Having serious trouble finding anvil

[twistedkeys]

I didn't know you could do that with the sledge hammers. It's a good idea but I don't have money right now to do that.

Two questions:

1. As I said, I have access to TONS on concrete slabs. Would this work? Or would it damage the mental? I don't care about breaking the concrete because there're so many.

2. How were anvils made in the old medieval days?

[thegeek574]

Are you essentially on a zero dollar budget? A sledge hammer, a bucket, and a bag of concrete will cost you about 40 bucks.

[twistedkeys]

Are you essentially on a zero dollar budget? A sledge hammer, a bucket, and a bag of concrete will cost you about 40 bucks.

Right now? Yes. I may be getting a job this week, but I'm not sure how much it'll pay or if they'll call me in.

[thegeek574]

If you live in a rural area, there have to be barns and such around. talk to the owners and see if there is a piece of metal. At this point, pretty much anything will work better than concrete.

[twistedkeys]

If you live in a rural area, there have to be barns and such around. talk to the owners and see if there is a piece of metal. At this point, pretty much anything will work better than concrete.

Yeah I've been riding around on my bike looking in the back of barns and such. Haven't seen much. I know the junkyard would have SOMETHING but that's a 7 hour round trip on my bike... And "one does not simply carry an anvil on a 40lb bicycle!"

[thegeek574]

Hmmm. Talk to one of the owners and ask if you can just take a look inside. You might be surprised at what just sits in barns.

[twistedkeys]

Hmmm. Talk to one of the owners and ask if you can just take a look inside. You might be surprised at what just sits in barns.

[Phil Dwyer]

You might ask if you can put a notice up at your local feed and hardware store(s) that you're looking for an anvil and blacksmith tools. Maybe offer to trade for yard/farm/ranch work...? Check in at service stations too. Ask any and everybody wherever you go: church, standing in line at a store...any and every where. Get the word out. You might eventually be pleasantly surprised.

[elementfe]

Thanks for the info. I assume you assume I'm in at least a fairly populated area though. But I'm actually in rural Utah. I did know a knifemaker, but he didn't forge the blades he just did custom handles... The next big city is 270miles away...

I'm fairly rural too- but they hold the blacksmithing meets in small towns rotating around the region, and hammer-ins tend to be at workshops, so that helps.
http://bfc.abana-chapter.com/ is your local blacksmithing group. This is a terrible generalization, I know, but blacksmiths seem to prefer to life out in the sticks- there might be one hiding nearby. You won't find a more helpful group of people!
Andy.

[twistedkeys]

You might ask if you can put a notice up at your local feed and hardware store(s) that you're looking for an anvil and blacksmith tools. Maybe offer to trade for yard/farm/ranch work...? Check in at service stations too. Ask any and everybody wherever you go: church, standing in line at a store...any and every where. Get the word out. You might eventually be pleasantly surprised.

That is a good idea

[twistedkeys]

I'm fairly rural too- but they hold the blacksmithing meets in small towns rotating around the region, and hammer-ins tend to be at workshops, so that helps.
http://bfc.abana-chapter.com/ is your local blacksmithing group. This is a terrible generalization, I know, but blacksmiths seem to prefer to life out in the sticks- there might be one hiding nearby. You won't find a more helpful group of people!
Andy.

Dang thanks for the link mate, helps a LOT.

[Bo T]

If you find a blacksmith nearby you might offer to barter some work time for instruction time and materials or even apprentice if you think it is your calling.