expert.