RingingAnvil

I know of a 50lb LG in Butte, Montana. Gentelman is asking 2,500.00 but the hammer needs work. Make him an offer and you might be able to get it to your door for less - maybe not. I was going to jump on it but found a 100lb LG closer to home. Anyway, you can find it on montana craigs list. I really like what Thomas Powers had to say. Best of luck to you.

Small donation to a local charity auction.

Steve, Thank you. The value of this site for me is almost entirely attributed to the willingness of the more experienced to share what they have learned.

I would be very interested in the vise you might be willing to sell. Is it the same type? I am located in Montana but do not mind paying the shipping if the equipment is good and the price is right. I have a smaller post vise that has been really good but want something a bit heavier that grabs better as I some times have to tighten mine so hard i worry about damaging the thread. Send me a couple of pictures and some info if you can. Travis

Have been blacksmithing for many years on various anvils that I bought cheap or salvaged. I have some good ones and some not so good. I am interested in buying a new anvil but before I do I wanted to see if there is any advice I could get. I like the Nimba Centurion but have never used one. I also am interested in a Fontanini (Rat Hole Forge). If anyone has a moment - Thank you.

Thanks for the all the help and advice everyone.

I have found a couple of boxes of old planer blades and due to the slight thickness and width i thought they would make a great series of fillet knives for the entire world. Does anyone know what kind of steel they might be (i put their birthday at 1958) and how to treat them? Perhaps they wouldn't make good blades at all.

a method that i have used for blades is one that i witnessed at an abana conference in seattle. two short pieces of thick bar stock welded to the jaws of a set of tongs perpendicular to the length were heated to yellow then clamped onto the blade opposite the cutting edge. the heat transfer runs the colors down onto the edge and when enough is enough (or just before) you simply let go. like anything this process takes practice but i think it is worth a shot. of course different strokes for different projects. i am always looking for new or better ways. let me know if you have any success and with what type of steel.

Che, may i see a photo of the material (preferably wire brushed) up close. i have had my hand on real wrought iron only a few times and it is a matter of interest to me. it seems that there yet remains a bit of knowledge about it out there but it is difficult to come by. as the unicorn fore has said (i think), the various qualities dramatically change it's personality. i forged a chunk that split in two once and i believe that it may have been do to a less than perfect forge weld. sounds like you have quite another issue.

I have a two foot section of rail that sits in the corner of my shop. At least twice a week i look upon it and wonder what could be done with it. I never think of anything worthwhile concerning the section of rail but the process sets my brain to wandering and i soon think of all manner of other clever things. If this much inspiration can be generated by such a diminutive piece of this material then i can only imagine (and indeed i may) what kind of creative mental provocation the amount you posses is capable of imbuing. Leave it, that's what i say. Put it in a prominent location - somewhere that you are forced to see it every day - in only a few short weeks you may very well unlock the secrets of the universe. Or scrap it.

I have used the whisper baby, momma, and daddy. if you are blacksmithing get the daddy. the size of the firebox (most notably the height) will serve you much better in my opinion. if you are using it for farrier work rock on and i will keep my eyes open. as the unicorn says; build your own if you want to forge weld.

Thanks, i needed to hear that.

In my humble opinion exposed welds can detract from a forged piece - even if they are very nice or cleaned up. Try notching or drilling the bowl itself and plug welding from the other side if you don't like rivets or mortise and tenon. If done well it would be plenty strong. Assembly of small forged pieces has always taken a lot of creativity and design foresight for me. To bad we can't attach things with magic:)

Had everything arranged but the guy wanted to wait then sold the dang thing to someone else. better luck next time.

Not sure why the picture is so small as it is large on my computer. I am going to try to get more next week.

Here it is! Gearing seems to be there as well as other parts.

It may very well be that the only way to find out if there is a blacksmith in you waiting to get out is to pick up a hammer and pound on a piece of hot iron. Either you will love it or change the channel. Fortunately a body can try it out almost anywhere for almost no expense. Good luck!

Thank you all. I have decided to grab. I go Saturday to pick it up. Phil i will definitely be in touch.

The catalog number is 337-B. 15" swing, 5' bed on its own cast base. The only thing that i can see is missing is the secondary drive belt. Nothing even wiggles and every is free and very, very, very smooth. I will have some pics soon. If nothing else its about the prettiest little thing I've seen in a while.

I have finally found a Little Giant. It is a 50lb Little Giant that was manufactured in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. The casting has no cracks and everything else is in fairly good order but I have heard they are a bit different to find parts for and this one may need a few now or in the future. Should i grab it or hold out? Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I have an opportunity to purchase a south bend lathe that is in unbelievably good shape for around five hundred. do not know much about them as i have only worked on the Monarch lathes. any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

It has been suggested that i introduce myself and who am i to argue. I am the sole proprietor of The Ringing Anvil Forge in Billings MT. Like every blacksmith that i have ever spoken with i started with nothing and scraped along somehow until i became proficient enough to earn a living doing what i love. I feel very fortunate to have apprenticed under an incredible master blacksmith (not to mention the finest gentleman i have ever known), to have work alongside and studied with another fine blacksmith, and indeed to have entered into a community of such extraordinary and interesting people. Some years ago i suddenly realized how little i actually knew and since have endeavored to know more. My hope in joining ifi is to gain and give as much as possible among the sooty folk.