Abenakis

Frosty, in your design, isn't there a possibility that the difference in air density could act as a wall against the much warmer gases? Maybe not if the pipe comes out at the back of the chimney; as long as it doen't create disturbance that would increase the 'wall effect'. What do you think?

Jose, how much cubic feet per minute does your blower draw and, by experience, how much would be the bare minimum required?

Thanks. I hope that one can at least get an idea of what I want to say!

Skunkriv: And as the temperature of the burned gas is augmented by more air being sent to the burning coal, the speed of those gas is also increased so less air is needed to help it go through the chimney; at the same time, the higher the heat, the more complete the combustion so less oxygen is needed to complete the process while exhausting. Very neat. (please be indulgent with my english; here is the only place I can practice it!)

Yep, I agree, racer, I too noticed the good looking welds. In what I read from Jose, I think he knows a thing or two about welding... Goog looking forge, by the way; it seems very efficient. May I suggest a little modification? I know that Yamaha, for one, has found that inducing air into an exhaust was helping the hot gases complete their combustion and eliminate some more pollution. Maybe you could divert a little of your air going up through the pipe; this little air stream would point upward and toward the center of the chimney. The extra oxygen is supposed to complete the burning process. In a time when global warming is on every lips, I think it would be wise to do what we can to reduce our environmental footprint.

Well, if you are from Maine, then you are from the land that my ancestors has inhabited for thousands of years before they were push out of there. I know there are still some hiding there and that the names they had given to lakes and rivers are still the one used. The spirit of the proud Abenakis still live in the heart on many among which I am. And to tell you the truth, I will easily loose my path in a building but I can walk for hours in the mountains and I will always know where I am; I guess that thousands of years in this type of land has left their marks in the gene! Thanks for the invitation to join the people from the east (abenakis means people from the dawn!). I will surely attend an ABANA happening when I have time.

Racer3j, then, say thanks to Philip who gave me the contact at Vaughan to finally decipher this brand naming puzzle.

I have received an answer from VAUGHANS (HOPE WORKS) LTD which produce the beloved anvil: The anvils that we manufacture have 'BROOKS ENGLAND' on the side. There is a company in the USA called Vaughn but they are a dealer in specialist hand hammers. We have two dealers in the USA (Centaur Forge & Milwaukee Tool and Equipment Co.), they often misspell our name as 'Vaughn' So be careful; you must see this BROOKS ENGLAND on the side for the anvil to be a real VAUGHAN!

Larrynjr, I hope that, this time, the site has kept my info. It might have been because of the photograph I used which was too big. Anyway, I live close to Montreal, Canada, province of Quebec. It seems that we are not many in this part of the world as I have been told that I will be the 45th blacksmith in the entire province! Thanks for your interest. BTW, are you still in love with your new anvil? Oh! Also thanks for the info for the Hardness vs toughness tabloid; I have printed it and I am currently reading the "Metallurgy of Steel for Bladesmiths & Others..." that you had linked in the same post. Very instructive.

Hi Steveh The US importer of Vaughn (Vaughn 224 lb Anvil, Double Horn) has photos and I can read on the side of its anvil: BROOKS ENGLAND. Is this what you read on yours? Do you know this company? Thanks

Lots of great info from everyone. Thanks a lot. Philip, about the upsetting block, that's the kind of possibilities I was thinking. I already have a small anvil for the delicate work though I would have prefered to have everything together. You also said that the weight should be in the body. According to you, is it more important to have a heavier anvil or one with a higher HRC? Blksmth: thanks for all this info. I have already sent you an email as well as to Mr Refflinghaus and I was surprised that he would not be able to give me a rebound factor as you did. True that this anvil looks really great and it is still part of my list so we might be dealing something quite soon.

Well, Philip made me realise that there are 2 names that are alike: Vaughn and Vaughan. And their value would not be the same at all. Be careful, another site has made the same error and that's where I was mislead. Thanks Philip for correcting me

So, Philip, you say you love your Vaughn anvil! Good to know. It's the first report I see from an owner of this make. It looks interesting and, at around a grand, I could very well go this route. It misses the upsetting block and the little sidebar that, I am sure, can make some delicate work a lot easier but I already have a workaround for those. Thanks for the input:)

I got that from Vaughn site: Vaughans' anvils are cast in steel (not Iron) to a long tried and tested blend. The working face is heat treated to 60-65 Rockwell and a narrow strip around the perimeter of the working face is left untreated to absorb the impact of any hammer blow, which accidentally glances off a workpiece during use. I guess at this point, they prefer to take no chances with what you described as a real possible danger. I am just back from the store to get a face shield, good leather gloves and a mask for paint/ welding fumes and dust; with the leather boots and apron, I will weight more than my anvil but I will be safe! Thanks for the advice

Do I understand that it should be safer to go with more 'normal' HRC rating than the 59 that Refflinghaus report and later, when I get good at hammering where I want, I could jump to higher rates? I guess you have understood that I am a newbie. Thanks

Hi I am about to buy a new anvil and I see that most anvil makers are going for something around 50-52 HRC. Is there a direct relationship between the rebound factor of the anvil and its hardness? Is it possible to have too high an HRC that would make the anvil brittle? Thanks everybody

Makoz, you had a great idea; funny and nice to look at

Lovely! Great idea...

Thank you for sharing; I think that I had a great moment looking and listening to that video. I too wish to be as alive as this guy is at this age!