keithwelds

Thanks Neil, great idea with the 3 legged stump. I might try that, some nice big Ash tree and Beech pieces here.

Thanks Neil, I got my first Mousehole anvil home this evening, top is way better than I expected it to be.

Thanks for the replies, yes I had heard that anvils were shipped out as ballast. Probably nothing better than a few tons of iron in the keel for a smoother crossing. I wonder how many ended up in shipwrecks at the bottom of the Atlantic? Neil a mate of mine has an old anvil, well dipped down in the middle and I hate working on it, perhaps a small dip might be an advantage when trying to straighten a bar. I agree with you, I think it's better to leave an old anvil as is if it's any way useable. https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/BMgAAeSweUpp75SU/s-l1600.jpg Hopefully the link works, seller took a photo with a straight edge of the anvil I'm interested in.

I've come across one for sale that weighs around 230lbs. Unfortunately it is not flat on top anymore. Has anyone successfully built up an old one with hard faced welding rods? Would the top plate de-laminate? I know a lot of people would prefer to leave it the way it is, but I prefer a flat top on an anvil. Someone suggested making a new plate that sits on top with an anchor point in the hardy hole and perhaps the pritchel hole as well. I've never seen it done, but might be a good option, and keep the old anvil as original as possible. I have a smaller approx 120lbs Peter Wright (?) London pattern anvil with a perfectly flat top that I'm keeping. Mousehole anvils seem to be very scarce on this side of the Atlantic, you guys in the states must have been getting them by the shipload in the 1800s!

I haven't seen it in person yet, sorry about the quality of the screen grab of the seller's photo.

I have come across a very old anvil near me for sale. It has a pritchel hole near the table at the horn end. I think at some stage the heel, hardy hole and original pritchel hole got broken off. Does anyone know if any anvils were originally made with the pritchel hole near the horn end? Only reason I'm interested in it is that it looks really old.

Been a few years. I lined it with clay. It's a subsoil found in damp places on my farm.

One year on Roger, hope you are still enjoying it. Is the tree trunk solid enough for the vices? Thinking of doing something like that, but perhaps bury the trunk 2 or 3 feet below ground level to keep it steady.

cutting fluid from a lathe shop diluted with water 10:1 works well for me

Is it possible to use an old mobile phone charger as a power source for this? Keithwelds

Hi Christopher, I made a small forge with a wheel rim, it works ok and being mild steel it was easy to weld on a swinging rest for long bars that drops down out of the way when not in use. I think the brake drum would be able to take the heat better if it is cast iron. keith