KYBOY

can anyone tell me about the construction of William Foster anvils? Ive never had the chance to inspect one myself..Are the wrought anvils? Do they have a face plate or are they a solid body? Thanks

Mild steel from my supplier is bad to have a very heavy coating on it..If its not taken off it can hamper welding badly...I beat my brains out trying to figure out what was wrong :D

You Ive noticed as I traveled over the country that many areas are more prone to have estate sales and blacksmithing equipment for sale...Here in eastern,Ky estate sales are non existant as Im sure jayco can attest to as well..Land and tools are most often passed down and never sold..Much of our families land has been in the family for three or more generations..Precious old tools are almost always passed down..Its considered bad form to sale them. Much the same as old family property..One will often be known as "the boy that sold his familiys place " when they sale out and leave..Still a very clannish area. I have seen exactly two anvils for sale in the last 3-5 years :confused: Both were "wallered" to death as we say I just got an email from a friend working in ILL who told me estate sales where everywhere and most had smithing equipment...Then the appalachian mountains where never densely populated to start with which means they were not many smiths here to start with either...

This nice 10# cross peen sledge came home from the flea market for only $10

That you Fish??

I know this.........Since I got my gasser last week Ive decided to "extend" the reins on some of my tongs For when I do use the gasser..

Me too, until I started recording them on the DVR :D

Do you make your own tongs or buy them? I have always made my own, unless I found a nice pair priced reasonably.. I use to think that is was funny to buy tongs when you can make your own but Ive questioned that thinking lately..A couple of full time smiths told me they just dont have the extra time to stop and make tongs thru a busy day so they just order them to save time and money..It got me curious, what do you think??

Id say that show got a lot of people started in smithing though... ;)

All good points..Thats why I was wondering if the "extra" media available showed any more...

Ive seen all the TV epeisodes(RFD channel)..I was just curious if the DVD's show that much more than the TV episodes? Has anyone seen the DVD's or read the Books?

Beard but trimmed...Im a trapper too so it helps to keep my face warm during the winter :D

Not long ago I saw a 75# ish' anvil for sale locally..Flea market..First one in a while..The face was gone from the pritchel hole back and it had been abused!! He wanted $200 for it :confused:

Well I have a 100# +/- anvil..I say that because most of the heel was broken away right across the hardie hole..I rebuilt the hardie hole and back..Looks pretty decent now actually but the hardie hole is only 5/8th now and Im minus a pritchel hole Its kind of aggrevating not having a pritchel hole and being able to use standard size hardies..Anvils are very rare in these parts so Im actually pretty lucky to have my refab anvil..I make my bases from 8 sections of 4x4 posts, metal banded together..Makes a very sturdy stand..I suppose I forge about the same as the rest of the hobby smiths..I do like to make tools and work on old tools for folks more than usual but thats about the gist of it..The body seems a little small under the face. I was curious how it would stand up....Thanks

Anyone used one or have any comments on these anvils? I may have a line on one at a decent price but would like some feedback on them first..Thanks This particular one is a 70 pound big face...

Words dont describe how sweet that anvil is ...Im tall myself and my anvil stand is way higher than most people can use..

Many guys around here wont even know what they have..They just know its old which to them means its worth a lot.. Many of them arnt even there to sell, just to B.S..They could care less if they sell it..

Thanks Guys..

I guess it depends on the company and how bad they want to drill, these get free usage for life..Its in the contracts.Thats a very good point to consider though...In these cases it was that or the gas company had to find somewhere else to drill..My family farm had free gas like that..They cant go around too easy if you own the whole hollar.. :D

Just wondering if anyone uses natural gas for their forge..lots of folks around here got free gas for allowing gas companys to drill on their property.Theirs a well on mine in fact..What modifications have to be done to a gas forge to accept natural gas??

Im a gun collector and reloader myself..Worked in corrections for most of my proffesional working career..When I was doing my qual's at the federal LEO training acadamy the first M-16 I was issued had a bad auto disconnect in it..It would rack off 3-5 round bursts when it was suppose to be semi..Thats quit a supprise when your not expecting it..

This one has 3200* ceramic bricks in the floor..Im afraid they may be a bit expensive to replace..Should really last if i take care of them right though..

Well I just bought my first gas forge..A diamondback two burner blacksmith forge..It has a 3200* bottom brick and I was wondering how do you prolong the life while forge welding? Plates in the bottom? Any certain flux that is kinder on the brick? Thanks

Gambrels, meat hooks, fleshers and maybe a skinning knife or two..

I think I may go with the Diamondback two burner because I like the design..Insulated door and the open ends design..Also from what Ive read they all easily reach welding temps.