larrynjr

I'm sure it came off some tractor implement but I'd be surprised if it was a beet digger. It is primarily fruit farming here and though it looks round, it is actually lying on edge and is rectangular in shape. It'll still make something useful! Good steel is good to find!

I was just about home from my morning walk and decided to cut through the orchard to get home. I noticed a freshly burnt junk pile with these items in the middle. I didn't ask but figured if they tried burning them, they didn't want them so I brought them home with me. I'm sure I can do something useful with them.

Is it this one? "HADFIELD and SANDERSON SHEFFIELD" ENGLISH ANVIL - eBay (item 150286751799 end time Aug-28-08 11:56:22 PDT)

post a link to the anvils so we can take a look, would help to I.D. them better!

Actually it's a Peavey, named for it's inventor Joseph Peavey, from StillWater, Maine. Rural Heritage - Cant Hook or Peavey?

Quite possible, our financial manager is very astute when it comes to stuff like that.

I'm pretty sure having a big tank will be no problem, we are in a agricultural area and the fruit farmers have many LP powered wind mills that they use when there's a chance of frost and cold harming the budding trees. There is are 2, 500 gal. size tanks within 50 yards of my shop. I'd love to tap into those! But my neighbors might not be too impressed with my ingenuity!

I was looking to see what everyone is paying for propane. For me to fill my 25 Gal. tank at the local provider it is $3.09 per gal. I happened to be in the school district office when the propane delivery guy dropped off the invoice for the 5500 + gallons he had just transferred and their cost is $1.83 per gal. That is just a huge difference. I didn't but should have asked him what the minimum order would be to get that kind of pricing. So tell me, how much do you pay?

I just looked into that tool, it would cost me $154.63 for standard shipping. For $300 I bet I can find something closer to home!

very nice job, did you forge weld or tack weld the grip together to close the loop?

Those look great, I would be happy to receive them!

There was a thread on making a wolf head but not as part of tongs. http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f7/wolf-head-6027/ No reason not to use that design for tongs though.................

Based on my name; Larry Nevers Jr. On other non blacksmith forums I've used the logon of ApeStar, for my Yamaha V-Star motorcycle with the 13" ape hanger handle bars. Generally though I like people to know me as I am.

Jymm, can you post a larger picture of your forge? When I click on the attachment it isn't any bigger than the thumbnail. I know if I were to switch to coal, I'd have a learning curve as I've never forged with or tended a coal fire. Charcoal I could probably figure out. I think I just need to tweak my gas forge some more to get the best performance for the least gas usage.

With the rising cost of propane, $3.09 a gal. here near Yakima, Wa. I've been wondering if switching to coal might be more economical. With my current setup using propane I'm getting roughly 12 hours out of my 25 gal. tank. Cost about $60-75 to refill the tank. How much coal can you get for that much money and how many hours of forging would you expect to get out of much coal?

That is awesome James, it's always great when your kids or grandkids take an interest. Other than mentioning to him that long sleeves and pants might cause less pain I think you are on the right track. I guess letting him learn about hot scale through direct experience is a good thing too! Instead of a hook, maybe a support for a campfire set or a tent stake. Ask him what he'd like to make, for himself or his mom or dad. basic things like you said but with lots of fun bends and twists.