Stash

Here ya go. Note the cast serial number at the bottom of the pic. On the dynamic jaw the number is stamped. Steve

Ill see what I can do- it's dark out there! Steve

I want to take a moment here to correct my post. My Fisher vise has the date (1918) CAST into the inside of the static jaw, not stamped as I wrote. As soon as I posted, I questioned myself, got the chance to check, and here we go. Lets now return to the previously scheduled program. Steve

My Fisher #3 chain vise has the date (1918) stamped on the inside of the static jaw. Steve

Agreed, John. Even for a Krispy Kreme. Steve

Hey MJ- both top and bottom dies are each held in place by 2 3/8" bolts tapped into the upper and lower plates. I have a spare 1/2" ratchet with a 9/16" socket on standby. Steve

Welcome! You do some right purty work! Steve

Well it followed me home on Sunday but I just got it all set up and running. It’s a Coal Ironworks 12 ton I found used near me, along with a major heavy duty stand and a handful of dies. The guy is upgrading to a 25 ton to up his game, and needed to move this, after 2 years of use. It was basically set it on the stand with the help of a friend, then just plug and play. It sure does that squeeze thing real nice. I tested it with some 1” round, flat bottom die, upper die a fuller. Moved more metal in 2 heats than a half day with a hammer. My shoulder says “thanks”.

If you can get that for 350, JUMP ON IT NOW. I would expect it to be 3x that. Steve

If anyone is planning on a visit, post it here- maybe a few of us can co ordinate a visit at the same time, do some lunch or something. I've been there twice already, that isn't enough. I'm about 1 1/2 hrs away and can almost go at the drop of a hat. Steve

One of the demonstrators at the 2018 ABANA conference in Richmond was talking about his drainage ditch patina. Steve

I'll pass on your offer, Mr. Slag (Der Slagmeister?) My 2 1/2 acres is likely to kill me with one of those acoustic things. Steve

Offhand, I would say they were for large industrial forging- think railroad, or ship building or the like. Maybe held in a chain sling to support the weight as worked under a big power hammer. Test them- they might be wrought iron. Steve

Definitely made in England and shipped over here. For pix I was thinking full side view and a shot of the top face. IIRC wright put on one piece faceplates starting around 1885 or so. Prior to that there were 2 or more top plate pieces.On the older anvils you can see the join between the two, which helps with the age range. The older anvils also were a bit 'chunkier', which can help with age detection. No serial numbers, so you need to look for more subtle differences. Steve

Not having "England" stamped on it means it is pre- 1910 ish. More pix might help get a closer date guess. Steve

I would have to give that 'deal' a great big "nope. No thanks" Steve

Pnut- you thinking of Twin Peaks? Steve

Frosty- I think I need to back off too. We get the mods upset, that would be Royd rage. Steve

I see what you did there, John. Steve

Looks to be 1901. See Frazer's comment re value. Steve

I'm running my bottom blast with a recycled bathroom blower, rated at 115 cfm. It comes out of the blower at 4", reduces to 2" then goes 3" and up to the fire. I run it thru a dump valve just downstream of the blower- a blast gate on one leg of a 4" wye, providing back pressure to the other leg, to feed the fire. I haven't put any kind of meters on my system- I hold my hand over the firepot, feel the breeze and say "yup, thats fine". I usually choke the dump valve down halfway unless I want a lot of heat, choke it down completely and I get some major heat. Does your setup work? Not work? Kinda work? It seems to be real complicated. Show us some pictures. I like to keep things simple and not over think things. Steve

Hey Kai- welcome aboard. Looks like your anvil is from 1906, probably close to the end of the year. Sounds like it's a beast. Show us some pix, please. Steve

Good find. Good call, not pushing to get the cover screws off. Just hit them with penetrant- ATF/acetone 50/50 works a treat. Sometimes a little heat will help, but not too hot. The other thing I've done, set a screwdriver in the slot, and give it a light tappy-tap with a light hammer. Lather, rinse and repeat slowly. Good luck. Good proper looking legs too. Steve

That is what I've been paying for PA smithing coal picked up 10 bags at a time. My supplier sources from the Fisher mine , off Rte 80. Steve

Thanks Irondragon. You da man! Steve