nutinauniversalshell

The price was right. Even if you decide not to use it, you should be able to make some money on it by listing it in just a few places. Or as has been mentioned, pass it to someone who might use it. I probably would have went for it when it got down to $175, unless the drop was more substantial and didnt come down a little at a time.

how much for shipping to usa? ;) I would love to have something like that

Looks like quite a few of us in Middle TN popping up. I have even met 2 guys in town who blacksmith (both turning railroad spikes into knives too). Anyway, welcome!

I dont have any trinkets to bring yet. I know of an exhaust shoip that I might be able to get to help me with a couple of these things, so I will have to go by there someday soon. The torsion bar does have a hex end so it may be from one of the vehicles you mentioned. I think I may take a trip to the salvage yard one day and see about springs, torsion bars, axles, etc....plus a couple parts for the wife's car. The most important project right now should be to get the forge loaded up and to the exhaust shop so I can get some plumbing installed and possibly a mount for the blower (I found a blower on a stand yesterday and it would have been perfect, but it was twice what I would have paid).....then I can fire the forge :)

I have acquired 2 coil springs (shocks still attached as the nut was attempted to be torched off but failed)...skipping everything else I'm just going to start with questions: 1) What's the best way to get the coil springs out from the shock assembly when unbolting isn't an option? (I don't have a welder or plasma cutter either) 2) Are any parts of a shock good to make stuff from? Also have a 5+ foot torsion bar that is pretty beefy: 3) Good projects to make from the torsion bar? ( was thinking hammers but that's quite a few hammers) Axles (chevy 6 bolt not busted)...big heavy and somewhat thick 4) Sell them or try to use them? I should have a source for busted axles now too. Also have a little car axle with the boots and joints... 5) Best way to get the rubber and all off so I can use them? 6) Suggested uses? Did get some real thin metal pieces from a friend too....might be 1/4 inch if it was round... 7) Good projects? Cast iron sink with porcelain... 8) Good project for a forge? Lawn Mower blade....was thinking Big knife/machete at some point unless something else is recommended that would be cool. And unrelated to the above, I met another member (not sure of username) today to look at a small anvil. 60 lb vulcan with HORRIBLE edges (he had an 80 lb too that was pretty bad). I may deal with him on one or both but in such shape I don't really know what is reasonable....I wouldn't use them but hold them until I learn to repair anvils or find someone willing too....anyway I may try to set him up with one of my anvils and HOPEFULLY we will get together and do some forging too. He is making knives from rail spikes and I think if we can get better acquainted we can both learn as we are so new to this and combined make a good team to do projects (his forge is huge and I have BIG anvils)...might even alternate as strikers if all works out. Just thought this would be a cool thing to mention so others in Cookeville/Algood/Baxter/Gainsboro/Livingston/Sparta might want to try and get together or setup some kind of meeting. It would be great to have experienced and inexperienced alike who would want to share some knowledge and make some cool stuff ;) And the neatest part to me...he was one house down from where I grew up and his daughter plays with my cousin's daughter (who now has my grandma's old house).

Possible. Ill try to get pictures that maybe someone can manipulate to see if they can figure it out, but Im working on my desktop (hard drive is about to fail) and it might be a bit before I can get everything working right.

Others can probably tell you more about that specific anvil, but Ill just throw out my little input (keep in mind I am a newbie too, but I have 5 anvils now). $200 for a 75lb anvil seems a little high to me without it being something special The face and edges look pretty good from the picture though. Is it all cast steel? Steel top plate on cast iron base? All cast iron? Does it ring when tapped with a hammer on the face or all over or not at all basically? (tiny hammer+light tap) Rebound....when you tap the face, it should bounce back...more bounce is better. General rule of thumb is suppose to be $2/LB for an anvil with a smooth face and good edges.....I add that it should be something identify-able (good brand). Going up from $2/lb is ok, but you need to really know about what you are buying because you may be overpaying. From what I see on that anvil, I would be interested between $75-150 range and being that I dont know that it IS a good brand, it would be more of the $75-110 (under $1.50/lb). Though if you can confirm from someone that it is something good, then maybe more....for $200 it better be one of the bigtime guys (Fisher, Peter Wright, Hay Budden, or something swedish). I would also want to clean the paint off to try and see some markings hidden underneath. Also, adding a location to your profile will help as different regions can change things, but if you are in Tennessee or willing to drive, I have a couple extras I might sell, I have a number for another guy who is supposed to have a few, and I might be able to find the guy I passed on (200lb no name for $400...too high for me but decent anvil).

Got after it with a wire wheel again today and cleaned it up pretty good. Still cant really tell the date well. There is a 3 where I thought there was a date that is pretty obvious though it seems to be cast into instead of struck. Where a name would be is simply pitted so bad there is no way to make out marks....the closest I can come to identifying anything is what looks like the bottom of an ILL in one less damaged spot. The edges of the face need some serious attention by a skilled anvil welder, but there is a usable section. There is about a 2inch by 6 inch strip of pretty smooth clear face, but the rest is pitted pretty bad and needs worked down a bit. It isnt flat as it has obviously seen lots of use. The horn cleaned up much better than expected. The shelf is beaten down a bit and could possibly be reworked if/when I get the rest worked on. For now, I mounted it to a stump that is slightly too small but it is well supported (the tips of the feet hang off slightly) and 4 RR spikes staked it down for now. I also staked down my 163lb Brooks on a stump and my 100lb HB on the truss section. I need to get ahold of 3 more stumps and redo the HB mount (if one is big enough move the 350lb one too) and mount my oldie 128lb...and the 97lb PW. I also lined my forge with refractory cement so it has to dry. Then Ill load it up and see if I can get the blower mounted and plumbed so I can get it fired up. Then I can start working on some of the scrap I have acquired (probably surrounded with 3 anvils....350, 173, and 100) thaqt way I can work on whichever seems best at the time. Like cutting and working a huge torsion bar...350lb, while I have some little thin stuff that will work fine on the 100lb. Also got an old porcelain cast iron sink that I may try to turn into a forge eventually :)

I was going to drop it out the back but my wife said with the two of us it wouldn't be that bad (I strongly suggested she not try to lift it, but she grabbed the back end)....it came down fast but not at a drop rate. At least my toes were out of the way because that would have hurt.

Air compressor crapped out and I h ave to figure out how to fix it. I'm going to hace to clean it up another way ans maybe I can find some markings and get a clear picture. From dimenaions I saw on a Wm Foster this one matched...could be something else but it does have a date stamp and that's all I got so far

I see what you meant now. That all sounds fair. Plus for some of us, we aren't use to thinking of the price in canada vs usa. ;)

Maybe Im a little confused, but if he wants them "plain" but finished, then wouldn't it just be a wire wheel and quick coat of paint or clear coat...so an hour would knock out all of them easy if you are getting old spikes. I would predrill the holes straight for the first 10 and angle the hole for the second 10 and drive them half way in. There would be no blacksmithing at all involved for this and they could be prepped and installed in 2 hours time. Then for price if I was doing it for someone, I'd charge a price per spike initially, then think of the 2 hours labor...add them together and round up ($3.50*20+$10*2=$90 so anywhere from $100-150....I do basic work(carpentry) on stuff for $10 an hour for friends and family but even at $20/hr it would still be in that range). Blacksmithing may pay much better hourly, but if none is involved, its more of carpentry of putting in some hooks as spikes. If you are doing something to the spikes, then charge your rate for the time involved (with consumables added in such as coal/propane/electricity) and add materials costs (spikes and paint)....that could add up to more depending on time involved in making hooks. Keep in mind when you price work what your time is worth...me being out of work, $10 an hour for fixing up my uncles house is great for both of us as I would normally help some anyway and he is getting stuff done for cheap (but buying all materials). If I had a job, I would have to get similar pay to it which could be $30-40 an hour unless it was something I just wanted to do anyway.

Oddly enough my first anvil was not a result of the TPAAAT method though I was asking about them. I just lucked out and as soon as we walked into an antique shop a guy was asking about the shop buying his anvil (which confused the lady and she passed)...so we followed him out and negotiated to $60 for the 128lb oldie from my other posts/pics. The second was a PW 97lb from buying a "smith shop" listed online....though I bought more random stuff than a specific smith shop. 3-5 were all TPAAAT results. Granted 3 came from a shop, when we entered I started out with "Do you have any anvils?" and one was uncovered from some junk piled on it(Brooks 163lb). 4 was from asking about anvils in a gun shop in the middle of nowhere we just happened to spot and while it took awhile to go back I got the 100lb HB (and still await a call to clear out an old milk barn that may have 1-2 more anvils). And 5 (350lb William Foster I think) came from posing on the online classifieds a wanted to buy anvil ad....though there was another I looked at first (200lb with no name), I knew about the "huge" one and didnt want to drop $400 on the 200lb just then in case the 350 was 700lb as stated. (I also have an email that gave me a number and name to call and ask about but need more money first). I still ask everyone about anvils though and a consignment shop is supposed to try and get ahold of 3 he was offered recently...for $20 ea....I told him I could do a finders fee or would gladly more than double his money. :)

I had a longer post but darn computer went back and killed it. Short version is that it is on the PW mount right now (way too small a mount in diameter), but it was to get easier access for now. I cut 2 logs today to use but they will probably be for my 163lb and 128 or 100 lb anvils (not enough diameter). I found a tree section big enough for the big one....at the old city dump spot so I need permission and cutting a 26 inch diameter log is going to be fun with my 18 inch stihl ms250. I also cleaned the anvil some (apparently was face down in dirt for years)...and while makers marks are basically gone, found remnants of a date under the weight marks...1853. I believe it is a William Foster coachmakers anvil :) from the date and oddball size of base, length, etc. Hopefully I can get it fixed up some eventually when I find a competent person to "work" on the anvil (edges are pretty bad, face is not smooth, and horn is somewhat rough), but I think I can use it for now as there is a section of good edge and I think I can smooth the face enough to work for my skill level. It is currently soaking in Gibbs and I hope to fire up the compressor and wire wheel the crap out if it soon to make it look much better. Anyway, best part 1853 William Foster (I believe) thats near 350 lbs. WOOHOO!!!

Oh and to credit my wife, she helped me sit it from the tailgate to the ground then we moved it in with a dolly....thats why its in the floor as she made it down but it wasnt coming up for now. Need to figure out a base before we even try.