Smoggy

Over the years, there have been many tools, Stick welder, compressor, vice, lathe, bench grinder, angle grinder, etc.........but in recent years one piece of equipment has become absolutely indispensable to me..... .....my 2x spectacles....!

I agree with the above, a file is a tool you will get lots of life out of even if it's seen better days when you get it, you can't have too many files........clean them up fit handles.

What you need to do is add a location to your profile, as advised in the first reply to your first post.

...hypotheticaly? ...it would be the wife who became the millionaire...!

Hypoteticaly, I would buy the one I have for $3000 after I gift it to the wife!

The trouble with hammers is, they are often used for differing reasons by different owners so identiy can be vague, I recently viewed a current manufacturers catalogue, which listed my welders chipping (slag) hammer as a tinsmiths hammer, their version of a welders hammer being a totally different shape. although mine is the shape I have been familiar with welders using since my days as an apprentice. The OP's hammer shape could be as useful to a tin or coppersmith as it could be to a prospector, geologist or mountain climber! Had you item been found in it's original setting, maybe with a collection of rocks, climbing equipment or whatever, then you could have probably made an educated guess and likely have been spot on the money, however once removed from it's surroundings that additional information is lost. Hence why archeologists dislike metal detectorists. Whatever it's original purpose was, it's now a blacksmiths "specialty" hammer, of unknown origin and age...............swing it well. ( P.S. my old chipping hammer is being cleaned up redressed, reshafted and reassigned to my cold metal work .......)

A few decent photo's wold be good, so people can make considered comments.......

No wonder, nobody can find an anvil, this guy is hording them all....!!!!!!! LOL That's one impressive collection.

Third attempt to post.......maybe if I keep it short this time..... Medical advice is lots of water, preferable cool, clean and flowing. Seek treatment if needed. I tend to take notice of medical advice, although other things may work they may also add additional hazards. I've take the first aid courses throughout my life, had cause to use them on a few occasions, only ever saved one life though....mine! That worked, now for the addition edit: My father related the apply heat method to me years ago, he was a war time transatlantic stoker, so engaging in the longest battle of the war he got involved in more than his fair share of high pressure steam, fuel oil and flash burns! It does work but not for anything remotely serious and over doing it will cause further harm.........hence it is not a method I ever relate to anyone. The flour, another old wives tail! Granted, the flour you are using is cold and the temperature will have a beneficial effect, but so does water. I have first hand experience of flour being applied to burns, which blistered, burst, and the flour entered the would......never did heal properly even after the skin grafts! Relaying ad hock treatments is not a good idea, not only can these alternatives case more pain and longer recovery times but in extreme cases loss of life or limb. Not to mention adding complications the medical staff to deal with. I refer all to my opening paragraph.....take a first aid course and follow it!

Tools, make some tools.....that's what I do, then obviously I have to make something using the tool.....for the most part my materials are old auto parts, as I have plenty of SAP (spent auto part) stock.

Wrapping stock around itself seems to be a fairly straight forward operation, so I presume I am missing your intention somewhere......Gary Huston does a nice woven handle in one of his vids, maybe not exactly what you seek but the technique should apply.

Now there's a gem of wisdom!

There's not a great likelyhood of any certain identification or even date, many swage blocks would have been made by small foundries used to service other local industries, and may well have either been cast to order for a clients specific needs or produced ass oddment castings to use up a pour. With a bit of luck you may be able to narrow it down to a known style rather than specific pattern and therefore an area or country of origin. The hollow back is a a feature I've not seen much previously and may be a good indicator of origin. However, regardless of the above, hope you get a lot of use out of it.

John, can you please refrain from demonstrating to ll and sundry how useful the humble fly press can be......at least until I get my hands on one, ebay prices are silly enough as is....! "...complete with a very nice table..." Bonus! it just gets better! I suspect you'll be looking at tooling next......

Here's the site I was thinking of, can't believe I couldn't remember it's web addy...... http://swageblocks.com/index.htm

Looking at the first pictures It reminded me of some Canadian SB, but then seeing the pic of the back I wonder if it could be english as I know we did make some hollow backed types......I was looking at some sites only recently.....I'll see if I can find a link that may help you.

I hate to say it, but I told you so.......

Get the surfaced cleaned up so you can gvie it a decent inspection for faults (cracks), also the top looks to be welded on, difficult to tell from the photo's in it's current condition. The hardy hole may be usable, but as you are unlikely to have and hardy tools yet it's not a primary concern and I see you have a vice anyway so you could use that to hold tools. If all else fails, as a starter anvil you could always lay it on it's side and use other faces to work on where appropriate. But for the time being, clean it up, you may find a mark on there somewhere yet. It'll be easier to judge what if any areas areas of the face are usable or not. I'd not be in any hurry to start any renovations.....you may find you can live with a lot of it's imperfections, and something else may turn up a lot cheaper than the cost of renovating.

Gary Huston does a good build video, well worth a watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh9TDVDm93s .....and a follow up using it.

Welcome to both the forum and the craft catdriver, Please add a location to your profile, you'll then find others in your area who will almost certainly be able and willing to help you along. As for the avnil, it looks sorry for itself in the photo, but if you can post more pictures of it and some detail information then there are those here who can offer wise advice. At a guess, I would not be surprised if it can be used as is to good effect for the time being.

If you just work hot irons on the stump end, it'll virtually dish itself, you can then clean out the char with a wire brush. Alternately a flap wheel in an angle grinder, start with a rough chiseled dint if you like. All depends what tooling you have on hand,

Drilling and tapping shouldn't be a problem, you would want to opt for a heavy stud and thread, have you got any big taps available? Bolting through as Buzzkill has eluded would be easier as you can use proprietary threaded bolt/nut. Which ever way you chose, you'll no doubt need to clean up the base as I doubt (the photo's don't show) it's a nice level, clean break.

Gvien that you will require some sort of stand anyway, why not simply make a timber stand to "craddle" the anvil from hardy hole to horn step (heavy planking on end). A couple or so lugs fixed the side of the anvil to ensure it stays put and doesn't rock, Least effort for a useable result! If you have the skills and equipment you could completely refurbish it, but I would consider either attempting it or as a viable option. Shame to see an anvil in such a condition!

All of the above..... and without seeing your process, is it possible you could have stressed the cracked area whilst cooler when working on the other end or even forming the eye? Do you think you may have worked that area too narrow, cracked or not? One has to accept that repurposed material such as this may well have had a hard life and brings with it inherent flaws, it's all part of the learning game. Put it aside start a new one and compare them when the jobs complete, I think you will find your next attempt will already show an improvement to your eye, and sooner or latter you find another little task for that MK l. Shame though, it was off to a goof start!