Michael Cochran

Does anyone have a copy of the anvil stream posted long ago?

According to a chart I saw elsewhere I don't think 1/3 hp will drive that much weight. I would share the chart but the site is down and I didn't save it when I saw it I'll keep an eye out for it and post it soon as I find it

If he had a solid base on that hammer and it was properly secured it would probably be much less wobbly. It looks as though this one specifically was meant for traveling and as such is too light. i think it's a pretty cool set up just unsure of the usability.

Thanks for the links arftist, I didn't see them earlier.

Jeremy and Stewart, I like how you guys point out something that I hate to admit I haven't realized. A good anvil is more than just a tool purchase, it's more of an investment. You have changed my viewpoint a little and I appreciate it.

I was referring to the 9 footers lol. Seriously though you makin me jealous with all those 'anvils' you have.

Arftist, that's what I was just thinking. Well, sort of. I was thinking that there would have to be a pivot and an arm instead of just pushing the hammer up and down. Rusty (and the other one, krusty?) both look like good hammers I could build much easier with what I have access to regularly.

At 375lbs those squares would make great anvils lol. Wish you could put one in a box for me. :)

I have no experience building a hammer yet but I am in the planning stages so take my comment however you want. if it were me and I was placing it outside, I'd go for the long and skinny. Dig out a hole several inches larger and deeper than you need and put a bed of sand and gravel. Pour a few inches of concrete with some rebar sticking up and after its set up set the 'anvil' in place and fill the hole the rest of the way with concrete. While you're at it you might want to pour a pad for the rest of the hammer. I'd probably go 8"-10" deep on top of the same sand gravel mix as the bottom of the hole. I'd also put some more rebar around the avil in the hole and in the pad. I'd also make sure the pad is a little bigger than the total footprint of the hammer. hopefully if I'm wrong someone will tell us but right now that's what I'd imagine would be the best way.

Only anvils I can afford are scraps of steel lol. I keep watching for that one well priced anvil just in case.

It's listed on the birmingham al cl.

Tell what you guys think about this. A "300+ pound vintage hay budden" for $1600. With what looks like either a crack on the face or maybe a cutting torch mark. Found it on cl this mornin just lookin to see if anythin new had been posted in my area and that's the first things I see. I'll post the link if it's ok with everyone if not I won't. It has a dozen pictures from different angles but doesn't scream run away except for the crack in the head of whomever it was that priced it lol.

I like it. Hopefully when my son gets old enough he'll wanna help in the shop so we can do neat little projects like that.

I have been doon this for about 3 years and still haven't got a real anvil. Right now it's a piece of rail track on end standing on a large 6"x6". It's not ideal but it works.

Do you have a welder? If so you could always crank up the amps and burn out a hardy hole.

Have you used the search function? http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/1584-tong-rings/ Try google and YouTube too. I don't have links right now but I have watched them made on YouTube once upon a time.

Glenn, I have to say that was a very well crafted response. I hope one day I can learn to speak with such eloquence and still not sound condescending when I talk. I mean that wholeheartedly, not being smart. I'm glad we live in a world where knowledge is as free as it is, if not I'd never have a shot at doing something like blacksmithing. I do know, however that the knowledge people share on here is hard learned and even if no one else is grateful I know I am. i will bow back out and watch and learn somemore.

At the risk of sounding callus I have to ask. If the weight of a truck would flatten them don't you think they'd be flat when you pulled them off the truck?

Wpearson, I saw the same graphics last night while looking. I think it was in a different magazine though. I actually found a few after frosty reminded me I was using the wrong name. I'm looking at making one with some features I've seen in several different ones I found last night. Features like bolt on front pieces over the dies and I'm thinking about putting a return spring and a couple other things. My notes are at the house and I'm not so I don't remember all I was thinking about. i will probably do one of frostys helpers too just because I could always find a use for it and could definitely use the practice. Back to my original question, I did some looking and some of the welder manufactures have a few projects on their sites I'm gonna give a try. Things like a trailer dolly, which is nothing more than some square tubing welded together at a 45 with another piece at the point welded perpendicular for an axle. One of the uprights has a handle the other a trailer ball. I also saw an adjustable grill frame for open fire cooking that looked pretty easy. now I'll have to find some non zinc coated fasteners to be able to weld. thanks for the suggestions so far guys, looks like I have enough ideas now to last a couple months.

Yep that could be why I'm confused, I'm using the wrong name. Now that I've been reminded what I'm lookin for I'll do some more searchin. i swear I'm startin to feel old some day the way I can't remember anythin. Lol

Ok, I guess I was asking about something else. You just described a 'hired hand' lol and I was asking about the handy looking tool with the top and bottom interchangeable dies (cutters fullers etc.) im thinking about the stand too since I work alone and can't hold a top tool and a hammer and the work.

Can someone suggest an idiot proof template for a blacksmiths helper I could weld up? I've seen bolt together kits and seen welded versions but no pattern to go by. tomorrow after work if I have time im goin to weld up a water shut off tool usin some scrap I have and make a list of what all scrap I actually have. arkie, I've read over you list a couple times and defintely will try a couple small yard tools in the next few days. I'll give them to my wife and see if she can break them (she has a way of breaking things I never knew could be broken lol).

Ac only on this one. It's an northern industrial (I think) and goes up to something like 200 amps. I don't know if I'll ever actually need that much power but I guess it's good to have it anyway.

I don't have a torch, maybe one day. I have thought about a grill but wasn't sure if I wanted to tackle that yet. My welds are definitely ugly btw. next time I buy some rods I'll find me some 7018 to try. I'm gettin a little tired of the splatter from my 6011.

I have an old stick welder someone gave me last year that runs 110 or 220 and I learned the basics on 110 now I'm on 220 and learning a few things I didn't know. I can wel 2 pieces of 3/8 plate together and can weld a piece of 1/4 to 2" square tubing with 1/8 thick walls. I can weld billets together for forge welding and can weld handles onto them as well with little trouble. Sometime I burn through the small stuff but I'm getting to where I don't do it much any more. Right now my rods are 6011 and I'm comfortable with them and what I can do with them. I'm just looking for a little more practice.