Gizamo: I miss Mike too. He always offered such great advice that you could take to the bank. Appreciate the link that shows his amazing fire steels.
Nice find on the post vise! Mine is an old beater I got for $60. I have a propane forge, but am half scared of the thing, so mostly use my washtub charcoal forge and champion blower. My learning anvil is a Russian cast steel 110-pounder that I got from Harbor Freight (not the Chinese cast iron). I'm preparing to switch to a nicely rebuilt 120-pound Trenton, although with my sketchy skills I don't deserve it.
I have been using a magnet under the heel to quiet my Rooskie, but may try the more traditional chain wrap on the Trenton.