srwimmer

I sold my Vulcan Anvil with the Arm & Hammer Logo, 150 lbs. on craigslist for $300 ($2/lb). As you can see from the link, all Vulcan anvils have a very small step. That was the main reasons I sold it, i did not like the smaller step. I have a smaller Hay Budden anvil that I like much better because it has a much larger step. The larger step is much easier for me to use and easier to work the metal. http://charlotte.craigslist.org/atq/3835566177.html

I have been looking for a good leg vise for a while and finally found one. It's a Columbian. Picked it up at a farm auction in South Carolina. Those collectors sure can run up the price ($120.00). Had to use a lot of elbow grease to get it all cleaned up and pretty. Looks like the auctioneer used some type of grinder to cut it from the mounting post. It weighs around 37 lbs and has 5 inch jaws. The screw looks to be in great shape. Now the only thing left to do is get it mounted.

Here are a few pictures of my 84 lb Hay Budden anvil attached to a large locus stump. The stump is buried 22" in the ground. I used 2 - 3/8" x 4" lag screws to secure it. Very solid now. As you can see from the photos, the anvil had two 3/8" hole in the base already. Very handy when securing it to the stump.

I don't have much experience at this, but I was told by an older blacksmith, that I needed to protect the cast iron pan from getting to hot and cracking. I mixed - 1 part portland cement with 3 part sand, added a little water to make it into a paste. I place a 6" stove pipe over the tue to protect the teu from the mixture and then I coated the bottom of the pan with about 1 to 1.5 inches of the mix. The mix may be a little bit thick, so next time I need to line the pan, i'll use less mixture in the pan. I have a little Champion Farm forge that I lined this way and it turned out real nice.

I'm new at this blacksmithing stuff... I pulled it out of my shed this afternoon and fired it up for the first time... I made myself a "Door Pull", and a "Rope Cleat"... Thanks to Ridgewayforge for telling me about the textbook "Farm Blacksmithing" book by John F. Friese.

Can anyone tell me the history behind this type of forge. I found it in Salisbury, NC on Craigslist. It was in an old barn. Everything seems to be in really great shape. I believe everything is original. It has a 19" cast iron pan, a hand crank that turns a gear which is attached to a pully with a leather belt connecting to the forge. I replace the belt with a new piece of leather. The forge turns freely and generates a lot of airflow for its size.. It looks like the original tuyere is there too. Any idea who made it and how old it could be. I spoke with an old blacksmith and he recommended that I line the fire box with a portland cement mix (1 part portland, 3 parts sand) to protect the cast iron from getting to hot. Attached are a few thumbnail. Thanks in advance for any help. -- Steve

Thanks CurlyGeorge for the information. The Hay Budden (see attached Thumbnail) was purchased from the BoilerGuy in Denver, NC.

I would like to date when my Hay Budden anvil was made. S/N is 188721. Thanks in advance. -- Steve