stonetrooper

Can somebody explain to me why I love blacksmithing so much and yet I have never hit a piece of red hot iron. I'm already hooked and cannot wait to get started. Good for you Gobinu. Hopefully I'll be joining you soon.

Thanks guys. I knew you would understand. Today I brought back to life my 30" Snapper that was replaced by the 42" Murray Lawn Tractor. It had been under cover outside for about 2 years (no room in the workshopf or both). I pumped the tires, greased her up, got the rust off the deck, painted the bottom of the deck with Krylon, sharpened the blade, checked the spark plug, filter, changed the oil, put some gas in and after a few false starts and white smoke she started up. Now I can at least cut grass while the Murray is fixed. I have 8 acres of which I cut about 3. See why the 42" was a big improvement over the 30" cut? Side note. Who has ever seen the ball that is inside a can of spray paint? I've always wondered so after the can was empty today I took it out back on the property with my 16 gauge and, from a safe distance, blasted it a couple of times. I had to cut it open but what did I discover?.......a blue marble. Now I wonder if they all have blue marbles or different colors.

I have mentioned in several recent posts of me wanting to buy a new anvil and blower and overall get set up to start blacksmithing. Last weekend I changed the oil in my lawn tractor, sharpened the blades, cleaned the deck, cleaned the filter, gave it a good going over. Yesterday I was cutting grass when I apparently threw a rod blowing a ping-pong size hole in the side of my engine. I know without a doubt I refilled it with oil but I always have a hard time knowing exactly how much to put it so I usually err on the side of adding too much. I must not have put enough this time. I do know that any money that was going to blacksmithing will now have to be diverted to buying a new engine. The engine is a 14.5 HP, I/C Quiet (it's really quiet right now), OHV, model # 287-707, type 1272-EI, code 00082870 and it's for a Murray 42" cut lawn tractor if anybody has any used engines they'd like to sell and get me back on track for blacksmithing.

To-ear: My limit is usually about "to-ear" of corn. To-air: "To-air" is human, to forgive, divine. To-year: I've been blacksmithing about "to-year'. Twee-air: "One, two, twee-air 'bout as high as I can count." Tweer: "Tweer" goin' to the picture show if yont-to-go."

That is cool. However on the one above with the American flag it sounds like "Two-air" like "to ere" is human." Can I just call it the doo-hickey under the firepot? Y'all* (I'm from the South) will know what I'm talking about. *you-all (y

I've been doing alot of blacksmith reading lately and wanted to know the correct way to pronounce tuyere so I don't look stupid when I'm talking to a blacksmith. Is it "too-yare" or "too-yairy" or "tie-year" or "too-E-airy"? How do you pronounce it?

Found 2 at a local antique store. The one I'm leaning toward is $299. The other one would need alot of work. No hard edges at all.

Don't beat around the bush. Should I buy the anvil or the blower?..........just kidding. Seems the consensus is to go with the anvil. Donnie, what are some specifics of your blower? Maker, age, history, does a stand come with it? I know where Royston is so I could easily make a road trip to pick it up. I went to school with a friend from Franklin Springs. Do you know Randall Brown? Thanks again for everyone's response and look forward to more questions as I enter the world of blacksmithing.

First I would like to thank everyone that responded to my question (BUYING FIRST ANVIL) about the 2 anvils I was considering buying. All very informative , even the so called long winded ones. From what I read the second, blue anvil with the "M" on it sounds pretty safe to go with but now I have another dilemma. I found a guy online who is selling two old blowers for $225. I called him and he said they both work although one clicks a little. I've read the shoulds and should nots of buying a blower and restoring a blower on http://www.beautifuliron.com (great site by the way) so I think I could fix any problems. He also said I could buy one blower if I wanted but I was considering buying both, fixing one up and reselling. Thoughts? I'm trying to spread some birthday money out and buy as much as I can but should I go with the anvil or blower? Also is that a good price for two blowers that appear to be in good condition. I'm going to look at them this weekend.

I have had an interest in blacksmithing for 7 years now but due to time and money constraints have never done anything about it. I turned 40 last month and have decided to go for it. At a local antique store there are 2 anvils for sale. One is rusty and all the edges that should be angled are rounded off. Also it has no ring. Price $139. The other is blue, has an "M" on it, has good edges on the face and has an excellent ring. Price: $299. I was leaning toward buying it when I noticed a seam going down the middle of the anvil front to back on both sides. I've read about the differences in cast anvils and the better quality wrought iron and steel anvils. The seam thing kind of made it think it was cast but it had a great ring which I understood to be only on wrought iron or steel. Should I get the blue anvil or keep looking? Is the ring the best way to tell? Second question: I have a length of railroad rail and wondered if anyone knew the best way to cut off a piece to use as an anvil. I called a local welder and he said it would take a plasma welder and he couldn't do it. Third: at the antique store I mentioned they have two blacksmith post vices for sale. I have a huge, very heavy vice already but it's a standard bench vice. How critical is it to have a post vice for a beginner? They both work and are very old. Thanks in advance!