Clover Saint

Very pretty!

11 minutes ago, jason0012 said:

In Cleveland look up Rose Metal industries. They are a huge multi generational forging shop that does a lot of modern fabricating

Thanks for this, I had no idea that was even around. Let alone relatively close to me. Cheers!

On 10/17/2019 at 8:02 AM, Fowllife said:

Are you a member of the WRABA (Western Reserve Artisan Blacksmith Association) or the NOB (Northwest Ohio Blacksmiths) Both of these groups would be much closer then SOFA for you and may be able to give you some guidance. Maybe get a hold of Cleveland Blacksmithing and see if they could use any more instructors?

I would start by joining the WRABA if you haven't already and go from there.

No I’m not. I’ll definitely be looking into it though.

Thanks Glenn! It really means a lot that you’ve offered this advice. Honestly I’m grabbing at any opportunity so I will surely go check that out. So I say thank you. 
 

-Sam

Dear I Forge Iron Community,

I’m a young smith, with multiple years of experience. And have for the past year and some months have worked in factory fabrication. Mainly C.N.C work with metal and composite materials. Recently I’ve truly decided and felt my creator leading me to pursue the craft full time. That said, this being the business side of blacksmithing, I was wondering if anyone needs/wants a helping hand. I’m located about 30 minutes from downtown Cleveland and am willing to commute up to an hour to do what I love. Hopefully I selected the right category for this proposal, if not I’m sure some one will let me know. This isn’t me promising anything grand, just hoping that this decision to try with all my might to go after that hunger for the craft pays off. Again not looking for much, just enough to get by, but mainly do what I love and help others while doing it. Hope everyone has a good day, cheers all.

-Sam

On 1/17/2019 at 11:07 AM, marcusb said:

I love that place. It was a long drive when I lived in NW Ohio and even longer now I am in the SE part of the state. I have not been there in over 5 years now! I'm glad to hear they are still up and running.

Yeah they’ve really expanded the shop, lots of new selections as far as old tools and wood. Always a pleasure going in!

It sure was! I enjoy getting out there every so often to check things out.

Evening all, found this post vice out at an Early America shop, it measures out at 5 1/2 inch jaws. The shop deals in black powder and all things a blacksmith could want. Just never anvils or vices that I’ve never seen until today. There was a real beat up 85 pound Mousehole for sale at a steep price, the face plate was non existent in certain spots. That being said I decided to bring the vice home with me. Never owned one before so any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers

11 hours ago, njanvilman said:

Made in Trenton, NJ from about 1852 to 1868.  They tend to be a bit brittle.  You anvil looks to have lost it horn tip at some point, and it was reground to shape. 

Yeah it was slightly repaired the description said, I wasn’t too worried about it since it wasn’t nearly as gnarled as my 100 Vulcans “horn” lol

13 hours ago, ThomasPowers said:

Hammer was probably used by a saw tuner.  Cute anvil but I wouldn't let a student with a sledge within 10 feet of it!

Haha, yeah I’m definitely going to have this one for my own personal use. Nothing too crazy just light work and finishing heats

I found this little 60 pounder on Etsy from another smith in the state. I have a thing for either small anvils, or gigantic monster ones. I have to get a decent stump for this one yet, my foreman said he might be able to find me a good oak log about 2 feet high. I’m really looking forward to trying this guy out, should be perfect for smaller things like bottle openers and such.

Included in the picture is a hammer from a barn out in Maine I found whilst perusing.

Cheers!

5 hours ago, njanvilman said:

Fisher Sawmaker's anvil.  If used for general blacksmithing, be very careful with hammering as the faces are very hard.  These were intended to be used to tune sawblades with the blade always between the anvil and hammer.  The anvil was always protected by the blade.

Yeah that much I know, really only intend it for certain things. Not necessarily a work horse.

Picked this 98, or 89 pounder up off of eBay earlier this month. Beautiful face in great condition. As far as measurements the face is 6x10, stands 5 1/2 inches tall. Really can’t wait to find a suitable stump for this beaut! Don’t mind the slight rust marks, they really aren’t deep, just surface gunk. And a quarter for comparison in the second photo.

Cheers all!

Just arrived today, 86 pounder made in 1899! Not the only anvil in the collection but definitely one of the coolest, the face is in great condition. Should clear up with a good brushing though.

Really dig the looks of all these, keep up the good work:)

They look nice! Reminds me of Apollo at the Forge of Vulcan by Diego Velázquez

So I've done the green stick test on the round stock. But I've never encountered wrought iron before so I'm not sure if this is or not. There's definitely a layered look to the grain though .

Just now, Frosty said:

Those are pretty generic stock size and shape, have you done a bend test to see if they're wrought? Cut half way through with a hack saw then bed it over in a vise, it it bends it's probably steel, if it snaps it's probably steel. However it it breaks like a green stick, fibrous and splintery looking, it's probably wrought.

Do the corroded pieces have a surface texture like wood grain? That's an indicator of wrought. 

Frosty The Lucky.

I haven't done the bend test yet, I was saving that one for last. And as far as the pattern it's hard to say. It's an orange peel texture on parts of it, and then on other parts it's as if nothing has happened other than some surface rust. As soon as I do the bend test though I'll for sure update.

So does anyone know for sure what material these are? I know it's a long shot, but I'm just looking for some reassurance.

5 minutes ago, JHCC said:

Are they the same as in the photo from the merged thread? If so, yes.

Yup, they're the same

Are they visible now?

    Hey everyone, I was wondering if anyone knew what material these two pieces are made out of. They are both from a wagon of unknown age, I believe the round stock is iron, possibly wrought? And the bar which is about 3/8 of an inch thick I have no clue on. I've spark tested them both and the sparks from the round stock were ranging from short to long in a reddish orange color, with two or so forks at the ends. The bar had a lighter spark with some forks at the end. Any help is appreciated, thanks all:)

     Hey everyone, I was wondering if anyone uses wagon parts for blacksmithing?

Yeah, I think that's what I'm going to do as far as securing it. And it measures 2 1/4 wide, 7 3/4 wide, and 12 inches long. These were taken at the striking face, the narrower of the two ends.

I just seem to get better rebound is all. Although, that could very well change once all the surfaces are cleaned up.

My intent was to use the long top face as the striking surface, but either one works. 

Thanks, that's sorta what I was thinking. Would pouring concrete around it, in something like a bucket, or metal wash tub work do you think?