Thomas Dean

Maybe. I would definitly check to see if he had other items once I got there! and you never know what you will run across on the trip there and back. Make it a tool finding venture and you can't go wrong. ;)

Judson, he was probably so excited about the deal on the saw that he has totally missed seeing that the tail light is out! :D That is a great saw and will most likely last you the rest of your working years. Good on ya

AMEN! GOD bless each of you that served and are still serving and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! Check out the CBA, it the ABANA group for California and they are probably the biggest and most active in the country! If you do post pics to Photobucket you can put a link here for us to follow to them. Posting pics here, although it can be done, can be frustrating at times. There are hours upon hours of info to read through here, just make sure someone knows where you're going so a seach party can be dispatched if needed! Glad you're here, enjoy your stay

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI!! You need to join the New Mexico group SWABA! great bunch of folks. Looking forward to see your work.

YAHOOOOO!!!!! Someone that is ACTUALLY READING past post BEFORE he asks any questions! Good for you and welcome to the site.

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! I don't have close neighbors, my shop/studio in near the middle of 61 arcers so there is no problem even with my 135# air hammer! When I was at Bryan Brazeals a few weeks back he would not use the treadle hammer after 9:00 p.m., his neighbors would call the police... But we would do anything else we wanted. As mentioned above, use common sense (which isn't real common these days) do what you can to silence your anvil and BRIBE them!! BTW, once you take a class you WILL be hooked, so ya might as well go ahead and get your tools and fix up a place to use them!

Yea, looks like a coil spring around the screw box. And the mounting Brk is a remake. May be a Peter Wright or Iron City from the looks of it, did ya find any markings?

I have my LG25 mounted to a piece of plate 1 1/4" x 37" x 72", been like that since '05 and hasn' moved yet! Mostly work 1" and under stock but have done some 1.5" stock..

I watch it almost religously! On one particular episode I noticed a ton of related items so I think, 'Shoot, I'll just contact them on their web site.' I did so, stating that I was by no means trying to horn in on their finds but would like to know the location of a particular "hot spot" they showed. That was at least a year ago and still waiting for their reply.....yea, right, like they are going to respond....

Howdy from EAST TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! Check out this bunch www.ntxba.org it is the North Texas Blacksmith Assoc. and they meet every 2nd Sat. somewhere in the Dallas area. Also, if you don't mind a little drive, I'm just east of Longview--bout 2 hrs from you. There is also the Balcones Forge group in Central TEXAS www.balconesforge.org is their site and then Houston Area Blacksmith Assoc www.habairon.org is their site. The Saltfork Craftsmen & Artist Blacksmith Assoc. is the bunch up north...Oklahoma that is... www.saltforkcraftsmen.org is that site and they meet most every Sat. somewhere in the state. again, welcome!

Balcones Forge is the Central Texas blacksmith group-- www.balconesforge.org Then there is the North Texas Blacksmith Assoc.-- www.ntxba.org and finally but NOT least is the Houston Area Blacksmith Assoc.-- www.habairon.org I'm just east of Longview, TX which is 2ish hrs from you and there is the Lee Bros. in Bryan, Tx (their contact info can be found at the HABA site...look at the article for the Feb. meeting that was held at their shop. Give me a holler if you head this way, I'll go out and light a fire...that is if it's not already going. BTW, welcome to the site!

This is known as a saw maker's anvil. The "hardie" holes you are refering to are actually handling holes that were used to handle the anvil while it was being made. Very nice anvil and in good shape. As to the #'s I would think that they are the serial # which would give the date the anvil was made. Good score!

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! I agree, hook up with the NWBA group. some great folks up there and willing to help newbies. When you get back home you need to hook up with the Balcones Forge group. They are the folks nearest you. Meeting in Austin, Marble Falls, etc. Good to have ya and look forward to seeing some of your work.

Now That's cool Phil! looks like you had good weather too. I know I missed a good conf., BAM really knows how to put on a show!

Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI! Guess you took the class from Kelly, right? I encourage you to hook up with the North Texas Blacksmith Assoc. great bunch of guys and willing to help newbies. http://www.ntxba.org is their site, they meet the 2nd Sat of each month....normally. Also the Saltfork Craftsmen and Artist Blacksmith Assoc. http://wwwsaltforkcraftsmen.org is their site and there is usually a meeting somewhere every Sat., they are in Oklahoma and also a great bunch of folks. I just over in the Longview area, about 120mi from Dallas, so if you are ever this way give me a holler. My shop is always open.

Have you rehandled your flatter. You know, the one you robbed the handle out of to put in my hammer! :D I've found a couple pieces of maple to put in the 2 hot cutters, got them sharpened and found that I REALLY need to invest in a 2" x ?? belt sander/grinder. I have a small table top 1" with the 6"disc sander on the side and I also have an old Rockwell 6" x 48" belt sander. Got them sharpened and they look nice but.... Sounds like just the kind of birthday we all would like! having fun at the forge with good friends! Again, Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY good friend! Pray you have a fantastic day and prosperous year!

Although I haven't used the big one yet I had no problems with the little one. Made some good easy $$ with that one! I took it with me to an art show that I got juried into and one of the requirement was, if choosen, you had to demonstrate your art form....and it was in a city library! Yea, I just worked with some small copper pieces on that anvil, also took a leg vise and my "Yesteryear" portable stump! The organizers said my work and demo got the most comments from the visitors! Where did you have that Vulcan hidden...I never saw it at Brian's.

It is, well it was, a 100#er....as big as that chunk is it just may weigh 95#s now! :P Just noticed that both sides are damaged!...so make that 85-90#s!!

I just bought a 100# Vulcan with a Champion hot cutter to fit about a month ago. $50.00 total. Guy was asking $100 but was tired of moving it anytime he wanted to use the bench so was glad it was going to someone that would use it. I will most likely have this one set up for students to use...will save my 'real' anvil face! Of course if someone wanted to purchase then I would sell it. Good clean edges all around. Haven't had time to clean it tho. Also, my first anvil was a 30-40#er, it is set aside for my 2 grandsons!

Alan, You know it's the same distance to your place from here! ya want me pesterin you every weekend!?!? Also; 'You want it perfect then make it perfect' 'Now what do you want to do' With that flux I may never have another piece of scrap! shoot, just weld it to another piece and carry on...well, maybe not, but you could!

I wish. Went to Brian's last week and the trip down to Bryan, TX to the Lee Brother's Extravaganza will most likely be my big trips for the year. Sounds to be a good one tho.

The flux allows you to weld and a rediculously low temp. Brian heated 2 pieces then appied the flux, heated again not even getting to 'critical' heat, not even bright red the took to anvil and 'tacked' together with a light blow. Reheated to a bright red and then to anvil and made the weld. I'm thinking, yea, right, easy for YOU....so I tried it, and it does work. Simply mind boggeling. Hopefully Brian and Lyle will get together and do a vid on it and then place on YouTube. Brian is only about 4 1/2hrs from us so it wasn't too bad....we kinda slept in on Friday and then loaded up, visited with Brian n Karen, and got away early afternoon. My stomach muscle were sore from striking with the BIG hammer= 15#er but other than that not too bad. To gain the most from your class Have a list...a LONG list of what you want to do and learn before you take a class. You will be overwelmed if not as there is so much he will teach you. Brian doesn't wear a watch, no clock in the shop and he really doesn't care about the time! He will start when you want and stay as long as you want. I enjoyed my time there and once home I took my notebook and recorded as much info from the class as I could. There are a few things that I will either have to contact him about or search here on IFI. I'm real bad about note taking notes "in the heat of the moment". And Lyle is great. He took all those pic, cropped, edited, and whatever else then posted. I don't think he was there 2 hrs, if that. Great guy to be around and a great smith in his own right!

Hey Phil, Ya gonna have any PINK hammers this year??