For once I'm actually joining a forum and posting in the newbie section, Hi, guys and gals I'm really just getting started. I have plans to put together a forge in my backyard not to worried about the people living around me considering the number of dogs that bark all hours of the day or night. lol. I'm really interested in the forging non electric methods of knife production due mainly to my cheapness and having most of the materials for it. Stubbornly locating an anvil substitute is alluding me although I am considering buying a sledgehammer and using that in a tree stump. Also currently looking for a blower/bellows pattern that is easy to make and source materials for. I've downloaded a few books but many seem to be about the use of an electric blower which I do have access to found an old busted shop vac and that seems to work well for blowing air. Want to build a box to house the unit and add an off and on switch to it
Welcome to the forums. You'll find lots of helpful folks here, for all your questions. Your idea of using the sledge hammer head for an anvil would work. You could also go with a piece of railroad track. As for the forge, a simple brake drum forge would get you started, if you want a solid fuel type.
