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I Forge Iron

FredlyFX

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Posts posted by FredlyFX

  1. I would reccomend getting a second anvil with good edges. If all you are looking for is a good sharp edge, then you don't need a real anvil. Check out the local scrap yard for a large solid cutoff you can set down on end. Make some type of stand to hold it upright and you will be set. If it were say 4 or 6 inches square, you could actually grind 4 different radi on it and have a nice set up for those operations that require the edge.

    Or, just learn to work around what you have. Even if you were not concerned about historical value of your anvil, repairs can be iffy. Some work great, and others fail misurably. It's kind of a crap shoot.

  2. I don't think it is cast iron, it rings like a bell when struck with a hammer. I really think it is cast steel. You can see a bit of a parting line down the top center at one end.

    I don't plan to use it as an anvil, but will probably set it up once I have a real shop built so I can tap on long stuff, or bend things around it etc. Nothing that might break it, as it is too good of a conversation piece. According to the friend who gave it to me it used to have luxery liners tied off to it in its previous life. I am planning to build a deck on the back of the house some day, and may create a spot for it as part of a railing or seat or something. Time will tell.

  3. I talked with the guy I bought the anvil from and all he knows is that it came from AZ. He has a retired guy that drives around all the western states pulling a heavy trailor. My guy will buy anything blacksmithing from him to sell in his flea market/antuiqe store. Having looked at what he had available in his small new location near me, I think it may warrant a drive to his full size main location to have a look see. The same time I picked up this anvil I also got a large Pexto stake plate and a stake for $25 from him, so he has some good stuff, and is not looking for ebay prices for it.

    I talked with a machinest friend on Wednesday, and we will be machining the face flat probably next weekend in exchange for me helping him build a small gantry crane over his mill so he can get larger items into it. I'll be doing the base myself with brinders and belt sanders, but he will do the face. I am hoping it will be usable once that is done, and will report back once I have it done.

  4. A friend gave me this recently. It was dragged home by his brother years ago when a pier was being torn down somewhere. He said it has been sitting behind his moms garage for close to 20 years. It rings well and I think the top portion is solid, but the legs are hollow.

    I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it actually. It weighs close to 300 lb, and is pretty flat on top, but it is too long to be useful in my shop. Currently it is just sitting in my storage area until the new shop is built some day and I have more room to move around.

    658.attach

    659.attach

  5. Now that you mention it Thomas, the guy did say that he has a friend in AZ who gathers most of his old blacksmithing stock and brings it with during visits. So, it is very likely this came from AZ too, which would them make it also possible that it had come up from Mexico.

    I will be talking to the guy Thursday, and will ask more about the history of the anvil.

  6. Hi everyone. I too have an anvil question. I bought another anvil yesterday. It's a big one, easilly over 200lb, but I havn't weighed it yet.

    I was hoping that some of you could take a look at it and help me identify it. I have put up a page on my web site with a bunch of pics and dimensions. It's at: FredlyFX.com anvil page All of the pictures are clickable links to ful size pictures.

    I think it is a cast steel anvil that was a factory reject. What do you guys think? If it is, should I smoth out the face and use it as is, or should I try to weld on a tool steel face? I'm leaning towards flaten and use it as is.

    Any help you can offer is greatly appreciated.

  7. When I was in the Marines, stationed at Camp Pendelton, one of my buds was driving his dads 60's vintage VW bus through the base one night and hit a large deer. The whole front of the bus was smashed in. The deer was on the side of the road thrashing about, so this guy from inner city LA grabbed his K-Bar out of his web gear in the back and figured he would cut its throat to put it down. He got out of the van and went walking towards it. Well that ol deer wasn't having any of it, and he jumped up and charged him horns down. My friend said he nearly soiled himself running for his life back to that van.

  8. My uncle & cousin went hunting in northern Nevada years ago driving their little Mercury Bobcat. They spent the weekend hiking through some mountains and never saw a deer. On the way home they hit one square on. It rolled onto the hood, smashed the front windshield, crushed the roof as it went over, then broke the rear window as it came down the back. They had broken all its legs, so they got out and finished it off and dressed it out. They rode the rest of the way home crouched over looking through the small gap between the roof and dash board. The car ended up being a total loss. Pretty expensive deer.

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