Thomas Dean

It ain't my anvil but I like the first option of ThomasP., but I would add; get a young high school football player :)

I have never seen one, love the way it 'smooths' the taper. I WILL be making one of these for sure! Thanks for sharing.

I love this piece! nicely done. It should do very well at the auction. My older brother usually helps with the repairs on "Repair Day" at the MM. I have wanted to go and help my self but life and my day job keep getting priority....one of these days I'll make it. His name is Howard Dean if you are there for that portion of the weekend, tell him I said Hi.

If you use propane you will need the correct tips and HOSE. the type "T" hose is for propane. It's cheaper but harder to braze and weld with. A rosebud will suck the bottom out of a customer size bottle so be aware of that. Victor is the top of the line---industry favorite--- but there are tons of Harris and Smith torches in use. These three would be my choice. Victor #1 and either the Harris or Smith. Check CL in your area and near you. I have found complete torch set WITH the bottles and cart for less than $200.00 and yes, they were Victor torches. Don't settle for cheap...only cost you $$$ and possibly more!

Yes, there will be tailgating but you may need to contact someone about bringing coal. In the past several years that I have attended there was not coal being sold. Also, you need to be a member of Saltfork to purchase coal. Some may fuss about that rule but it is only fair as Saltfork secures the coal at a fantastic price for the members. Besides you get a great monthly newsletter with the membership.

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! Update your profile and give your location, OK is pretty spread out. There are a BUNCH of excellent smiths in OK, check the above link for the ABANA group. Also let me suggest...rather, let me recommend that you attend the Saltfork Craftsmen Annual Conference up in Perry, OK this coming Oct 15-16. Registration form is on the site and you will have an opportunity to learn more than you can imagine. I am a member but will not be able to make this years conf as we are visiting out in NM during that time. I will sorely miss it to as there will be 2 FANTASTIC demonstrators there. Also, they will have tailgating, an excellent way to pick up good tools. Once again, welcome and enjoy the site.

Don't know what was wrong earlier but the link works now...go figure. Looks like some interesting stuff and some junk. Would like to be there and snoop around and find those little hidden treasures! Good luck if you get to go!

Not that it matters to me...too far. But the link doen't work, at least not for me.

You published this on a public forum!?!??! If the cops see this you could be arrested and possibly serve hard time! Good score and good for you. Evidently the seller was happy too....maybe not as happy as you are but still happy.

That was fun. Thanks for sharing

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! Just do a wire brush clean up and put it to work. I've never seen one with a hole of anykind in the step and hard to tell if it came that way or was modified. Where are you from? Kilgore, TX is only 10-15miles from me if your name is any indication of your location. Helps us help you if you would update your profile to give your location. Nice anvil and again, welcome to IFI.

I have 4 set up in my shop, 2 that are small--4" and 2 larger ones--6". Then there are 7 leaning against the wall of my shop waiting for a young smith needing one...or 3! The $300 price tag, IMO, is rediculous. Heck, even $100 for a 4" vise seems crazy but they go for that all the time.

Enjoy your time with him...I miss my Father n Law still. He went Home to his FATHER back in '97. Sounds as tho you 2 get along great.

Thanks, I signed it on a lark! thought Jim would get a kick out of that! I beveled it and did a preheat that would "bounce spit" No post heat. Did the same for the gear portion. Once finished with the brazing I did cover with kaowool and did the grinding for the teeth the next day. I think I have about 2hrs in it...really didn't pay that close attention to the time since this was a freeby. I use a flux coated rod and will use Peterson's flux some, even with the fc rod. When you braze cast you are not "shocking" the cast with an arc, and the "experts" claim that the heat of a welding arc is like 'kabunches' times hotter than the surface of the sun.... Usually by the time you have a joint hot enough to melt the brass the heat has creapt into the part that it won't crack....or should I say is less apt to crack. I sent Jim a couple of pics of a blower that I repaired a few yrs back using brass as he has some other problems that he want to tackle on his blower. Back in the '70s I used a vise that had been repaired with brass, and the repair was done in the late 50s or early 60s and held as tight as any new vise. I have also seen cast iron that was "repaired" by arc welding that failed. I just have better luck with brass, the "magic" cast iron rods don't hold up as long as a brazed weld...and I do have the proof.

You have been to college and you don't know where the punctuation keys are? Or the SHIFT key? You REALLY don't save that much time by not using them and it isn't costing you any ink not to mention that it makes it hard to keep up without it. Anvils are somewhat like cars. Lots of different kinds, styles and colors...Only you can decide which is best for you.

I was so bummed. HAD to work this weekend and missed it. Gerald Franklin was the demonstrator and serves the Saltfork Craftsmen group as the President. Gerald is one of those soft spoken guys that seems to have everyone as a friend beside being a great smith. Glad you got to go and meet some of the smiths in your area. They all are super about helping so don't be bashful is you need help.

Repairs made, ready to ship tomorrow. Didn't take any pictures...thought about it AFTER I had it packaged for shipment. Jim, you will have to post pics if he choose to do so. This casting had some real bad sand pockets in it but I ground them all out, in the repaired area, and then brazed and dressed teeth and arm. Hope it works!

GREAT!! You are back!! Always a treat to see your beautiful work. Thanks for sharing.

I would think the angle is off, and/or too close to the work. I have never had the pleasure of owning a platen table but use a hold down like the for a lot of my work, both real job and at home. My hold downs are longer and don't fit the hole that tight. With you material size the is only 1/32" clearance to the sides, I think more is needed to 'bite' the bar better. Maybe some 1 5/8" or 1 9/16" would work better...

Nice job and some good photography! I would comment on the nice legs but at least you have are brave enough to show them! Sorry to hear it rained on your "parade"...what is rain anyway...haven't seen any on my place since the weekend of July 4th! and East Texas is having MAJOR wildfires. Could you maybe send it our way....please... Enjoyed your post, thanks.

Get the larger anvil AND a power hammer, both will pay for themselves many times over in the course of your use of them. And I totally agree with Nuge...keep the same price or even up it some. Your work will/should improve so you should get more for it. BTW, even if you use a power hammer totally on a project it is STILL hand made....the material didn't jump from the forge to the hammer and come away as a finished item on it's own!

I'm with Mike on this one, I have seen them in use and recognized it right off, alas, I don't know the correct name of it. But I don't see why it couldn't be used for decorative work.

Jim, BUY IT!!! but offer less, the worst he can say is no and you haven't lost anything! and you may get it for less. I would offer $625==$2.5p/lb and see where that goes. might even try $2.25p/lb first as that is not much below his asking price (2.80p/lb) and won't/shouldn't tick him off. If it was close to me you would be out of luck, cause it would be in my shop!! We don't get them in that shape or size around here much. Good luck.

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! Check out the ABANA site to find a group in your area and then JOIN. You can get some hands on help at the meetings along with the possibility of finding toys to use...I meant TOOLS, yea, tools.... Anyway, here is the link; www.abana.org Again, welcome

And the world will be a better place because of it! Thanks guys...and his hair is like his Mom's, dark brown.