Sam Falzone

SWEET !!!! ... literally! Happy birthday dude.

My little shop is (or will be) called Oakhammer Forge. A combination of my two favourite materials - wood and steel/iron (also my SCA persona name). A friend of mine has a small hobby farm. They built a roadside stand to sell the vegetables they grow - she is also a potter and sells her pottery as well. She came up with the idea of me setting up a small forge next to the stall to sell small forgings. The Farm is called Millbrook Farm ... I'm thinking of calling the forge The Millrace Forge. Sam

OOH - OOH ... COOKIE AND A NAP ... SIGN ME UP TOO !!! It's been one of those days. Hope your little girl's happier now Phil ... blankie-crisies are a pretty big thing when you're 2 :)

Thanks Bear and Thomas. It's nice to know thart I ended up with a quality anvil. Cheers Sam

Hey! ... I didn't get a sticker with my Hofi hammer ... But I did get an IFI t-shirt, which I love ... gotta get more. Glenn could you send me a few stickers as well? ... Please? Sam

Sometime you just end up being in the right place at the right time. The first anvil I owned I made - just a 5"x5" block anvil for re-enactment demos. The first "real" anvil I got was a chance find at an antiques market. It's 120lbs with a long horn on it , can't quite make out the name though. Got it for $200.00. (see the attached photo) After that one - 6 months later, - I get an email from a colleague of mine who says he's cleaning out his class-shop and has 2 anvils he's going to scrap ... do I want them? I made it to his school in record time and soon enough had 2 Vaughan 100lb anvils in the back of my van ... for FREE!!! I loaned one to a friend of mine and I loaned the other to my 2 students (brothers) to work with at home. Just made the one I loaned to my students a "gift" this Christmas - so now they have an anvil of their own too. Still looking for the next anvil score - this time I'm after a 200lb. Got a few auctions lined up soon - THE HUNT IS ON !!! Sam

Thanks Phil That was exactly what I needed Sam

I know it's early yet ... but has anyone heard anything about this year's Quad State ? Dates? Anything? Sam

It was my grandfather who first put a hammer in my hand. He wasn't a blacksmith - after immigrating to Canada, the only job he could get was as a school caretaker. But ever since I was tall enough to reach a doorknob and open the door myself, he realized there was no way on earth he was going to keep me out of the garage. So he introduced me to tools - I haven't looked back since. I've had my share of scrapes, smashed thumbs, bloody knuckles, cuts, scars and bruises, but I wouldn't trade any of them for the world. I was the only kid on my block who liked to play with toys by taking them apart - and then putting them back together blindfolded with every screw and battery contact in the right place. I more often than not made my own toys That lead to a passion for all things tool-related and eventually smithing. I owe my grandfather a lot - I wouldn't be the person I am if it wasn't for him ... I miss him. If you are willing to watch, nurture and teach them, it's never too early - but if you take too long to try, it can be too late. Sam

Thanks for all the info everyone. New question: Will it forge weld with other steels? Can I use it for the softer steel content in a pattern-welded billet/blade? Sam

Now that was classy. Good on ya', man.

You win ! New benchmark.

Well I've got new benchmarks for ridiculous adds for used anvils. I found these on Kijiji This first one is a Mousehole - he wants $1000.00 for it. He doesn't give the weight but it doesn't look over 200lbs http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-equipment-Vintage-1820s-30s-anvil-W0QQAdIdZ200711413 This second one is a Canadian Blower and Forge - 100lbs. I inquired about the price - he wants $800.00 for it. http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-art-collectibles-ANVIL-W0QQAdIdZ197843166 sam

Great work. Those would sell like hotcakes at a craft show.

Thanks, that was awesome Phil. Just the kind of information I needed - NICE and EASY. And thanks for the mini chem. lesson too. sam

I dub thee ... HERNIA-MAKER Nice job Robert. I wonder how the concrete will hold up to the constant pounding and shock-vibrations. Like others said - take care moving that monster. Cheers. Sam

Thanks Sweany. So does that mean it's relatively soft? Are we talking like "mild steel" soft, or "wrought iron" soft, or what ??? Sam

Thanks for the info Pat. Unfortunately knowing the chemical composition doesn't tell me much - I don't know anything about steel chemistry or what it means. I was hoping for more basic information about what the steel's physical properties were like and an idea of what kind of things it can be made with. Is it good for blades? Is it good for hammers? Is it good for cutting tools? That kind of stuff. I wish I could understand steel chemistry like some of you guys and know exactly what that steel can do based on that. Thanks again for trying. Sam

I hear ya brother ... be strong ... Lucy would have wanted it that way. You never forget your first and you'll always have the memories - those countless hours together in front of a roaring fire - the way she used to sing - the way you could bounce a quarter off her ... face. By the way ... did Lucy have any other sisters? Just askin' ... Sam

A friend of mine has a lot of SA516-70 normalized plate at his workplace. He works for a fabricator who makes among other things, pressure vessels. He told me that SA516-70 is specifically used for making pressure vessels but I was wondering what else the steel would be good for. Anyone have any more information about this type of steel along with any ideas of what it could be made into (hammers, cutting tools, blades, etc???) Sam

This is my toolbox - made it last summer. Nothing fancy - just a good strong box. I may need to make another one soon. Sam

Aside from the cold you already had, sounds like you might be suffering from some smoke inhalation as well. If it's already been 72 hours, you might want to consider consulting your doctor - severe smoke inhalation can lead to other complications. Just my opinion. I could be wrong. Hope you get better. sam

There's still a lot of life left in that anvil and it's more than workable. $1.33/lb for a 300lb anvil is an amazing price considering that there are some guys on Kijiji in my area who are wanting $500.00 for a 100lb PW anvil. I hope someone on IFI gets it. sam

http://detroit.craig...1674099326.html Just saw this and I figured someone in the area may be interested. Fenton Michigan, 300lb anvil, asking $400.00 ($1.33/lb). Someone needs to jump all over this one - wish I had the money. sam

This is my block anvil for re-enactment. The stump is ash - I added the bick, cutting plate, hammer loops and tong rack last summer. I love this anvil stand. When I finally mount my main anvil, I'm definitely going to go for another stump.