GunsmithnMaker

I picked this up Monday at my cousin's junk yard for $10.00. I've seen some very simple designs and read about how one person wanted to redesign their large brake drum forge. I'd like to know what design you would create with this at the heart? I'm thinking about some kind of table but nothing as elaborate as one forge I saw here that was made with parts from a grill and has a more pieces than a swiss watch. It is a weighty piece by itself, so portability isn't necessarily the goal here if it's suited to a full size forge. However if size also makes it large enough to be self-contained, I'd like to hear those ideas as well. Here are some pictures to give you an idea of size.

I remember reading about making a brake drum forge at one point, and after doing nothing for a weekend I decided to see if I could find a nice brake drum to make a forge with. After about 15 minutes in the junk yard this is what followed me home today for $10.00. I figured since it was in such nice shape it was worth it. Can anyone tell me where they have found information about making one of these forges I would like to see if my ideas fit an actual design. Thanks.

Cidue22 welcome to IFI. I'm not exactly an old hand here myself as I haven't even posted a "hello" in this section, but I have made myself known in other sections. I would like to comment that it would be nice to see your pictures, but even with my "high speed" internet it's taking forever. May I suggest you download IrfanView, http://www.irfanview.com/ for free and resize your pictures using 800 x 600 as a near perfect size for this forum. I had to learn this lesson the hard way as well, but I hope everyone appreciates my current efforts to keep the pictures to a speedy, more viewable size. It looks as though you have been busy, and I speak for myself when I say I've been where you are, and as a matter of fact I'm not where you seem to be now yet. I have loads of projects to do, but too many irons in the fire to concentrate on the smithing part of my life right now. Enjoy the craft. I know I intend to.

This hasn't exactly been my year when it comes to keeping cash in my pocket. And although we just bought a nice used replacement for the microwave that died on us last week our refrigerator just died last night it seems. I love how kids never think about whether the milk is cold or not. We got a good deal on a little refrigerator with the microwave but it won't hold everything in the refrigerator let alone the stuff in the freezer. Good thing it's been a COLD December so far. However, more money going out than coming in, and I was lucky enough to get an affordable Hay Budden about three weeks ago. Life is just sooooo fun sometimes. :blink:

Vinny, Did you find your anvil yet? If you don't mind a long shot that's cheap then here's one I found on Craig's List in Hadley, MA. http://westernmass.craigslist.org/tls/2096338876.html He's asking $75.00 for the anvil and here's his pictures.

One that I've had for a while and found in my collection today. So, I thought I would add the pictures of the front and back covers so that people can more easily identify the book. I don't remember reading this book, so I'll hold my opinion for later.

I purchased this book last night at Barnes and Noble while looking for their smithing books. They hide them in their jewelry making (Arts and Crafts) section. In quickly scanning this book at the store I could see the straight forward style that I like to see in any instructional book. I would agree with the above reviewer's opinions that this is a must have book. I like to post pictures for other people to get a feel for what's reviewed, so here they are:

I tried to get a picture of this anvil last week with my cell phone, but that didn't work out. As you can see it's for sale at my local Agway store. If I had the money right now, or could see having in the near future, I would buy it myself. It weighs about 175 lbs - 180 lbs and it's in great shape. I haven't got any kind of anvil book, so I'm starting this thread to see if it might be worth the asking price. Who sells the anvil reference book that most of you are using?

For those who haven't read the book, here is a picture of the cover and the homemade railcar coupler anvil.

Upon checking my library I find that I have this book, but probably I haven't had time to read anything except the Preface. I know (at least I firmly believe) that I have at least one other blacksmithing book which is probably a vintage publication and I will try to find it and share it with those here if it is useful and hasn't been reviewed before. I knew that this title looked familiar as I purused the reviews and now that I have located it I know why. It will certainly get a good reading now. For those who are interested I am adding a scan of the cover of my version of this book.

Thank you for the information. Can anyone tell me what a decent price on that forge would be? The coal was already gone unfortunately. Glenn said "400 pounds of coal will fit in a 55 gallon drum. Your only investment will be the gas if you enjoy the ride. I have forged using wood from pallets (raw not charcoaled) so do not get hung up on only being able to use coal. I have also forged with coal dust, so the coal does not have to be a certain size." I can get loads of pallet wood for nothing from a local business so maybe that is the best choice to start with. How do you prepare to use it? Do you cut it to a certain size, or just break it up for sharper edges? Of course I need a forge to begin with. I have the metal parts to make a couple sizes of propane forge, but nothing completed yet. That's why I'd really like a small open coal forge to begin making something. I just don't want to waste what little money I have. Once I can produce something and get paid for it I can upgrade.

zampilot, you can see my real anvil on this post: . I've never seen anvils for sale in my area until this year and then suddenly they seem to be everywhere. I guess it could be because of the economy. People are prioritizing and the extra anvil has to go. Maybe they bought the anvil they have on a whim and they aren't using it, or it was an inherited piece from a favorite uncle, or relative and they figure someone could use it to make money instead of it just taking up space. Whatever the reason, I know of one other at the local Agway for sale and that's a first. I used to have an ALO/ASO that I bought cheap from Harbor Freight, but it was stollen along with a bunch of other tools. It was the only think I have ever been glad to lose in my life. Well, stuff happens.

I found a listing on Craig's List for 300# of coal free for the taking not too far from where I live. About an hour away actually. If it is typical furnace coal is it worth picking up to use in a forge? My second question is about a small forge that I can purchase with some tools. It is exactly like the one pictured except the fan handle is broken. Is this forge worth anything, even as a portable forge? Thanks.

Has anyone here made a copy of Wayne Goddard's Rail Car Coupler anvil as pictured on page 27 of "$50 Knife Shop" or page 29 of the Revised Edition? I actually found a coupler to make one of these anvils for free, and some steel to weld on as a hardy hole area, but I don't have anything for the base yet. It's been a project in parts for the last 3 years. As a practice project I think it could be interesting, but with a real anvil in my possession I don't see any other need for it. I guess having a back up, or cheap travel anvil it could come in handy. If you don't have the book I can scan the page to show everyone. Your opinion is appreciated. :)

I found this listed on Craig's List New Hampshire. http://nh.craigslist.org/tls/2095512879.html If you are in the area you might be able to get a good deal.

Nice job. Did you just clean it or did you spray it with something? It almost looks powder coated in the new pictures.

Hay Budden it is! I thought it was an American Wrought because it was closest to the picture of the American Wrought anvils over at anvilfire.com. The man I bought it from has a Peter Wright that his uncle had given him. At first he gave me the choice, and I told him to keep the Wright anvil because I knew the name and thought he would regret getting rid of an heirloom anvil. Those are dense anvils. He let me bounce a hammer off of both of them and there is a world of difference. Here's the picture of the serial number and a 1 also seems to be stamped into the end. Funny I didn't see the number before I knew where to look. Same thing happened looking for the serial number on my Kubota tractor when I bought it. Here's the picture.

I bought this anvil last week and I've been pretty busy so I finally got around to taking some good pictures today. For some reason my flash wouldn't work so I had to rely on a florescent work light for lighting. I just signed up here last night and I found that some of you are very knowledgable about anvils. I have an idea of what it might be, but I wanted someone more familiar with anvils to verify or deny what I'm thinking. WARNING: Pictures are huge....sorry