alwe1

Found this listed on craigslist and was wondering what brand it is and if it's an anvil worth buying. Also what does semi steel mean?

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thank you for that advice because i have often wondered why they don't do it with just one tool.  What size drift should be used for drifting the eye of a hammer?

I don't expect perfection I just am still learning and was looking for suggestions is all. I didn't want to make one that turned out well enough to be usable only to have it be made of a steel that doesn't make a functional hammer. I fully expect that my first hammer will have many problems just wanted to be pointed a good direction to start.

What type of steel are truck axles made from?  I know I have several axles of various lengths around as well as other shaft steels from grain stirators these shafts are solid steel and normally anywhere from 1 to 2 inches in diameter.  This brings me to another question what diameter of round stock would be best for this project?  I would like the hammer to be between 3 and 4 pounds.

I am hoping to forge my first hammer and I was wondering if you have any tips or suggestions on how to do it?  I was also wondering what type of steel is best for making a hammer and why?  I have seen some topics that recommend 1045 or 4140 but I was wondering what properties of these steels make them preferred for making hammers. I am also lacking the knowledge of the process to harden them for use forging.  I would really like to make a rounding hammer and would also be grateful for any tips that apply specifically to making rounding hammers.

I have given some thought to making a home foundry and I was wondering if anyone had some tips for a newbie. Also I was wondering if there is any real value to casting aluminum into ingots and selling them? If there is where do you sell them and what are they generally worth per pound?

I thought so as well I'm excited to start working with it. The anvil also came with a great old stump that was cut to size it just happens to be the right height for me.

Any advice on how to decadent the ring this anvil will literally make you deaf.

What do you guys think I should offer on a an immaculate kohwalska anvil I have found it weighs around 80 to 100 lbs

I got lucky just kind of happened upon the sale and boy am I glad I did. Even got a couple nice flatters

Thank you so much

Thank you so much

Even got a set of 10 or so whet stones for a dollar each new in the box. Some of them are very very fine grit.

Pretty much stocked my shop yesterday now I just need another forge

Anyone know the born on date for the budden?

I stumbled onto a tag sale just yesterday and was stunned to see they had literally thousands of tools many priced at just $1.  I think the most we paid was $10 for the post leg vise and $10 for the champion auto feed hand crank drill press both of which are in working condition.  I should have just cleaned them out but it was a little overwhelming to be honest.  I spent a total of $75 to purchase every tool you see here.  Here is what i purchased.

My day got even better when I also found a person with a full set of blacksmith tools for sale.  He was quite high on most of it but i was able to snag this beautiful hay budden anvil for $1.50/lb.  It weighs 176lbs.

Here are the pictures.
 

Is that for the kwalsa or the budden

He also had an older kawalsa in the other shed that looked to be 80 to 100lbs that looked like it had maybe been used one time. The edges were sharp and the face immaculate what is a ballpark value for that anvil?

Picked up a 176lb anvil today from a local for $275. The edges are very good on it and the face is great too. The serial number is 135163. I was wondering when it was made and what the value per pound is. I will post pictures when I can.

I will soon be in possession of a champion rivet forge and I was wondering if the fire pot needs to be lined with refractory cement or not? I have heard both ways so I'm wondering what is the proper way to use one.

I have also toyed with the idea of fabricating a box bellows again I have no experience with using one and was wondering if they are worth trying or if i would be better off to keep looking for a crank blower.

I am kind of fond of the idea of not being reliant on electricity to be able to forge. Do you have any experience with the blower from blacksmith supply? The only other one I can, even find is on centaur forge but it's terribly expensive.

I am planning on building a coal forge for my shop this summer and I have been looking around for hand cranked blowers but they are apparently impossible to find in my area. So I was wondering what are some companies if any that make or at least sell hand crank blowers still and are they worth buying?

I know this is an old thread but I am also located near fort dodge iowa.  Rockwell city to be a little more exact