LeDrew

Very nice!

No-no, I understand! I never thought I'd find anything to get going with, it takes time and money (unfortunately) to collect the things you need in a reasonable time frame . Keep at it and it'll come together !

Nothing wrong with a Vulcan Anvil in good condition. I have a ~250lb Vulcan...it's a workhorse for most projects....I don't plan to weld grapnels or anchors on it (of any scale)...but it takes a hammering, gives good rebound, and conveniently enough - it's quiet. My Wilkinson (Dudley/Queens Crossing) is great, but repeated hours of hammering coupled with exhaust fans gives me a headache!

Thanks for the replies I bought the lot for $40.00, which if I had an avenue to sell them through, would make me a tidy profit. I had considered some type of art project, or decorative venture, I'll see what happens. They'll come in here and there for the odd plumbing project or something, but not something I'd do every day. I like the industrial wall hanging idea

Hey all, I've recently come across a large batch or 1.5" Malleable Iron lock-rings (nuts, threaded washers, depends who u are). I'm wondering if anyone out there has ever worked with malleable iron before? I know the rough details of it, it's a white cast iron, no good, etc,etc..... but I have been able to hot-cut, bend, twist, and shape one of these as a test. I found that at anything above a dull red or maybe up to an orange shade, it seems somewhat useable, above that it can crumble under the hammer. Any thoughts or experience with this? I have 675+ of these... So I'm hoping to make them useful in the shop beyond their original use, which I don't need them for. Thanks to anyone that can help!

I love it! ...Though I think your stand is worth aa much as the anvil, lol. How high is it?

Haha! yes, I am too... odd..

That's amazing, and awesome. I hope you have the time and resources to put it to good use. Of course, I have some anvil envy ... but it really just makes me happy to know someone has this and can help it keep working the way it was meant to. Thanks for sharing!

I should really activate my spell checker when typing with my phone. **fantastic I'd work around that chip unless you have an idea for a specific benefit from grinding it into a smooth shape (as minimally as possible).

That's a fantastoc find! Happy Forging !

I'd say more of a steal than a deal at that price! I'd love to get my hands on something like that! ....Then again, where would I put it? My work/storage/smithy area is a little crowded as it is! It's Beautiful piece of history, and a great treat to work on I'd imagine. Happy forging!

Yes, it's a swale we're talking about. Nothing too serious, but certainly obvious that it's been a working tool and not just a conversation piece. It's otherwise in great condition given its age ... or any other measure. I'll certainly give thought to keeping a wooden block and mallet around as well.

Yes, it's a swale we're talking about. Nothing too serious, but certainly obvious that it's been a working tool and not just a conversation piece. It's otherwise in great condition given its age ... or any other measure. I'll certainly give thought to keeping a wooden block and mallet around as well.

Thanks Frosty, I thought the same. I wondered if I might be better off with a small dip if straightening a blade, where bounce-back might be an issue on the *perfectly* flat surface of the Vulcan? I honestly didn't expect to find any anvils around here anymore, but I know a couple pickers that make it a point to call me first if they see anything remotely blacksmithing related. I bought this with intentions to hold it for a friend, unfortunately for him he cannot afford the cash right now, and I'm too much in love with it after holding it a couple days to let it go now, haha! I scooped it up for $400CDN. Much better deal than the $600 I paid for the Vulcan. As it turned out I later bought another Vulcan (identical save a few welding globs from an uneducated welder that used it as a welding block) for a friend at $350. I've started to realize that while there aren't many going up for sale, there's still a few around. Sadly, many will slowly rust away as lawn ornaments or as dust collectors in someone's rotting barn that they also don't use, just because they own it an you don't. I grieve.

My anvil up to this point has been a ~250lb Vulcan. Shown mounted on the block. Just picked up this Wilkinson's (Queens Dudley) (sitting atop the Vulcan), it has a bit of wear from heavy use (dip towards the heel when using a straight-edge reference on the plate) but is otherwise in great shape. ~225lb

I think I'm in the same mindset here. I'm also a Journeyman Electrician, and the while part about homeowners doing their own electrical doesn't make me think I'm losing money, I see my qualifications being needed further down the line when they get to a major reno, and I have to "make it right" after they "make it work". Then I get to charge extra, lol. But I think there are decent handyman out there, just simply not having the funds to afford my rates. Also, the part about a bigger blacksmithing section, I'm on board for that. Making hammers and tongs can be a time consuming step that you'll avoid to do a simple job.

I was always somewhat interested in Blacksmithing, but was always told it was a dead or defunct trade. I remember an old man that was a blacksmith in his younger days, he was in his 90's about 10 years ago. That's as close as I ever got apart from the movies. A couple years ago I saw an "instructable" on making a knife from a railroad spike... I figured there was little chance of finding the tools, or any railroad related items in this area, but it stuck. This spring I saw more and more of these projects online, then found old books on the subject, YouTube videos on the craft, and then I found myself with a new set of skills I just HAD to learn. I searched for weeks and found an anvil and a couple sets of tongs, built my own forge with some scrap materials (table from a cover plate from old switchgear from a power plant, hood from an old dryer drum and scrap sheet metal, legs we angle from old bed frames, tuyere from pipe that was once a basketball net support, brake drum from my old truck for the fire pot, and a small blower I found in a client's basement that they didn't want). After taking all that effort - I was hooked. A a side note - For my day job I'm an Electrical Contractor.