George Geist
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Posts posted by George Geist
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Just found this one from the City of Chicago. Might be a pretty good job for any guys living out there:
This job requires having served a US Dept of Labor approved apprenticeship. I'll look into it in that area and see what I can find out.
George
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It's deliberate that I didn't put this in the anvil section. We pretty much all know what a plowmakers anvil looks like. It has a characteristic angled table. The question I have for you guys is how is that used? Any of you ever sharpen or redress a plowshare? Am assuming the angled table makes it more conducive to that type of work but never having seen it done am kinda curious about it.
George
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For something that big prefab would probably be best way if possible however....
If you really need to make them yourself and have plenty of time to do something so tedious.
Used horseshoe nails hammered flat then slightly curved welded onto a rod comes out looking pretty sharp.
Use bigger ones on bottom progressing to smaller ones up top.
George
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Word above that is "wrought"
Good score! Hope it found a good home with you ;)
George
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The anvil shape looks very much like the 3rd style Hay Budden. If the anvil has a number stamped under the horn next to a square handling horn then its a Hay Budden.
I was thinking that as well but even if not is still a nice anvil. Go ahead and buy it. Is a good one.
George
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Nice anvil. Would kinda like to chain, beat and torture the fool that didn't use a chisel plate on it :angry:
George
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This is a very irresponsible thing to say.
If in doubt (and you should be) take it to someone who will accept liability for their decision of whether it can be fired or not. Do not trust random internet opinions when it comes to questions of safety, especially where metal and explosives mix.
I'd certainly agree about random internet opinions. I'd absolutely trust the London and Birmingham proof houses though. As I said if they give any firearm the ok it can be trusted.
George
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I'd be inclined to agree with those who advise against shooting it-especially if it's one you like. Let it be a retired wall hangar.
However........
There is one exception to that. If the gun has recent proof marks from either the London or Birmingham proof house. Any weapon that passes muster there go right ahead and do whatever you want with it. ;)
George
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For easy portability or work of a mobile nature gas might have a bit of an edge. For a stationary shop coal or coke is the hands down winner in all areas. Is quieter, makes for a hotter fire, welding is easy, is safer, more versatile. Less likely to burn yourself as fire goes up and out as it should instead of down and out and in your face. Pleasant vs unpleasant smell.
If after learning and developing proficiency with coal if you'd like to add a gas forge to your collection of stuff, the two best ones out there right now are the Forgemaster Blacksmith model and the Hypona. I'd give no consideration to anything other than those.
Glad to hear you're going with coal. Good choice :)
George
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Is definitely a horseshoers anvil.
Is no writing of any kind on it anywhere?
George
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Phil,
I like it. Wish we had something like that here. Do you still have any of your old textbooks? If so could you post the title, author, publisher etc? Looks like an excellent program.
George
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If anyone has contact with the Flatland Forge in midland texas please let me know how to get ahold of them.
At your service sir,
Have a look at some of their you tube vids also. Real good people.
George
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Guys,
Before making a firm decision on anything I'd suggest checking out these people as well:
They'll ship anywhere as much or as little as you want. Give them a call and see what kind of deal you can get.
Knowing a bit about the area it's being mined from I can tell you it's the best quality smithing coal you're going to find ;)
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The apprenticeship itself was good you had to work with every machine and different operation in the shop but but the testing was only open book tests on booklets sent by the ARA Educational Bureau so you could either look up answers to specific questions or study the material and know the answers, either way you passed or rewrote it until you did.
I'd agree that the appreticeship sounds ok but if that's all there is to the Railroad Blacksmith test I think is safe to say maybe the old Boy Scout Blacksmith Merit Badge test might have been a better measurement of training and ability.
George
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Was hoping some of the overseas guys would have chimed in by now.
Problem is how does one define a trade consisting of many specialties, often fragmented, often knowing little or nothing about the other aspects.
By this article we see the railroad uses the term for a weldor:
http://www.nscorp.com/content/dam/nscorp/bizns/archive/BizNS_Vol2_Issue4.pdf
Industrial forging shops oftentimes have a guy on a huge many ton power hammer banging out things on an assembly line. This guy will be called a blacksmith even though he'll know nothing of the trade beyond operating the machine. This gives the title to what could be argued is a semi or unskilled factory worker.
Many horseshoers know little to nothing about smithing and care even less, and likewise, majority of general smiths have no interest in horses. At least unlike Railroads and Forging factories guys in those trades know what an anvil is for.
Shipbuilders still use Blacksmiths. BAE Systems in Norfolk VA has an apprenticeship program with Tidewater Community College.
Again though, obviously this training is strongly focused on the needs of the company but I can't help but wonder what must this guy be able to accomplish before earning his Journeyman's Card? (Certainly hope proper way to wear a hard hat maybe?)
I've been thusfar unable to find out if the Boilermakers have a Blacksmith test or not.
George
I have been certified as a journeyman blacksmith by the American Railway Association along with the 20 plus blacksmiths in the shop I used to work at, that said some of them were excellent blacksmiths and others not so much. I suppose if the testing had been more rigorous not as many would have become journeyman but really it mostly just certified that you had done your time.
Ok cool, this is what I'm looking for.
Can you tell what the testing consisted of? What did you all have to do?
George -
Looks and sounds ok to me, if you need an anvil and vise go ahead and buy them ;)
George
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Y'all might also consider having a whole truck load or train car brought in straight from a mine then dump on a siding and let people come shovel what they want.
This would probably be the best course of action.
Like I said before with the demand I see out there I think maybe opening a coal yard on the west coast might be in my retirement plans :)
George
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Real nice setup. Good job! B)
On mine I use a chain for a hold down. Not only does it fasten it down well but also quiets it down a lot too.
Your setup looks real good though, I like it.
George
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Good score! Looks like you got a nice one :)
Glad it worked out good for you ;)
George
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First thing is to post where you are located. Anvil prices vary widely depending on location.
Location will also possibly connect you with a member who is close to you.
The tag may be an inventory control tag. I have one on a Vulcan that my Dad got from a school district auction.Arm and Hammer
Agree with both. Not sure what that number tag means but it sure looks like an arm and hammer.
George
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If you put a Peter Wright next to a Mousehole, will they procreate? Produce a little baby anvil that grows up to be a Hay Budden or ??? Just a thought! :D
Hmmm, not sure. If I remember correctly I believe Peter Wright was an ex employee of Mousehole who went off and formed his own company. By that you might think of them as kinda semi-related.
Hay-Budden was an American company unrelated to the other British firms.
George
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If you put a Peter Wright next to a Mousehole, will they procreate? Produce a little baby anvil that grows up to be a Hay Budden or ??? Just a thought! :D
Hmmm, not sure. If I remember correctly I believe Peter Wright was an ex employee of Mousehole who went off and formed his own company. By that you might think of them as kinda semi-related.
Hay-Budden was an American company unrelated to the other British firms.
George
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I'd lean towards the Peter Wright, then the mousehole, then the vulcan in that order. Matter of fact I probably wouldn't even be interested in the vulcan as I just never liked them.
The horseshoers anvils there's nothing wrong with for general smithing except they're usually a little lighter than you'd like for a shop anvil. Nonetheless they work just as good. As far as they go keep away from anything with turning cams, heel hooking holes, or any other such gimmicks intended to cater to the least common denominator. Most contemporary shoeing anvils are unsatisfactory for this reason so I'd look for something a little older. They can often be found on ebay or craigs list or other such places.
If free of such things I'd go with the Emerson. Cliff Carroll and TFS I'd pass on.
Hope you go home with something good :)
George
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Soderfors maybe?
Is hard to make out the writing from the picture. Clean it up best you can with a wire brush then rub some talcum powder into the writing. That should help it show up a lot better.
George
Certification
in The Business Side of Blacksmithing
Posted
According to their website it appears to be just a time based deal
http://www.doleta.gov/OA/occupations.cfm
However, it appears that they do accept the ABANA curriculum.
http://www.abana.org/resources/journeyman/index.shtml
They have a 26 point list of what they require to define a Journeyman. I like it. Looks real good to me :)
George