Thomas Dean

Will miss your input. The picture thing is a PAIN, and combined with your back pain I'm sure it makes for short nerves. Pray your therapy helps. Hurry back!

There is a section on most all the books available with reviews and comments from a lot of members. http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/40-book-reviews/ A few of the books are marked "HOT" (for whatever reason). I have Mark Aspery's book as well as Lorelei's and like them both. Mark goes into a LOT of detail, formulas for take-offs, and etc. Lorelei's book is easier for those with no experience and easier to understand for the beginner/novice and there is a section on different projects starting out simple and gradually getting a little more difficult. Both would be good in your library.

The second hawk and the bowie are impressive to say the least...but the bleeding heart hawk is absolutely the best piece of work I have seen in a long while. Simply amazing....

VERY nicely done! I sepecally like the texture of the petals, entire rose is very well executed.

Mark "Asbury"?? who dat?

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! Since you are in Ca. you need to hook up with the CBA=California Blacksmith Assoc. www.calsmith.org Check out their web site to know when they have their meetings and GO! Mark Aspery is the man to go to in CA. He has 2 Excellent books out now for the blacksmith that you will want in your library....after you move out some of those books on feet. I'm not sure how he does classes but you can contact him for that info. Also, I highly recommend Brian Brazeal in Miss. He will be one of the main demonstrators at the ABANA conf in Rapid City, SD next month...BTW check here for info to that!! www.abana.org There will be some of the top smiths in the country demonstrating as well as working in the 'teaching tent'. (I believe that Mark Aspery is heading that up) there is a $50.00 early registration discount if you reg. for the conf by June 20!! so get with it!! You won't find anything else that will inspire to to further your skills than what you will find at this conf. In the meantime, kick your shoes off, grab a cold drink, something to eat and above all else let someone know where you are. Then hit the archives and read all the info here on IFI. We have members from over 150 world wide countries that contribute to this store room of knowledge and we look forward to reading and SEEING about your work. If you would, how about updating your profile and adding your general location. this will inable us to give you a heads up on activity in your neck of the woods weither it be for a new tool or a meeting. Again, welcome and enjoy!

Totally agree Thomas and MObs. I know of 3 complete blacksmith shops that the owners know zero about the tools, not open to the public, so cluttered with crap that you can't see most of the stuff, 2 or 3 forges that chickens nest in and they will not even consider selling even the least of the items. "I just like to go out and look at it from time to time" One gentelman's granddaughter even told me that he hasn't seen the stuff since she can remember and she is in her mid30s. This is called hoarding...no one gets any value from the tools. It is this type of 'collector' that I don't care about. If you are going to collect to show to the public and educate as well then I have absolutely no problem. njanvilman here on IFI is a perfect example. He collects Fishers and has one of the best display old tools in the country. I tip my hat to him and those like him, for they are not out to capture and hide every anvil they come across. Sorry Sand, looks as some of us havve hi-jacked your thread! Sorry. That is absolutely the best looking anvil I have seen! Good for you, use it in good health!

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! Let me suggest that you update your profile to give your location, this will help us better answer your questions as tool priceing is dictated primaryly by location. Also, we can possibly help get you hooked up with a group near you that would be willing to help you out with some hands on instruction. You already know what a deep well of information is here since you have been lurking for a while so read all you can and don't be afraid to ask questions! OH yea, we like pictures! so post when you get em. Again, welcome and enjoy the site!

Good anvil, good price. Enjoy!

Right Phil. Take a look at the anvil Brian Brazeal uses! No telling how many hammers, hardie tools, punches and other goodies have been made on it and it's just a rectangle piece of mild steel welded to a good base.

Possibly a cast steel anvil as there are no handling holes on either end. face and edges look great. Wire buff if you like, then wipe down with a light oil or wax then GET TO WORK!! As for the price, no matter the $$ I will offer less...that's just me. I bought a 105# Hay Budden for $60.00 several years back when the guy was asking $75.00....he wanted it out of the back of his car!!

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! Here is the site for the good folks up in Washington>> http://blacksmith.org/forums/content/ Join them! They love newbies and you will learn ;) Again, welcome and enjoy the site...also, incase you haven"t heard, we LIKE pictures!! I have a cousin that lives in Bothel!! Her husband works for the fire dept. I was born in Seattle....many moons ago... Beautiful country, hope to see it again sometime.

If Brian still has it check with him. I got a bottle when I was there in April. Wow, that says something, everyone sold out!

Did you warm the anvil up any? Congratulations! Kids are fun, especially your own....and GRANDKIDS are even BETTER!!!! :D

Born in 1895! and yes, that is the weight....in lbs. Where are you located? If you update your profile giving your location we can help you hook up with some local smiths...possibly. Howbout showing us some of your work coming off that anvil, we LIKE pictures!

We have platforms with 'I'-bean, 'H'-beam, and channel iron that has all been hot dipped galvanized. All the floor grating is galv. also. Never, NEVER burn the stuff in your forge, ain't worth the risk. and there is too much 'free' steel in the right places to take the chance.

Galvanized metal come in every shape and size you can think of. Pipe, angle, flat stock, round, square, and on and on. Good that you didn't breath any

Ricky, NICE SCORE!!!! Your anvil was made in 1919, AIA page 303. The "A" prefix started in 1918. Where are you located? There are groups all over the country and by knowing you location we can help you hook up with one of them....of course IFI is in over 50 countries!! You can update you profile giving you location would really help. Good to have you here and look forward to seeing some work made on that anvil!

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! I second Chuck. Great guy and good smith. If you want to make a short drive I do an 8hr beginner class in my shop/studio. I'm 2hrs east of Dallas in Longview. You can PM me if you have questions about the class or whatever. I also have a few tools for beginners...anvils, forges, vises.... You would do yourself good by reading as much as you can here. There are years of experience in print and it will take you some time to read it all. Also, hook up with the North Texas group, as Alan mentioned. They are great guys to play with and can teach you plenty. Again, welcome to the site!

I would go with the second anvil but would also offer less for it, heck the worst the guy will say is no. The first anvil is cast iron with a tool steel top which are usually fairly thin to begin with.

One thing you need to remember about this flux is that there is Iron Poweder in it and this will settle out! (MOblacksmith0530 this may be why yours didn't work...just a thot) As Brian told me, you need to give the bottle a good shake before you use it, especially if you have been traveling. I have had no forge time....well, except this past Wed evening when Colton made his 'S' hook! :D... But I do have a few projects waiting that I will use this flux on. The first weld I made at Brian's stuck using it and I was totally amazed. Good stuff.

Used by line men to screw the metal pegs into telephone poles. Most likely has 'Bell', AT&T, or someother company logo on the hammer. They are collectible.

Good deal! and it looks in decent shape. Interesting repair, is that all that is holding the horn?

Thumb on side! never on top, horn to his left--easiest side for his little stool and worked the pig tail on near side of anvil then the hook off the horn---no jig, all free hand.

Colton is our 5yr old Grandson and we are getting to keep him for 3 weeks this summer! Granny flew out to ALBQ, NM this past Sunday and the 2 flew back on Monday. This evening he and I went out to the shop and this is what HE made. I held the piece but he did all the blower cranking and hammering! He was so excited to show it off to his Granny. Yea, this is one Proud PaPaw too. :D