Harley

very nice.

When I am finished for the day I cover my anvil with my leather apron.......seems to work very well for me.

It's like owning a Harley......you paid much more for it so in your mind it is better. BTW I have owned a Harley and now I ride a 1600 Kawasaki.........and I do own a Hoffi hammer.I use it less than the hammer I pais $24.00 for .

Valve spring compressor ?

HI ,
Here is a photo of my smithy which I built with the help of my neighbor and a few friends. I used mostly rough cut lumber from a local saw mill.

look on line for "Tejas smokers" I've gotten two different regulators from them one for my gasser and one for my deep fryer.

You need to hire a licenced electrician.....electricity is notning to work with if you are not absoulutely sure of what you are doing. It WILL kill you and has no regrets afterward.

I have heard people rave about the 450 lb. Nimba Gladiator. When the day comes that I buy a brand new anvil I may just go with the Nimba.

Sam , I have seen them on Ebay from time to time.

Here in Mass. I get it for $8.99 / 50 lb bag pallet qty. (50 -50lb bags) = 10% discount.

Hi Guys,
I have been toying with the idea of buying a Henrob torch. Has anyone here bought or used one ? I'd like as much input as I can get before I get serious about buying one. 
Thanks,
Harley

Yet another Bouquet od one dozen long stemed roses. Just finished this morning. Will add silk babies breath and touch up the paint. This is to be bartered for dozer and backhoe work to make a road out to the smithy.

If I was in the market for a NEW anvil (based on what I have heard from thoes who have bought new)I would go with either. Peddinghaus, Nimba (450lb), Rat Hole Forge, or Refflinghaus. Not sure if Refflinghaus is still being made.
I am currently useing a 289lb PW ........it is very nice but! if I had the $$ , Nimba is the way I would go.
Just my $0.02.
Harley

I FINALLY got around to making a bell from an 02 tank! It's not too fancy but I'll have pics soon. The question in my mind is what kind of finish, if any, to put on it. Rust wouldn't be the worst thing - though I'd have to accelerate the process - and I can always paint it, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this and any suggestions?
Thanks!
Joe
[/quote
I have made several bell from O2 tanks.......I am leting one rust now ( it is the doorbell for my shop with a cable running outside to ring it ) and I have painted others. Cold Galv. , Primer , Paint works for me.

What is the name of your blacksmith shop or business and what is behind the name if anything?

Mine is the " Iron Clad Forge ". Not too much behind the name. One day a few years ago when my son was in high school I was helping him with some research for a paper on the Civil War. When we came across info. on the iron clad war ships, I thought well, "Iron Clad" Forge would be a good name for my shop... Perhaps because the word "Iron"... I don't know.....

How about yours???

This is a rose I made today for my mom who is recovering from surgury.

Hi Bob,
I am in n. Central Mass on the NH border. I happen to have a 180 lb anvil and a couple blowers for sale, a welder a few vises and so on. I am in Royalston, Ma. You can call me at 978-249-6404 ask for Mark. I will be in the smithy most of the day Sat and Sunday . would be a good time to come and scrounge
Mark

In my state (Massachusetts) one would go to jail not only for being in possession of that blade but also for making it. Then again , everyone knows that everything is illegal in Massachusetts.

I did an interior railing job for a new construction. Brought the piece to the house to install and as it so happened the homeowner was there at the time. I placed the piece at the top of the stairwell while the homeowner watched from below. the rail was 1/2 in. too short width wise at the top and 1/4 in. too short at the bottom . The homeowner was not impressed at all. Embarrased , I brought thr railing out to my truck and told him I would return the next day with the railing finished right. Told him I needed to build a hydraulic rail streacher. I returned the next day and installed it with a perfect fit. He never once blinked an eye when I made the comment about the rail streacher.

As I was demoing at a craft fair in Harvard , Mass. I was approached by an elderly gentleman who said how much he enjoyed smithing. During the course of our conversation he stated that he was having probl;ems with his forge fire. To make a long story short I went to his home , cheched out his forge and decided to give him the one I had been useing at demos for the last 9 yrs. Attached is a photo of this gentleman (A retired Dr.) with the first fire in his new forge.

I recently made a bouquet of a dozen lomg stem roses for a customer