Jeff Coe

Am considering doing that because of space and portability. Also I dont have a post vise yet so it would be cheaper way to go right now. I think its a good idea.

Hey Bryan , I would be in for 500#s if that helps to get things going on ordering the coal. If would be up to helping getting it down to Anchorage or Wasilla if there is interest from down that way also. I am going to be out of town a couple days and will call you when I get back. Jeff

Hey Bryan , I would be in for 500#s if that helps to get things going on ordering the coal. If would be up to helping getting it down to Anchorage or Wasilla if there is interest from down that way also. I am going to be out of town a couple days and will call you when I get back. Jeff

Ive heard that the Chickaloon Native Tribe is the current owners of the land. Their website indicates coal mining as a future activity. I will call the corp office in the morning and see what they think about getting some coal from them. Maybe they already mine some for there own home use. I dont know.. More later.. Jeff

I am still looking for some coal and here is what I have learned.. There is no readily available sourse of coking coal in alaska. There was some coal that came from Chickaloon area but the seam played out several years ago. There may be some left but is it is on private land. I dont know if it was true coking coal but was supposed to be pretty good coal. The coal I have used from Healy works OK but does not coke up so you cant get up to welding heats. I found a couple suppliers for Coking coal on the internet and was going to call in the morning and get an idea of cost plus shipping. One website said there bulk order size is 22 tons!!! Thats alot of coat hooks!!! Thats what I have for now. Jeff

You bet. That is a cool project he has in the boat. He gave me a tour of it a couple years ago. My main worry was that if his anvil floated away in the flood!! Probably not, just wondering.. Jeff

I will make a point to look in on Jake when in Galena next week. Jeff

I suspected there were better grades of coal in the same mine. I have gotten several batches of coal from Healy and everyone of them burns a little different.It would be nice to get good coal from a local source. I am on board for getting some good coal. Whatever I can do to help. On another note I am passing thru Galena next week and wanted to swing in and check on Jake P. (If thats Jake the Blacksmith,youguys are referring to.) Last fall, word was he was doing OK after the flood. His place is right on the bank and got hit pretty hard during the flood I think. Ive met him a couple times out there and never have enough time to really visit with him. More later Jeff

The coal from Healy is Sub Bitumious, as per there web site, but it reads to me as being on the upper end in BTU's for sub bitum... At this point in my training I dont know good coal from bad coal!! I have hammered out all small stuff with it. And several knife blanks. I have had no luck forge welding with it. I hear there are a few guys in town(Fairbanks) that chip in and ship up large amount every so often. Job for tomorrow is see if I can track down a name and there source, and see what the costs would be. More Later Jeff

Hey Rob, I have a 140 and like it. Look at the data plate on the front. Its designed to run on a 20 amp curcuit at 120Volt. When you get out to 100' feet you start to get voltage drop due to distance and then your amps will go up and you may start tripping the breaker. A 12/3 100' cord will probably cause you a lot of walks back to the house to reset the breaker. It does at my house. A 10/3 cord would be more reliable for you. On the fun side, Its been -30 here for the last 10 day. If this welder power is an emergency I could be there pretty quick! Jeff

Thanks Guys.

Found a video by Kevin Potter that was helpful to me concerning rebound vs contruction. My question is on the 4140. It had the poorest rebound but would increasing the mass help the rebound?It was the smallest anvil of the lot. And does hardening the face help with rebound or is hardening mostly done to protect the face of the anvil. I am planning on getting a 100# piece of 5" dia 4140 from the salvage yard for a post anvil, and wondering if I should expect it to be a good anvil. Thanks Jeff

Can you convert it to solar?

Finding an anvil probably holds more of us newcomers back than any other thing in black smithing. When its really is as simple as a 4" bolt. That being said, While at the local salvage yard picking up some angle I asked about any anvils and they said no on anvils but they had a 20' stick of 5" dia 4140 round stock. They would sell it by the foot at $175/ ft and it weighs about 100#/ ft. So a 100# post anvil of good steel for under $200 bucks. Somebody on site here said it does not have to have a horn and a heel to be any anvil.

Thanks