Chris Jones

I was recently in the USA and was lucky enough to visit Old Sturbridge Village, just to the west of Boston, MA. They have an original (but relocated) 1800's forge and i have to say if I had been allowed (which i wasn't on pain of an angry wife) I could have stayed all day, but for those of you who haven't been to the place I've attached some photos I took...serious Forge Envy on my part. Chris

Well we are back and had a great time in the USA, thanks to everyone who gave us some info and places to visit. One of the places we visited was Old Sturbridge Village - which has a great Blacksmiths shop, i was dragged away by an irate wife and child after 30 minutes so didn't stay as long as i was hoping. I'll put a photo up when i've downloaded them all as it is a great place and I was very jealous. I also caught out of the corner of my eye a sign for a blacksmiths shop - somewhere on Cape Cod, but by the time I had seen it and remembered to drive on the correct side of the road i had forgotten where it was again. Chris

just as a thought, you probably need some air inlets at the base of the hood, to allow the smoke to rise, if you cut off the air in at the bottom it will not chimney up as it doesn't have a huge amount of force to drag new air in, try a few slots at the bottom of the hood, just above the firepan and see if it helps with the swirl you are getting out. Chris p.s. I've never tried it on a forge, but part of my day job is designing air ducting for electronics and they have similar problems.

I'm not sure this is the place for a philosophical arguement, I also don't think we disagree that it is immoral and unethical (as well as illegal) to boost the price of an item you are selling beyond the normal market forces level. But there is no suggestion that this has happened here and so what the market has decided is that this item is worth the price it sold for, therefore that is what it is worth.

I've seen it happen both real life and online auctions, but as bad and un-ethical as it is - if the final sale goes to a person who paid an amount he was willing to pay for an item, then it is what the item was worth at the time, if you aren't willing to pay that much then don't bid. Chris

But if someone wants a Yugo and it's the only one on sale and 5 other people are after a Yugo then the price will be what the price is.... As was said - the starting price was $25, it wasn't the person selling that set the price it was the people buying...and they can't be wrong. Chris

I always love the $X per lb arguement - it only applies to scrap metal. As with anything else an anvil is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, in one location you'll get huge demand in others huge supply...the difference could be 50, 100, X+% in price. As Mr Miller said - offer and see whether he will accept, if the price is still too high walk away, see whether in 3 months time and he's still trying to sell it if he'll take the same offer...rinse and repeat - if he sells it then someone was willing to pay it, and the price was right (at that time in that location for that item). Chris

the ultimate question - I've just bought one in Ebay - there are lots there but they tend to be spread around the country a bit and so finding one you an afford close enough to pickup is the difficulty. You could check for 'Farm dispersal sales' these are auctions where the farm equipment is being sold off, I've seen 2 with anvils in them so far this month. Or you could splash out and buy one new from vaughans - www.anvils.co.uk That's all i can think of. Chris

Hi all, after my last post about a small anvil - I found the following on ebay and have just won it. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251058397728?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 I probably paid a bit much, and have to arrange collection but it was the size I was after, and is a little bit different from normal. Anyone got some ideas on mounting it? I was thinking tree stump..any other thoughts? Chris

very good - I had it on my watch list but way too far away for me to collect - good buy.

really nice idea and well executed. it's basically a ramjet - brilliant application of the principle. Wouldn't worry about the compressor noise...the jet will probably drown it out..;)

I'm in a similar boat, I've found a few online suppliers: http://www.easupplies.com/Black-Pipe-Fittings-s/3306.htm http://www.esska-tech.co.uk/esska_eng_s/malleable_iron_pipe_fittings.html Watch out what you buy - I believe that Galvanised is BAD near heat as it gives off some fumes..but not sure on that. If you find a different supply give me a shout as I'll be looking for some over the winter. Chris

double posted!!

Easiest way to explain: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark_testing Chris

The vid is a chap in the UK who does some great Youtube vids called Gary Huston - I have his channel as a favourite he does some great stuff. I was always thinking about using lorry engine mounts in the same way...but this is a much simpler method. Chris

The lower the frequency the more body transmission occurs, so you can actually have physical effects from low frequency harmonics that your ear will not hear - some research was done on it for crowd control etc. The high frequency stuff tends to effect the ear more directly, luckily the high frequency end is the easiest to damp out and is also the main part of the noise produced by hitting metal with metal, you probably notice this when you put on ear defenders as they will kill the high frequency stuff very well but the lower end stuff isn't fully attenuated. I used to do some work on Radar systems and the anechoic rooms we used for that were very good at damping out sound as well as radar waves. Very funny standing in a properly anechoic room and closing your eyes and your sense of balance fails you very quickly. Chris

it's not that much difference from the UK pronunciations: Worcester - wuh-stu Gloucester - Glo-stu Leominster - Lem-stu with the 'u' sound being like in duck In the local area there are no H's so Hereford - Ereford The wonderful world of the Welsh marches Chris

One option for the eco-friendly people for sound proofing is cardboard egg boxes....yes seriously. Fill them with something soft but dense - expanding foam maybe or cloth of some sort, then stick to the walls with the dimpled side facing inwards. The filling will absorb the sound and the dimpled shape will reflect it in multiple directions which increases the reduction in power....very similar to the radar reducing methods used on aircraft. If you have the cash buy some of this stuff. http://www.acoustic-foam.co.uk/ Chris

I think you might have voided the warranty on the cylinder as well...;) nice build though.

Daniel, Thanks for the info, the Wedding I am going to is my mate from the UK marrying a lovely girl with the surname Ronan - think they are 'locals' to Billerica, you might know of them. I think we are going to have fun with the placenames - obviously they are all based on or copies of places in the UK, but the USA pronounciation is different - we were thinking of going to Leominster, MA as my wife is from Leominster in the UK, but we decided to head the other direction. Thanks Chris

We leave in about 3 weeks time - 5th June 2012 - in Boston for 3 days, Billerica for 3 for the wedding and Cape Cod for 6 days. Thanks for the ideas so far, some I hadn't heard of. Chris

To be honest we are pretty flexible, historical would be good, ecology/environment for the wife - something kids will enjoy for the little one. I've suggested the Woods Hole Institute for one of the days we are in Cape Cod. Boston will probably be museums/aquarium and general walking round. beaches and maybe a trip over to one of the islands off Cape Cod was another idea. Really just after thoughts. Chris

Hi, As others have asked and got some great ideas, I thought I'd ask. I am on holiday for 2 weeks in and around Boston, MA. I have 3 days in Boston, and about 6 days travelling to, staying on and travelling back from Cape Cod - with a mates wedding in the middle. Anyone suggest anything I should see, bearing in mind I will have the wife and a 2 year old with me. Thanks Chris

thanks for the info, the seller reckons it is a 52Kg anvil - I think he's weighed it, so the markings might be a bit off/worn. It's currently £10 but 8 days to go i expect it to be a lot more by the end....oh well. Chris

Can I ask how you worked that out? it's currently on ebay for 99p...won't stay there long though.