Frozenforge

50 lb Toledo weight, Probably used for calibrating scales so is much more precise hence more expensive so not exactly mass produced.

Soft firebrick is fragile and susceptible to thermal cracking and if its a tight fit around the flare the expansion of the flare, small as it might be, will add to the stress. A hardbrick will be tougher.

Hopefully your out buying that anvil and not reading these posts!

Sounds to me like you have your pricing structure right where you want it and its worked successfully for a long time, thats the ideal outcome for a small business! One thing we all have to remember is that only a small percentage of the people will appreciate the craftsmanship of a handmade piece enough to pay the increased cost. Other people just compare the price to the mass produced items which we can never compete with.

Most of the shipping issues for non bulk shipments are due to hazmat shipping regulations for airfreight. Its gotten so convoluted and complicated that many companies just wont do it for fear of doing the paperwork wrong and getting fined. McMaster Carr wont even ship bench vise jaw protectors to Alaska because of the small magnets that hold them on the vise are considered hazmat for airfreight. There are companies that specialize in preparing hazmat shipments for a fee of course. The last time I used one for shipping a pressurized Halon aircraft fire bottle that has a small explosive device to activate it the handling fee was an additional $150.00 plus the $200.00 shipment fee. The fire bottle weighed 11lbs and is the size of a bowling ball. UPS and FedEx ground shipments actually end up going up by air to AK, they just have more time to move them when space is avialable.

Bearing rebound test. Tried to post video but really sure how to post a video, it didnt work. 2nd try at a video, keeping fingers crossed! The plastic tube is 20" long marked every 2" to give a % of rebound. Pretty consistant readings and the only thing you have to watch out for is if the bearing contacts the tube too much it will give a low reading. Beats chasing the bearing around on the floor!

Sounds like the propane industry has it locked down pretty tight unfortunately. Over here we don't rent the bottles. You own one and either have it refilled at a petrol station or can exchange it for a new full bottle at most of the big box stores for a little more. Depending on where you are in the states good smithing coal can be difficult and or expensive to come by. When I lived near Ipswich back in the late 70s early 80s I remember the trucks making coal deliveries to houses.

S/N A5829 would be 1899 according to AIA.

I would use paint stripper to try and preserve some of its aged look. If you dont like that look you can always sandblast it later. Once its sandblasted it will take years or decades to get the patina back. I overcleaned my first anvil and have regretted it since, feel like i gave it a botched facelift!

As with most twisting having an even heat will keep the diamonds aligned and symetrical. Although with a varying twist you could get different size diamonds

There should not be any flame in the mixing tube, the tube is where the induced air is mixed with the propane. Do you have a pressure guage hooked up?

Uh let me think for a nanosecond, BOTH!! But then again I have Anvilitious! Both appear to be in great condition, what a tough decision if it has to be made!

I believe that if it just dried out and has never been fired it should be able to be rehydrated. Breaking it up into smaller pieces will speed the process along.

Probably from someone testing the temper on a center punch, you will often see chisel marks on the sides of anvils as well

Alaska must be the King of overpriced blacksmithing equipment. A 2 1/2 cwt Brooks for $4000.00 and a homemade tire power hammer for $4000.00 popped up on CL yesterday. Maybe the wife told him he had to get rid of it so this is a "I dont want to sell it" price!

Sounds like someone just learned that Thors hammer can only be wielded by Thor!

Very nice, Bravo! I keep trying to get my son interested, he kinda is, but is at the age where he wont admit to it.

Great work! Please be careful to make sure the hitch balls are not chrome plated, hazardous fumes when heated! We all want to see the progress and finished product.

Glenn your making me feel old. It would not surprise me if DHB doesnt know what Carbon paper even is! No offense intended! I dont recall seeing any in daily use in the last 20 years.

The patina is the brown layer, when you wire brush it the loose brown layer will come off leaving the black oxide layer which is actually protecting the iron from further rust. Oil, beeswax or any of the other recipes you can find on IFI will seal it. It is your anvil so you can clean it up as you want. Just dont put it under a milling machine it is in great shape as it is.

E.J. Bartells down by Ship Creek on Whitney Ave.

Dont know how comfortable I would be with a propane tank at the back just in case you get rear ended. I agree with the small trailer suggestion.

I dont know if it would be aesthetically pleasing or not for this design but you could have 2 smaller 3/16" rivets diagonally at each joint. That would eliminate the pivoting action.

Greer tank has a good group of people and they are easier to buy smaller quantities of steel from. A little more expensive than buying in bulk from Alaska steel but way cheaper than the big box stores. They also have a waterjet if you ever need multiples of an item cut in steel, plastic, rubber!

Check with any machine shops up there that do any work repairing the slope equipment, quite often they have some big pieces of steel left over from repairs and fabrication jobs. Any big old forklift tines can be good. The last anvil I saw for sale up there was listed on Alaskas list. "King of the Mantiques" A 60 lb Trenton. $450.00 a little steep in price even for up here. But if they still have it maybe they will negotiate.