Dragons lair

Do ya really want to do one? I hear ya. have not refaced one but have repaired several. Botton line is if ya can go for it nnd tell us how. If it fails keep your mouth shut. Sorry guys I do not belive in don't touch don't repair. If ya wanna live with substandard more power to ya. Ken.

Yeh it's nt really a shop forge. However its a great travel forge. Use a gasser most of the time. Have a blowen rivit forge would love a lever forge for whatever. Enjoy my friend or send it my why. Ken.

The same way ya crush a hummer into a cube. The power of hydraulics is a force to be reconned with. Ken.

Just my 2 cents worth. A nice Soderfors at almost 300lbs is atleast $1000 item. As an old sweed I would pay that much. I have my H-Bs and trentons However they are not my heritage anvils. Ken.

Just a thought if I may.If coal/coke is a problem in your area why not look at gas? Yeh coal is old school. I have both. Ya can't burn iron in a gasser. Ya can install a idler t5o cut the costs. How long do it take to get a coal fire ready? How long can ya leave a piece in a coal forge compaired to a gasser? My gasser also heats my smithy along with the Kero heater that keeps the shop and tools above 40 degrees. Another note It seems the temp in the smithy is relative to your age. If your 21 ya may be ok at 21 degrees when ya reach 65 I want 65+ degrees in the shop. Befor the hate mail arrives I plan to fire up the coal forge asap. NO I do not forge weld with the gasser or my OX/ACT torch. That is best left to coal forges. Enjoy the lifestyle and addiction. Ken.

Dang Bob why didn't ya post this in the 60s. 4 tours wearing a green shirt on LPHs. Always thought it was all the rounds fired. Huh say what? The only time we wore headphones was to check radios.Semper Fi to all of mine and thanks to all the rest who have been there done that or are doing it. Ken.

Son I have H-Bs Trentons and Arm and hammers and fishers and vulcans.First three are loud the rest ae quiet. To say it's a Trenton is ??? Ken.

Dang Bob, spent a half hour two fingering a PM to ya and get a member can't receive new messages. Your mailbox snowed in or what? LOL Ken.

Just my 2 cents as a 40+ yr welder/fadricator. If ya haven't done it or tried it. Shut up. Just tired off folks jumping in with NO understanding of what they are saying.I heard, was told I think. I have welded more anvils and cast iron farm equip than most here. If ya know what ya are doing or are willing to learn go for it. Ya can't screw up scrap. If ya screw it up it's still only scrap. Ken.

Naw it's a matter of want. Most of us want a bigger we don't NEED a bigger. I will admit it. I have a 37,60,88,142 and a 194 lb anvil all in great shape.Do I need another and bigger? Do I want a bigger? Answer is YES. Do I need a bigger? Answer NO. There is not a fine line between what we need and we want. Wish there were. Wouldn't have 2 trackhoes a skid loader A 12hp mower and a 20hp mower And a shop full of tools not used. Beware the bigger better newer demon. Learn to use what ya got and be happy with it. 600hp under the hood is cool. 110 that ya can drive every day is better. Been there done that. Be happy with ya got. I ain't rich but I am happy or at least content. Ken.

If I may the angle of the cyl to the spring says the piston is going to top load the ram ( PUSHING IT OUT INSTED OF UP) dID i MISS SOMPHING?

I was hitting pretty hard with a heavy hammer. Not how I was taught. GET IT HOT and Tap it toghter. Get it hot and smash it you will fail. Don't ask how I know. Ken.

Bit of advice for ya. Keep all the firsts. i have a story board(rough sawn 2X4 With all my firsts (leafs twists tapers and butter knives. Ya can alwaws do another to show progress. Ken.

OK I am going to put it on line here. H-B? I have 2 and axces to 2 more. Have NEVER seen a H-B with marke likes like these. Have seen both H-Bs and trenton,s with hour glass bottoms. OHya trentons have a caplet bottom. NOT. Sorry we have too many experts stating things with out checking historys. I think, I heard was told don't count. Come on guys we can do better. If ya can't back it up. Dont post it. ken.

If I may guys, i do NOT want to know what ya think or what ya were told. If ya havent done it and have all your fingers. SHUT UP. I get guys all the time who know welding tell me how to do it. have ya done it? NO (Iwas told) Here is the torch and the GAS tank. GO ahead I'll be back to bury ya. If you have done it and survived it MAY be viable. If not PLEASE keep the advice to yourselvs. Yeh I do things I shouldn't But I woun't tell ya to do um. When a sportster tank goes 20+ ft in the air on a 2-3 inch columb of fire it makes ya think twice about doing it again. Ken.

Winston, There was also a Henry Wright about 1890-1914. Look above the Wright for Henry. Also weight mark could be on oppsite side. I had wondered about the lack of flats. Some of henrys had them some not. Ken.

Dang Yance, I must have been too good. NO coal nor Propane not even a little colmen bottle. Just not good or bad enough I guess. Ken.

Dave I second Rob's thought. Still too light. Here in WNC I see sets in gallery's at $650 but the smith has a power hammer and is good enough to teach. A grand is too high. $250 is to low $350-400 would be a good range for that quality of work. The hours will come down.(Even more when ya find a PH) Ken.

Naw they ain't complaning about a leak. Its the exhaust they don't like. It did arrive with a bad O ring and was fixed.One of them quit his construction job cause they used a propane reddy heater. Ken.

From what I understand the frosting is due to the liquid turning to a gas. So how is it the tank will freeze up over night? I would be looking for a leak. Some folks don't smell propane. My coworkers(2) run to open the doors in a 3,000 sqft shop every time i crank up the forklift The other 3 of us don't smell it at all. A Co/Gas alarm is a great friend. Ken.

Bottom line is. Is it rare in your area? Some area's $3 a lb is a bargin others $2a lb is great price. keeping in mind $per lb is only good if the condt is equal. A 200lb anvil at 500 miles is worth as much as as a 100 lb anvil at 50 miles. Ken.

OK here I go. My first anvil is a total londen pattern made from a RR track. 37 lbs I still have it. used for light work. It is harder than a A36 block or some "real anvils" I have to ask the nay sayers. Have you the equipment and skills to weld an anvil? Have met too many smiths who say I can't or my dad couldn't. If ya wish to use a substandard tool out of fear go for it. I prefer to fix broken horns,raggedout edges and torch cuts. Gpaw also taught any one can killa deer with a 52 cal can ya do it with a 25? It's not what ya got it's how ya use it. Have seen too many shops with P hammers cannot do what a real smith can do by hand. Sorry I get cranky when it's late and cold 15F now. Ken.

Got one better for ya. Worked in a sub basement under a strip mall. Water leak under the main parking lot.2 brothers who owned the mall said NO to the cost to dig up the lot. Did it with picks and shovel. Shoveled the dirt back in then drove their new Caddie and Lincoln to the asphalt plant and each got a trunk full of hot asphalt to do the patch. Both were worth over a Mil at the time. (guess thats how they got there) Ken.

Of course ya read the part where he said "to remove the plating" Glad to know I am not the only one who misses things like that. LOL Ken.

One thing not mentioned here. Have your tanks checked for date. If out of date you will need a hydro test. I have a small torch with hoses like that. There are adapters to convert the ends to std size. (have them on my jewelers tanks. YES get the flashbacks and leak check(spray cleaner works great) Now if it's a micro or mini torch Ya can cut 1/4 in or heat with it. How tall or what size tank. I have both mid size and jewelers tanks. Jewelers will heat for a while but cutting is quick. Ken.