ThorsHammer82

It would work about as good as the Mythbuster's meganewton's cradle. lol.

lol, I've already started a harem of non-traditional "anvils", and I'm sure there will be more to come.

If you read up on the Nimba, they are an Italian pattern anvil. at least a couple of northwestern's take on one. This wont be a beginners purchase as I'll have several years before I can even think about pulling the trigger on one. I've got a hunk of metal that I'll be using as my beginner anvil so hopefully all the bigg mistakes will be made on that. I'm sure I'll end up with a medium sized anvil before I get the big guy. but for now it's nice to dream of a shiney new toy.... I mean tool.

lol, I don't work with tools while/after tasting. things come out crooked if you do that... not that they wouldn't if I'm not, but atleast I've got a fighting chance.

Just saying it's priced high, not trying to start any quarrels.

It was a great experience and I'm already in contact with a couple other "local" blacksmiths from this sight. Now I just need practice time and to join NWBA. Longview is a bit of a drive for me, but I can kill two birds with one stone as my friends have a brewery down there and should be opening their tasting room in a couple of weeks.

Took my first beginners lesson with a member on this forum local to me. It was a great experience and an eye opening one. I don't have enough room in my shop for all the tools I'm going to need to acquire/make. I'm ok with this problem. Thank you again Dave and I hope to come out for another lesson soon.

I'm not discounting the fact that it's probably worth every penny. But the fact still remains that I do not have the money to attend this year. it's that simple. The cost is too high for me to attend.

about the middle.

Wait a minute.... Don't you weld?

digging up an old thread here. but I did a google search for "New Forged Steel Anvil" and came acrossed a list of Anvil manufactures and my eyes about popped out of my head when I saw where Nimba Anvils were made (maybe two hours from my door step... probably less). Than a quick search on here, and Vuala! When the time comes I think I'll be getting myself a nice new NIMBA Gladiator, unless someone can tell me a reason not to...? save the price. but this will be a splurged purchase as the majority of my blacksmithing will be for fun. and I plan on keeping my tool purchase to an absolute minimum on this hobby for now. So, can anyone give me a good reason not to get a gladiator in a couple of years?

The OP.

Is it wrong to covet your neighbors anvil? That is beautiful! I would love that anvil.

As a hobby blacksmith it's cost prohibitive. so far I have spent a grand total of $10 for a garage sale shop vac and a bucket of coal. The forge I built from stuff I had laying around and my "Anvil" I got for free. Maybe in a couple years I'd like to think I would be able to enjoy something like that. And I agree. you learn something from everyone. And I would love the opertunity to go, but it just costs to much. As a home owner and father of 3 I must be careful where I spend my money. And frankly blacksmithing is just my hobby right now so family hobbies take presidence. An to pay $80 a head for the family to go just for a day gets astronomical. Where as I have every intention of shareing my learned skills with my children when and if they want to learn, I cannot justify the cost at this time. I get trade show mentality and that it really is just for an industry professional, but doing that excludes the hobbiest.

get rid of the 90* bend out of the blower and get larger pipe. 2" is a good size to shoot for but 1.5"-2" works well. Mine is 1.75" and I can burn metal. are you using lump charcoal or briquets? Briquets have a binder in them that makes them not burn as hot as lump charcoal. you can use fire clay to shape the fire bowl to help with the airflow and to bring the fire up in the drum to make the sweet spot right at the edge of the drum so you don't need to cut the edge of the drum down.

Ian, are you going for classes, or to kick the tires? thats the big difference. you're an established blacksmith who knows the trade and is commited to perfecting the craft. I'm speaking from a novice viewpoint who's got very minimal funds to put towards blacksmithing as a hobby. $80 is a lot of metal and coal in my mind = anvil time. vs $80 to walk around bug eyed and at a loss for where to start. Not to mention being able to bring family with me. which at those prices just wouldn't happen.

I did the counter weight dump. as it seemed to me to be the quickest and easiest option since I wasn't using threaded pipe. that and I like the idea of allowing it to slam shut acting as a slight clinker breaker. and it can be used when you're still burning if you need too which is also nice.

like I said in your other post. Sounds like you need to go "hunting" more often.

um... There was no mention of a blade in the OP... The blade part was assumed. SO, I'll ask, For non blade making purposes, Would spring steel and mild steel make enough contrast for damascus?

$80 for a non member for a day seems rather spendy to me. Is that a normal going price for conferences like that? You would think that something like that would be used to promote people coming in and maybe peek some interest in the craft. at prices like that I seems cost prohibitive to say the least. I can understand if you want to take a class that there be a fee, but just to come in and look around and maybe aske a few questions? Especially if people are trying to sell stuff at the conference. a$5-$20 enterence fee seems far more reasonable.... Just my $0.02

Rivets, and or just nuts and bolts will work fine. Anything you can build with a welder can be done with rivots or nuts and bolts. It will just be bulkier, and take longer. And in this case need to be sealed. But these are all obsticles that are easily over come. 8" seems small, but I would think that you could do a double stack out of a "hearth" to make up for the lack of size, but than you're doubling the size and may have issues getting it to draft properly. Something to think on.

I like it!

sounds like you need to spend more days "hunting".

you could do a 5lb plate in a brake drum forge. but I must ask, why are you trying to do the whole plate at once?

Winddancer, PM sent. But I'm not the one building a forge right now.