Beginning Blacksmithing
In my copious free time, I like to work with metal so I started setting
up a hobby smithy to do some ironwork. I’ve read that about the only
thing you can’t make is the anvil and that hammering on a shop vise will
quickly ruin it. Last week, I scored a nice 138# Peter Wright anvil and
a 5"-jaw leg vise from a local seller on Craigslist. I doused the anvil
with Liquid Wrench, let it sit overnight and brushed off the rust:
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Sunday afternoon I cobbled together a stand based on “Jack Dempsey’s
box”:http://www.anvilfire.com/iForge/tutor.php?lesson=jd_stand/anvil-stands
idea. It’s a frame of 4"x4" posts, 2"x12" lumber on the top and ends,
two scrap 19/32" T1-11 panels for the faces, and all held together with
3 1/2" structural screws. It’s sturdy enough:
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Next I need to come up with a forge, mount the leg vise, and clear some
space. Then I need to practice.