yes i agree one of the best is a large peace of steel -if you can find a square peace that is over 100 lb. would serve you for now in the mean time get Chuck Robinson to show you some of his anvils nice stuff That is what I use for bladesmithing...My other anvils include one from: http://www.oldworldanvils.com/anvils/smaller_austrian.html And the one that I have just mounted on my air hammer... Mark