Irondragon Forge ClayWorks

Welcome from the Ozark Mountains.

Hope you have just as good a time beating on hot steel as I do. It helps me relax after a trying day and troubles just seem to melt away. Although my PTSD is not as bad as a lot of folks, it does raise it's ugly head now and then.

Hope you and yours have a Happy and safe New year.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

Welcome from the Ozark Mountains.

Happy to have you on the forum and ditto what everyone has said.

Happy New Year and stay safe.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

It was late and I should have been clearer about how much weight the posts could hold, as George said compressive yield strength, without bending or having a catastrophic failure while supporting at least double the weight being lifted. I know folks that say if something will lift 1000 kg, I should be able to lift 1500kg with it. My brother (rest his soul) was like that.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

Hmm... 1000 kg is 2204 pounds if my calculations are correct. I would want to have posts that exceed that weight by at least double the weight for safety's sake.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

It's a very good looking vise. How is the screw & screw box? Made somewhere between 1905 and 1927, I think. Here is a link to the Co.

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=11508

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

If you do a search with your favorite search engine like this

Colombian vise site:iforgeiron.com there a few threads about them.

It looks a lot like one I have made in Russia but no markings on it except a tag riveted that said Made in Russia, although mine is a lot smaller at 55 pounds. I bought this one in around 1984 at a local farm & home store in Harrison AR. It really doesn't matter who made it if it passes the ring & rebound test's. At 165 pounds it should do everything asked of it.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

4 hours ago, JHCC said:

I don’t have a compressor

How can ya survive without one. That scaler looks a lot like one we used when I was in the USCG a lot of years ago.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

Welcome from the Ozark Mountains.

It would help to know where in the world you are located.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

Can't say that I have ever heard of them, might turn into an interesting topic, especially if someone who has a copy of AIA (Anvils in America).

Might help to know where in the world you are located.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

If you post some pictures especially if the anvil has any markings. That would also help.

Welcome from the Ozark Mountains.

An 1883 Fisher anvil can weigh anywhere from around 20 pounds all the way up to 6 or 7 hundred pounds. There should be a number cast into it indicating the general weight. an 8 would be 80 pounds +/- 10 or 100 would be 100 pounds more or less. A set of bathroom scales would confirm the weight. Also if you would post some pictures of it we could probably tell you and let you know about the condition of it.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

I agree with George N M and doubt any electrical field will cause the symptoms you have. My best advice is when you have them to call emergency services. If you are in the U.S. call 911. Even if the anvil you inherited is highly magnetized, it would not effect you in any way.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

Wonder if a regular cloths iron with downward pressure would work.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

On 12/1/2023 at 12:05 PM, BillyBones said:

I am a huge fan of Celtic/Irish music

Same here, in fact this is one of my favorites to hammer hot steel to.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

I no longer have my prescription safety glasses after having my Blacksmith cataracts removed and lens implants installed. I have to really think about putting on safety glasses now.

On 12/24/2023 at 11:15 PM, BigMikeC said:

help identify this Brooks anvil

What other than it's a Brooks and weighs 351 pounds when built did you need to know. The Brooks anvils have been discussed in a lot of threads, if you were to do a search on your favorite search engine like suggested in the Read This First thread you would get this. 507 results.

brooks anvil site:iforgeiron.com

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=brooks+anvil+site%3Aiforgeiron.com#ip=1

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Christmas for those who celebrate the holiday. So far it looks like Steve hasn't received any more items, hopefully some have come in and he just is a little busy to update the post.

I hope everyone has a safe New Years eve and happy prosperous New Year.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

59 minutes ago, Shainarue said:

I think you should try it. 

Well said.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

20 hours ago, Paul TIKI said:

Talk about tight turnaround 

It was about like that when I had my cataracts removed and new lenses inserted. About an hour prep with anesthesia, a short wait for the operating room, 15 min later in recovery and as soon as I could stand and walk with a little help out to the car and my wife drove me home.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

Yes the rotating light floated on the mercury, which acted as a bearing. The funny thing about cleaning the mercury was, the light station I was last stationed at had the last civilian light keeper in the USCG as the master. It was a family station and the keeper who was in his 80s and his wife, along with myself and my wife with two kids (who were both born while we were stationed there) were the only folks there.

When I was told the mercury needed to be strained, I wasn't told how heavy mercury was. When I removed the drain plug, holding the bucket with one hand the mercury came out so fast it took the bucket out of my hand and 50 pounds of mercury went down 133 steps to the main floor. It took me about three hours with a foxtail broom and dust pan to get all of the mercury back in the bucket and strained and back in the light in time for it to be lighted. Took me a while to live that one down.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

Very nice candle holder, sure beats my cattail. 

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

On 10/8/2023 at 12:43 PM, George N. M. said:

not so fond memories of Brasso and Blitz Cloth

When I was in the USCG stationed on light stations (houses) the main light's brass had to be polished every three or four months. It usually took all day and even with gloves, my fingers would bleed. To add insult to injury the 50 pounds of mercury the lights rotating bearing surface had to be drained and strained to remove any trash once a year.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

I'm pretty sure there are some pottery supply stores in your area, Up here there is a store over the Missouri line that stocks most of what we used in our forge.

I did a google search for "pottery ceramic supplies pike county ar" and three popped up around Little Rock.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

2 hours ago, Mothman_c3w said:

I am excited to see how she likes it.

I just showed it to Debi and she said "it's gorgeous, I want one". She said it looks like the steel cuff was fold formed and added. Think I will try and make one.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

A little shop envy, going on here.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus

I'm on the way to the Celtic garden to ring the anvil three times. Asking for comfort, healing light and a positive outcome during your procedure tomorrow.

I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.
Semper Paratus