toadharbor

Hey There IMHO Just cut a nice edge off, something like 3-4 inches and mount it on a sturdy stand. 4140 is way better than what they had in even in Colonial times. Just get going and have fun, in a year or so you'll be better able to decide what kind of anvil you really want. you'll be working hot steel so heat treating and such really isn't an issue. You might want to drill a 1 1/4 inch hole towards one side, insert a 1" piece of square tube and weld it in there for a hardy hole. Make your stand about wrist high and you'll be fine. A heavy sturdy stand will benefit you, an 80 pound anvil is a bit on the light side. Make sure your stock is long verical up to absorb the shock. Horizontal stacking is bad. No need to spend big $$$ on a "real" anvil. Take care

Strangle enough I've been thinking along the same lines over the last summer. Check out the NYSDB.org website, it's he local Blacksmithing group. Typically iron foundries where site "close" to iron sources in the early 1800's. Constantia, NY had Iron Foundries, seems to have dried up and gone away in the middle 1800's, Apparently there is a "Decent" amount of Bog Iron in Lower Oswego County Swamps. So the bog iron sources have had 150 years to rebuild. The geological surveys I've read on the early 1800's are vague about exact sites in Oswego County, Way back when, traveling about the mosquito infested swamps, must have been too much work. I'm told that the waterways are free, so as long as you stay in the stream, you're safe? I plan to go looking for Bog Iron next summer. Take Care.

I like it, it will get the job done. You won't find a good anvil for that price. You might need a bottom fuller to make it complete though.

WOW Seems massively overbuilt. Very nice though. My local supplier has alot of 1/4 plate, not so much 1/2 plate. I'm paying about $0.60 a pound for scrap metal there.

Wow It cleaned up nice and you got the mounting hardware and spring. I'd say you got a good deal after all.

From my limited experience you would be better off with soft coal. The hard stuff kicks out amazing heat, but it requires a lot of air. It also doesn't coke up like soft coal does and you end up using more coal in an afternoon of forging. I think a coal fire likes High volume LOW speed air. As someone stated an old used bathroom vent fan makes a decent and CHEAP blower. When i started I used hard coal, then found some soft coal. I mxed the hard stuff in with the soft stuff, its not ideal, but at least I'm using 100 pounds of hard coal up. There is a Southern Tier Chapter of NY State Designer Blacksmiths in your area. Checkout www.nysdb.org.

Buy them BOTH, the cost will only go up. Those things are selling for $500+ on Ebay. They both look in good shape. I would get the 130 pound one only because it's a bit heavier. Maybe test them to see if there is any swayback? use a straightedge ruler. Act fast in either way, nice anvils don't stay on the market long.

I just got a Slitting Chisel of his this last week, I agree, his work is beautiful.

Check out NYSDB.org. That's the local Blacksmithing group. Mohawk Region meetings are monthly.

Mostly Cosmetic, as made the hammer ends up being just as long as the starting stock. At least it did on the one I made.

The hammer tongs should have a 1 inch opening (or so) when closed so you can work on the 2" thick round stock. that makes the 110-115 degree opening closer to a 90. The idea is that the curled ends of the tong can be used as guides to make the troughs at each end of the hammer.

I agree I"m just learning and I have a Striker (24 year old son) and a Striking anvil (of sorts, 260 pound piece of steel) in addition to my anvil, so it would be easier than if I was doing it just by myself. My main interest is in making the tools to make ?Tomahawks, Hatchets and smallish knives right now. Thanks

Hello I'm just starting out and got an old 8 foot x 1 1/4 inch prybar. Obviously it's a tough sort of steel, but I wondering if it would be good to make punches or drifts out of? I have read that 5160 is good for this, but I'm having a hard time finding coil springs. Thanks

Here's my HB 143 pound Anvil, just got her chained down,

not really, I poured it in and it leaked like crazy out the fan shaft, Putting it in a bucket with oil might have worked better.

nope, Cleaned fit out twice using over cleaner, wait overnight then spray out with water. then soaked for 3 days in transmission fluid. It was moving but very grindy at the start,, much smoother now.

I just got an old Champion Blower for $20, Cover in rust and not moving well. It was missing screws too. Cleaned it up with Over Cleaner, inside and out, then soaked all the gears in Transmission Fluid, after 3 days it moves sweet and easy.

WoW Thanks for that Link, I just got a Champion Blower missing the hand crank weight, Need a cheap replacement.