Brian C.

When I have trouble walking in the shop.

Dad always said that in order to torch weld or forge aluminum, 1st you buy 3 pieces-because you will burn up the first two learning when to stop heating. :)

welder19-

Go to anvilfire.com, go to the pull down menu, click on link removed at the request of anvilfire then click on no. 166 SAFETY III, metal fume fever. That pretty well covers it.

While you are there you might as well look at No.'s 66 & 69 also. Lots of good safety related info..

ApprenticeMan-you dont know what you missed. My dear friend Jim Wilson was one of a kind, and I miss him and his constant supply of advice terribly.

When kids arent looking quickly spit or drip water on the anvil, then hit your work piece. It amazes kids (it did mine anyway).

I tried the chain and magnet tricks on my Peter Wright with little success. Then I put a heavy bead of good silicone on the bottom of the anvil, that shut it up quite well.

My shop is my garage, which is 1/2 of my basement (bi-level home). Therefore I move the gasser and its cart outside onto the driveway when forging.

A 4 or 6 in. box or rail to rest one foot on makes a big difference when standing for long periods. My Dad suffered from 2 degenerative discs in his back for 50+ years & worked at a bench every day. He says this method was of some benefit.

I forged some steak turners out of 3/8" sq. stainless last fall. It was harder than the preverbial woodpeckers lips. Made for a lot of hard & heavy hammering.

It got me too Jr.. Thanks for the link.

mcraigl- I am with you. My grandfather was a carpenter for 35+ years. Had the thumb off of his right hand, held the hammer between the first 2 fingers. Still only used 2 blows when framing. That is some power. Daddy always said that if Pappaw could get those first 2 fingers around your neck, he could probably pinch your head off. :)

I have also seen old advertisements on e-bay quite often. Sometimes they are even reasonably priced.

This is Mitzi, a 2 year old miniature schnauzer. Not much help in the shop, but does real well helping me at nap time. :)

A friend recently repaired the jaw on a large anvil for me. He took a thin glade on an angle grinder & opened the crack up a bit, pre-heated the area, made a pass with a regular all-purpose welding rod, then a top pass with a hard facing rod. Then laid it, jaws side up on the wood stove for a slow cool down.

Just a suggestion. :)

I have a 147# PW and it is just fine. They are very common here in the USA, apparently they were imported by the boat load.

All in all it is a very good anvil.

I have tried the manifold method & my tanks still froze out. The best luck has been sitting them in a big old fashioned wash tub of water. I made a clamp of sorts to hold the tank down & not let it float. That way you can cover up a lot more tank with the water. YMMV

I agree, no way do I believe that is forged work.

yes there will. At the Miami Co. Fairgrounds in Troy, OH. Should be Sept. 21-23.

That is what I like about this hobby and/or proffession of ours. Virtually everyone I have met up with is willing to help out the other folks. Whether it is sharing methods or techniques or shipping large pieces of steel.

Keep up the good work folks.

2 lb. Peddinghaus cross peen for me.

check out grizzly industrial. Grizzly Industrial -- Home. they have a 2" X 72" belt grinder. they call it G1015 knife belt sander/buffer. I dont own one, but have heard good reports. Your milage may vary :)

check out the knives at Simply Smithing Blacksmith Shop, Loren does great work with chainsaw chain

Merry Christmas Jr. ( I hope we get to keep all the big red trucks inside all night) and all you others.

In hot weather I use a knee length denim apron,for cooler weather or if doing a lot of grinding I switch to a knee length leather one. Angle grinding WILL set a cotton apron on fire (dont ask how I know this) :)

In the orthopaedic shop we used it for arch supports, and some hand splint parts and other brace components. At the plant where I work now , I have seen it used for belt buckles, wall brackets, and other uses that the company didnt really buy it for. :)