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1) it needs to be hotter. when you pull out the stock, it barely seems past red hot. For really shaping steel, you should go way hotter. And in any case, your forge should be able to turn it light...

It is supposed to. :) You're blowing a lot of gas + air into the forge. It has to come out at a similar flow as is going in. Conservation of mass and all that. :)

It is normal for a gas forge to...

As Mike said, more or less. However, once you're working on the anvil, there's no reason to not make it as quiet as you can. Not only for your own sake, it also pays to stay on friendly terms with...

For reduced sound, put some thing between the anvil and the stand, then lock the anvil to the stand (as opposed to just placing it on top).
And also fill the legs of the stand to dampen vibration. I...

Ok I get it.
tongs in the fire -> not a good idea. They will get soft and lose grip. They'll bend like a noodle if you try to grip your piece. In fact, it'll be worse. If the tongs are plain...

Perhaps a silly question, but how are you going to get the blade out while the torch is burning?
If you put in a razor blank, and it is laying flat on the bottom, it may be difficult to grab with...

Don't clay it into place. Firstly, you may want to tweak a bit, and that becomes difficult when it is clayed in. Second, due to thermal stresses and mechanical tension, the thing might just come...

Before you start pattern welding, hammer out things from monosteel first. The practice will be beneficial, plus you learn the heating characteristics of your furnace, which are still an unknown...

Not much wasted heat. Certainly not enough that it would make sense to try and use it for heat treating. Firebrick insulates really well. You could have a hot fire inside, and the outside would be...

Well, in that case I'd go for the 70 pounds. 70 is still easy enough to lug around. With anvils, the heavier, the better (up to a point of course) because it will move less with each strike of the...

Keep looking to buy one second hand.

You should find one easily in the various local classifieds sites. It's what all local blacksmiths do. I don't know anyone who has bought a new anvil. You...

Depending on where you'll use it, be sure to think of adequate ventilation.

This is what I did yesterday. My forge was crumbling on the sides, wasting heat. The walls should curve inwards to make a more contained hollow. And when I made it, the back was closed because at the...

I am going to try using clay. Currently I use a micture of refractory cement, ashes, and kitty litter for insulation.
Over time it may crumble, but it costs almost nothing to repair or replace. I...