Thomas Dean

I agree Mr. Turley! If you will look at the boxes that BAM and Saltfork do you will understand. These are pieces of ART!! I know of 3 boxes that are Displayed for their beauty. The tools, though all very nice and extremely well made are being used...well, MOST of them anyway. :P Alan and Jeff Lee have a box with some special tools that they don't use. For the most part the wife will take possession of the box and let hubby have the "old ugly tools".

Check out BAM. They have been doing a box for a long, long time. www.bamsite.org Also Saltfork Craftsmen in Oklahoma has a box each year that is raffled off on Sat. nite of the conf. www.saltforkcraftsmen.org Although hand forged tools are nice for the box they are not limited to that. We have had folks donate welding flux, soap stone, files, you name it! Don't limit yourself with ONLY hand forged items. Hammers tongs hacksaw handle punches chisels hardie hot cut handled hot cut monkey tools scribe wire brush with hand forged handle square hook rule bending fork for the hardie hand held bending fork and so on Both BAM and Saltfork will have someone step up and make the box and someone else will make the box hardware. I have yet to see a junker! Tickets are sold months in advance of the conf. during the conf. and right up to the last few minutes before the box is drawn for.

Colleen, I have straightened 3//4" (19mm?) with a wooden mallet on a stump often and yes, cold. These were for fire place tools that had reversed twists that were in 4" segments for a total length of 24" of twists. I have an oak mallet made from a wooden pallet, 4" x 6"lg with a 1.5" dia sweet gum sapling for the handle, it's about 18" long.

I love them! Nicely done

I'd be all over it at 2buck a lb! But most likely it would be more like 3+ in your area....from what I have seen anyway.

Oh heck yea Jeff. "Matchlessantiques" is the seller and he get OVER the top prices for his anvils! I have never seen any of his anvils that were not in near perfect condition. You will pay for it, but you will get a good anvil from him. Actual weight is 220# so it may go even past that $600.

It's $7.81 per/lb!! Crazy for the condition. $2.00p/lb would be more like it, and IMO, that's fair. Offer him $200 and see what happens! Heck, you can get a darn good NEW anvil USA made for his original price....and I would tell him so....in a nice way of course. Good luck!

A good opportunity, if you missed the ABANA conf., to see the Young Smiths and Bryan Brazeal and I bet Lyle Wyn will be around also! I hope to get there on Thursday but that is still up in the air but I WILL be there! Come help support and encourage these young men as they carry the art forward. Hope to see a bunch of you there.

All cast iron. Not for forging. These were bolted on tractors years ago and the farmer could straighten a bolt or what ever on it and keep working the field. Would make a cute plant stand for a small pot of flowers tho.

Check out the "Book Review" section. Several pages of reviews, well sorta reviews, of some excellent books.

SISCO is also a Swedish anvil, I have one that weighs 127lbs. The name and weight is stamped in the waist along with the name. It is a cast Steel and has a better rebound than my 185# Hay Budden!!

If no rebound or ring, $75.00 is highway robbery. Most of us here will help the newbie get started with tooling. Also, a good deed or bad one will eventually come back to ya. JMO

From looking at the hash marks in the jaws it indicates that the vise has seen easy work...and not much of that! As ThomasP mentioned, pics of the screw and screw box will give better story of it's life. I agree with prices mentioned, FWIW. Tongs can go from 3 to 20 buchs a pop, depending on condition and location.

Alan Lee contacted me a couple of days ago saying they are going to host the Young Smiths at their shop in Bryan, Texas this August 4th. The young men will do a workshop, I'm assuming it will be very much like what they are doing at the ABANA conf This is an excellent opportunity for those of us that were unable to attend the conf. this time around...I know I'm bummed about it but Just do it this year... BUT I will be at Jeff and Alan Lee's the first weekend of August! This is a free gig according to Alan, (I'm positive the meal will be donation thing) but He mentioned that we will do something to help with some of the Young Smiths' expenses. I'm thinking those that want can bring IRON-N-THE-HAT items or auction items. Folks, There are NO BETTER hosts for blacksmiths than the Lee Brothers, Jeff and Alan. These guys go the extra mile to make every one fill right at home. I can assure you that you WILL be glad you came! This will be one of those events that we'll still be talking about yrs from now. I just pity the next Young Smiths!! they are going to have some LARGE shoes to fill! ;) Looking forward to seeing a bunch of ya there. TDean

What you said Pug!! Make what you want and it will fit YOUR anvil

I got mine at a pressure vessel shop. I used to work for them when they were under another name back in the 70-80's. Once I told them what I was doing with it the only charged me what they would get for it if sold for scrap!! Nice to have friends in high places :P

Buy hardie tools???!?!? Why?? You are a blacksmith, make em. :) Most hardie holes I have seen are not exact 1" or whatever....you can't put 1" into 1". I would think the 3/4" hardie tools will fit. Also, most hardie tools will fit a hardie hole in one direction and not the other.

Mine is bolted to a hunk of 1.25" x 37" x 72" plate, drilled and tapped for 3/4" bolts (IIRC) 5/8" belting material between hammer and plate. I also have one of my leg vises bolted to one end of this same plate. I have had this set up since 2005, worked some heavy stuff on the hammer and it hasn't moved.

FISHER!! Good job man! the caddie of the cast iron anvils! The old timers didn't like them when they first came out because it didn't 'ring'! but the rebound is there for sure and THAT is what you want. Ringing anvils hurts ears! but they are good for demos as they tend to "call 'em in". I would use a 4.5" grinder with a flap wheel, some call them 'tiger wheels' and softly grind the edges starting approx 1" from the corner and gradually taper off to nothing. I wouldn't touch the other side if it was mine. I would be careful with the spot I mentioned in my earlier post, I really believe it is about to come off and with a blow from the hammer I am most sure it will. Sweet...... The 143 or 148 would be the weight.

Good for you!! What Macburce said about the chipped edges, you want to radius them using a flapper wheel on your grinder. Wire buff the thing, wipe a thin layer of light oil on her and get to work! I did notice what appears to be a bad spot near the center edge of the chipped edge. it looks as this is cracked both top and side of the anvil and if it is hit could break on off. Just be aware of it when using the edge. Good price for a good anvil. curious as to the weight, and can you see any markings on the sides?

Good for you James!! I know you have wanted one for a long time. Good, I'll quit helping you look for one now! :) Have you finished that big SS job we talked about some time back or is that the job you are refering to?

ATTA BOY DAVE!!! I couldn't see you on the face book pic so came here to see if Karen had posted a better picture. Truely a Great group of young men you have assembled Bryan. Pray that all of you inspire not only other young wanna be smiths but each other. Karen, resending to you, hopefully tomorrow.This time with the correct "spelling" ;)

Justin, hope you got it! Looks like a good anvil. I uploaded these pics last night from my phone but couldn't tell much then. too late to check "THE BOOK". Check my AIA and found "American Star" on page 197 that looks VERY simular to this anvil. of course as mentioned a clearer picture would help. Also, if you can get a pic of the anvil with the bick/horn to you right (opposite side of these pics) you should be able to see a star about the middle of the waist. Keep us up to date!

Agree with JohnB...if you want it straight, make it straight. Let me suggest that instead of making your scroll run to the inside of the hook, turn it out. The will keep your coat, hat, or whatever from hanging up on the scroll. Don't be discouraged by our comments, just helping. It's a good first attemp and with these suggestions you will be even happier with your next on. Keep this one as a reminder and watch yourself improve! Ain't it FUN tho!

Ok Karen, enough of the suspense already!!! :( Who is this mystery YS?!? Inquiring minds want to know!! Would love to drive over this weekend to watch but the Art Gallery that I just got into is having their Open House and Ribbon Cutting this Sat. and they want all the "artist" there is possible....darn...