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Everything posted by Plantagenet Ironworks
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ALWAYS be suspicious of Craig's List. Few places are as full of Scum and Villainy as the Craig's List. I go out of my way to avoid it when I can. The FEW instances I have been involved with transactions involving so called 'internet classifieds'... I have ALWAYS met in public places, always armed and always with a friend. It's not paranoia if robbery, murder, scams and theft are nearly as likely as a successful transaction. There are a host of anvils for sale for local pickup on Ebay right now... all in the north east, and within driving distance for you. Sadly, none in my area. :(
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Got yelled at over an Anvil today...
Plantagenet Ironworks replied to Plantagenet Ironworks's topic in Everything Else
I wouldn't call it retail, It was one of those 'antique/junk mall' things with like 50 'booths'. Its common practice to wheel and deal in places like that... like a pawn shop. The money in my pocket was what I was willing to spend, I REALLY wanted the anvil (its the first REAL one I have seen), and I thought it was a fair offer. *shrugs* -
I walked into an antique mall today, kinda an old dingy place, more of a junk store than anything really. Right inside the door is a smaller 'roughly' 125 - 150lb Peter Wright Anvil in half decent condition, wasn't pristine, but it was alright. It was marked $325 seemed high to me, but Im a newb... but I figure Im also at a junk store. I offered the clerk $190 (What I had in my wallet) for it and the man loses his mind, starts yelling and cussing at me asking if Im trying to get hm shot or something... a rather high strung individual. I thanked him for his time and left the store, I don't do well with strangers raising their voice to me without cause. But it begs the question, was I THAT far off the mark that my offer incited such a response? :P
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One heck of a score this morning, at least I feel it was. I picked up 17 punches of various sizes, 1 small cross pein hammer head (1 1/2 Tru-Emper I think) and 2 pieces of metal that were in the punch box that Ill end up making something artistic out of for $10. I also picked up the piping, caps and tee for my forge... didn't really get a deal on that, feel like I got screwed actually, $33 which is more than I paid for the brake drum. However, it was pretty much my only option other than internet ordering for the pipe. I made sure I got black pipe, not galvanized. Buddy of mine has a 55g barrel that I may co-op for the forge stand. Hammer handles are still in question, I need to find a tru-value or ace hardware around here somewhere. I cant believe Lowes and Home Depot don't carry hickory tool handles... thats just dumb.
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Been putting together a few tools. I picked up a couple files, an old vintage cross pein head that is about 3 lbs I think. I also found a cheapo "Plano" toolbox for under $9 that Ill use to hold my tools. As a hobby smith without a dedicated space, a toolbox was a necessity. I started talking to the Saltfork Craftsmen, and Ill end up going down to Norman one of these days and visiting and do a lot of watching. I wanted a way to mark my toolbox, my family crest is a boar, so a Boar stomping on an anvil seemed appropriate. Not very clean, but it got the job done. I think next time Ill make the template out of brass not out of printer paper :) I picked up a piece of 4140 steel rod, 8.5 inches x 4.5 inches weighs 35 lbs or so, and Ill use that as an anvil to start, not 100% ideal but I hope it will work for now. Things Im working on right now: Putting together a forge, I have a break drum I am going to use, I found a nice thick iron one for about $22 brand new. Having trouble finding 2 inch black piping, Lowes/Home Depot are useless, 1 1/4th are their largest black pipe, so the aim is to hit a real hardware store this week. Tool handles, another thing Lowes/Home Depot dont carry are replacement tool handles. The guy literally told me to buy a new hammer instead of replacing a handle... I laughed and walked away. Next weekend is a large 'REAL' vintage flea market thing, they always have lots of tools, I have even seen an anvil or two in the past. Heres hoping I can find some punches, a ball pen hammer, maybe a wooden mallet and God Forbid... an actual anvil :)
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New smith here, in the tool gathering stage. I am aiming to keep my whole build to START at under $100 Hammer, Anvil, Tongs I have so far... Working on possibly getting a couple more hammers and a punch set, in addition to some gloves and of course a forge of some sort. Im looking for a cheap option for punches, chisels and the like currently. A book I read said that heading to a hardware store and buying the cheapest/largest cold chisel's they had by the handful would be a good option as they could all be modified later. I was wondering if this might be a good option as well? I plan on doing mostly smaller, decorative items. $30 after taxes... which would be the most expensive tool I have purchased so far. Thoughts?
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That is beautiful.
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Non-Anvil Anvil Options?
Plantagenet Ironworks replied to Plantagenet Ironworks's topic in Anvils, Swage Blocks, and Mandrels
Thank you for the info about the 'type of steel' in these things... being as green as I am I didnt even consider that. The seller... and several others have multiple types of steel in various shapes. Price and availability for me I think this might be my best option. So a 10inch long piece of 4 inch 4140 would do nicely? Or should I look for a different type of steel. Also, once I do get it, should I do anything to the face you think? -
I am just starting my anvil search and I am looking to educate myself on a few of my options 'on the cheap' as it were. I am already aware of the idea of turning a 2 foot piece of rail track on its side as a sort of 'poor mans' or beginners anvil. I was wondering about something like this round 'anvil' would work well?
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Good Evening everyone, Bit of an update here. So my little flea market that I thought would be a gold mine was terrible. It was not at all what I expected, mostly handmade sewn things and so called 'decorative' clutter. My only score... and my first tools, is a pair of Farriers tongs "Nippers" that are used to trim the hooves of horses I believe. One is marked "Champion" the other is unmarked. I figure they could be modified with a bit of heat and hammering even by a novice into serviceable tongs, I paid $5 a piece for them at a local antique market. I also put down my name and number as someone looking for an anvil or piece of railroad track. I also emailed the president of the Saltfork Craftsmen, as he was the most local member to me with a bit of an introduction and a request for information on their group. I initially started with thinking a gravel pit in the back yard, now I am considering building a small shed and a small hobby forge. I guess Ill make that decision as I get to it. As with all aspiring smiths, Im on the lookout for a serviceable anvil. I was wondering if a 70# farriers anvil would work for small scale stuff? Im looking at doing mostly small household stuff, decoratives, jewelry and maybe a knife or two.
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I really like the video in the sticky of the general forum of the guys beating hot iron ore on a big rock with smaller rocks... certainly puts things in perspective. I have a major railroad close by where I am, so truth be told I will prob end up with a rail track anvil, which honestly will prob work indefinitely for what I am planning on doing. However, I am not looking forward to the amount of grinding, sanding and cutting I would want to do to make a piece of slag rail into a quality anvil. We shall see what I come home with this weekend from the big flea market going on. Should be fun.
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Anyone have any idea what this is?
Plantagenet Ironworks posted a topic in Tools, general discussion
I picked this up in a junk store for the simple reason that I have never seen anything like it before. It looks/feels solid steel to me, about 5 to 8 lbs... 4 inches tall, 5.5 inches wide at base and is perfectly round... I paid $7 for it. Not sure what Ill use it for, maybe just a paperweight but it would be interesting to know what its actual purpose is. -
My name is Sebastian, I am 34 years old. Currently in the Moore Oklahoma area. I suppose you guys have a steady stream of aspiring smiths that start with big intentions and ideas and simply fade away into the sea of whim and inconsistancy. Just the same, I suppose I should introduce myself, tip my hat and issue warm greetings before innundating you with the innane questionings of an aspirant. My blacksmithing goals are small. I have interests mostly in jewlery and small utilitarian items, if I could somehow work my way up to a few high quality knives I would be pleased with myself. I cant imagine anything I make would be over 12 inches. But you never know. About ten years ago I came to the conclusion that I was pretty worthless. Not a self esteem thing, but it occured to me that like many of my generation I had no definable skills beyond a computer keyboard. I am an author by trade and have thrown my hat into the self publishing world. I also work in the computer gaming industry. You catch my meaning, if it didn't have a keyboard attached to it I was pretty useless. So I started a bit of a journey of personal improvment, I started a crusade of research and book knowledge. Small scale farming, health and first aid, firearms, bushcraft, basic engine repair... lots of reading, lots of research with only a smattering of practical experience. All the things my father should have taught me, however declined the task. Then I picked up a book called "The Backyard Blacksmith" by a Farris named Lorelei Sims. I am sure many of you have read it. The book has kinda stuck with me and over the years I have read it over and over. I have changed a lot in the past ten years. Going from an arrogant preppy narcissist with a bad attitude typical of my generation to a much more calm and passive family man. Adopting the 'speak softly and carry a big stick' mentality. I have developed a taste for practicality and for the traditional way of doing things seeking to improve my mind and myself more than to increase my 'stuff'. So I am at the point now where general undirected book knowledge on a variety of things isn't going to cut it and I need to take steps into developing an actual skill. I am ready to get my hands dirty. So I find myself here, among you, seeking guidence, advice and looking to learn like so many before me. Resources that I have: 1: A strict budget of $100 to start. Personal preference, I could spend more but from what I have read I think I can pull it off. 2: Roughly 20 Railroad Tie Nails that I picked up a few years ago next to a dumpster in Alaska. "Hey, those might be useful one day!" 3: A Kobalt Cross Pein Hammer (2.5 lb) that I purchased last weekend and should probobly take back. It cost me about $20 or so from Lowes. I think I could pick up some used/vintage tools elsewhere and save a bit on the budget this way. 4: A typical suburban backyard in Oklahoma City with no home owners association. (yay!) 5: A massive artisan/craft/flea market this weekend in the area called "An Affair of the Heart" that should be adventagous to the cause. 6: More concrete Bricks than I know what to do with. 7: An empty propane tank. 8: Farris Lorelei Sims' book. What I know I need: A: A Forge. I am still debating between a gas or coal forge. My traditional and budget consious side says to make a coal brake drum forge and learn to do it 'right'. My parent and safety side reminds me that I live in the suburbs and I need to be mindful of being able to shut off the fire completely when I walk away from it. B: Tools. Something to hold the metal, something to hit the metal. I think the both of these should work themselves out this weekend. C: An Anvil. I think this is my biggest hurdle. I saw two anvils at a junk sale about 6 months ago and walked right past them... that was a mistake. Even if they were cast iron and would have to be replaced, sadly I didn't even look at them. I am obviously kicking myself now. I know that a 2 ft section of rail would do nicely, need to work on this and learn how to tell the difference between an iron anvil and a steel one. I move around A LOT (Every 3 to 4 years) so an anvil under 70# or so would be wise.
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