nutinauniversalshell

Fair enough. I dont want people to spend hours doing this, just a simple tutorial would be great. Maybe once I find out enough info Ill make a nice tutorial. I can=me in not knowing a cross pein from a claw hammer. Now I can identify a cross pein at least. I spend some time with google looking for simpler stuff to little avail. Local library would probably be good, but then Id just buy more books to keep and it gets expensive buying books for every craft. I did learn a bit in the chat with a whats this and whats it for picture id session, but that only helped me. There are some blacksmithing classes close by too but dont have the money and its a couple months away.

Anyway, it was a general request/suggestion that I think would make the forums even better especially for new guys. Just my experience from other forums with tutorials.





oh and thingmaker, thanks. I didnt notice those before. there is alot of info here and hopefully I can make some good use from much of it.




for my second wish can I have some gold bars? :) lead would be fine too if you are low on gold ;)

I hosed my 200 year old anvil down with Gibbs Brand lubricant and people said it looked pretty good. It was a rusty pile when I got it but it does look a million times better....at least until I build a forge and actually use it :)

I mention reasons in my post from this thread:

http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/30928-yet-another-anvil-id/#entry316088

I request a tutorial sticky or actually stickies (I read through one already but some pictures were out of place and it got confusing with an overload of info on too many tools).

If someone would take the time to make info/tutorials for some of us super newbies that would be awesome. I shall give an example in a second (I apologize if this is a bit long winded).

Example stickies could include: hammers, tongs, hardee hole accessories, punches, and other general tool categories.

I would request a layout that could be great for beginners to experts. Starting with the most common types, names, uses, and general pricing and working down to more specialized. Even in different working types like general blacksmithing, tinsmithing, etc.

For me a really helpful one would be tongs (hammers too). I bought 2 tongs today to help me get started. I know from my little previous experience one set is for round bar (no idea if there is a specific name or if I did well on price though I assume $5 for about anything is a decent deal). I also picked up something that seems like it would be for flat stock (rounded ends with a flat profile but has an indention like it would hold a marble in the center)...it might be for something special but I am unsure (no pic as I left it in my uncle's jeep). I also bought some hammers and couldnt tell you if any are for special uses (with the exception of the lead hammer)...I am very frugal generally but I purchased quite a few tools and the hammers were basically free ($5 ea but I got a good deal on the lot or hammers, punches, bench vise, c clamps, etc).

Anyway, I have researched in different places (and am reading through here with great enthusiasm), but simpler intro/tutorials are not found very easy. The details start to get in the way and it can be hard to pic up the basics at first. Hence, I make this request.

This site seems like a great wealth of information, and I hope I continue to roam, post, and learn here for a good long while (make it my 4th forum that gets a daily read). Maybe I can contribute some cool stuff one day, but for now I have to sit back and try to learn more.

In an unrelated note, I recommend to anyone looking for additional stuff that they check local antique shops.   My uncle is looking for cast iron cookware and this blacksmithing bug bit me as the right stuff popped up to rekindle the interest (when I was little I did some with my grandpa but havent had tools ro anything for years to try again). So far in about a week, I have acquired an anvil & ASO (thread above), bufco hand crank blower (like my grandpa's forge used), 2 bench vises, 2 tongs, various hammers, punches (for marking stuff), and other tools not related directly to this craft (c clamps, solder bars 60-40, and glass canisters for my wife)...plus one shop took my number as they know a couple people that may have blacksmith stuff to sell. While I am out about $400, I think I got some great tools and the 10" c clamp alone is worth much more than I am out.

Thanks for any info.

I hate to ask value but I like to know what things are generally worth (I am always watching for "deals"). So any $ value for each of these?

Also, I am TOO new to all this so Im probably going to ask some overly simple things in various threads (been researching and reasing old stuff but need more tutorial stickies).

The hardee hole is the square hole and is used primarily for additional tools...correct?

Pritchel? I assume round hole, but what is it for?

The holes in the front/back I assume is for carrying it somehow.

This is a general recommendation/request and I may post in other forums as well, but a diagram explaining different parts and uses would be awesome. In the anvil section for example, a sticky on anvil parts/pieces/terms/uses (ie hardee hole, pritchel, horn, face, etc...just to make it super simple for super newbies) and different common example anvil types would be awesome. For me specifically it helps me understand parts better and quicker and helps me watch for more equipment. Along with ID/tutorials, general pricing would be good too.

             I found several anvils at one local antique shop yesterday. One was a Peter Wright and from what I have read they are very good anvils. I am unsure of the size but I dont think its super large (I would guess ...probably poorly... 100-300 lb range...I didnt pick it up or even try to). For me it was out of my price range (as all the others were also)...all were $400+ and I think the PW was $600. I have no idea if these were good prices and I hate to use ebay for values, but it is how I have to try to figure approx. values on some tools I acquire.

If someone does take on this task, I thank you greatly. For those who may explain some of this in this thread, also thank you but a cool tutorial sticky would be AWESOME! (I ask because some of the firearms forums I use have many stickies for info for newbie to expert).

Thanks much Wayne. I might take you up on that someday when I'm less busy ;)

Edited to add: I see you are in between me and Oneida (my wife's family is there). Maybe sometime when she is visiting them I can have here drop me there for part of the day. I like any reason to learn and save money (in this case gas).

It was the questionare in the blacksmith interview sticky.

Im about half way between Nashville and Knoxville (Cookeville). My current projects aren't as much smith related as firearms, but if there is an appropriate area, I'd be happy to past on some of them. Im working on some barrel assemblies to build some egyptian AK kits, a yugo m70 underfolder, polish tantal, romanian g, and eventually my russian ak74u (krinkov) kit. Other projects currently include finishing crown molding, acquiring more tools (blacksmith and otherwise), and building a forge :)

I figured it wouldnt be too special, but its small enough for my bench top and maybe I can use it for some small parts work (my little vise has a small "anvil" but its so small it would probably be about useless). Plus the top is somewhat smooth on this little guy.

I updated the main post some with more info and pics.

Thanks

1) Name....Anthony
2) Location....Middle TN
3) What type blacksmithing do you do, what do you make.....I dont yet as I am acquiring the stuff to do it, but I hope to make tools at first to help me with everything else along the way. Right now I build AKs and cast lead though.

4) How and when did you get started in blacksmithing. 1994-98 (age 8-12) range before my grandpa died. He would spend the winter in Florida and Georgia messing with blacksmithing and hit and miss engines (Tea Grove Plantation was one destination). In the summers I would spend time with him while my dad worked and I got to try many things out in the garage. Still have a railroad tie he turned into a knife as I was trying to do so and he showed me how.

5) What object or thing did you use as your first anvil,.....A BIG anvil. not sure of brand. my dad still has it and Ill have to inspect it better next time I am there.

6) Tell us about your first forge, hole in the ground, camp fire, brake drum, stacked bricks,. Hand cranked forge with coal (also what Im going to build up as I have a blower so far).

7) Who assisted you or encouraged you in the craft...my grandpa on my dad's side
8) What event changed your attitude about blacksmithing...my uncle started messing with cast iron cookware and I wanted an anvil for beating on stuff. We have been going to antique shops and I am picking up stuff here and there to build up my shop, from there I decided to get back into this stuff.

9) What tool has changed or made your life easier in the shop. Off the blacksmithing topic, but got a good air compressor which will help greatly and a 12 ton hydraulic press which should both aid in my current projects.

10-12) dont quite apply yet.

As for other stuff, I have a masters degree in mechanical engineering, have worked on cars, motorcycles, guns, and about anything mechanical for years, love building AKs and computers. Recently have been working on home renovations for myself/wife and my uncle, so I am learning alot about carpentry (and woodworking since I also build a pan rack for my uncle). Since finding a job isnt going well for the area I decided to stay in, I am doing any kind of project that might make some spare money and its great asz I love building and learning about new things. Hopefully, once I get thins going I can use it to learn more, make some more money, and have some more fun.

I am very new to pretty much all of this. Years ago I did some blacksmithing with my grandfather and I am trying to get enough stuff to learn more/start again.
 
Anyway, I picked up a couple anvils recently and wanted to try to find out more about them. The first is larger and needs a little cleanup (barn find sold to me CHEAP). Has some good rebound but I just tapped it with a couple hammers to see as I dont know the proper rebound test procedure yet. High pitched ring from it too.
 
The second I bought today. Its something like 10-25 pounds (no scale but ill try to compare better soon too). Its small and had a thick layer of pale blue paint on it which chipped off with a tap from a hammer. It rings when struck while holding it but when on the bench has no rebound and just makes a thud...if that helps and I found no markings (also couldnt find one quite similar in pictures as it has a somewhat unique bottom).

Anyway, I figured I would have something to use and both seemed to be good deals ($60 for the big one and $24 for the small one). If anyone can ID or tell a real value, I would appreciate it.
 
So here are some pictures: (shown on a 12" tile)

The bigger one: