Irondragon Forge ClayWorks

There is a thread about Fisher anvils here. https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/37409-fisher/ Lots of good info about them. Yours looks to be in very good condition and only needs hot steel hammered on it to shine up the face. Any grinding, milling or welding on it will do more harm than good. Square edges are detrimental to good forging.

pnut If you have one of those self storage units close by and it's in your budget, might think about renting a small unit. We had a friend who had to do that years ago and the manager of the units let him forge outside the door in the open air drive. On the weekends he usually drew quite a crowd and even had other folks that rented hold yard sales there.

We won't remember that once leaving this post, hence the reasoning behind editing your profile to show location.

Sure enough we even have a section devoted to non-ferrous metal working.

It looks legitimate to me. If I recall right Trenton changed the look of their logo several times over the years. They even had one TREXTON in the triangle.

Of course if you need to build up muscles try this. My grandfather worked in a blacksmith shop when he was a boy, and he used to tell me, when I was a little boy myself, how he had toughened himself up so he could stand the rigors of blacksmithing. One story was how he had developed his arm and shoulder muscles. He said he would stand outside behind the house and, with a 5 pound potato sack in each hand, extend his arms straight out to his sides and hold them there as long as he could. After awhile he tried 10 pound potato sacks, then 50 pound potato sacks and finally he got to where he could lift a 100 pound potato sack in each hand and hold his arms straight out for more than a full minute! Next, he started putting potatoes in the sacks

I bought our Hobart MIG welder from a friend who had to have a pacemaker installed. No one told him not to use a welder and the first time he did he wound up in the ER because of using it. He was also advised then against using his plasma cutter for the same reason interference with pacemakers.

Early Vulcan anvils were made by the Illinois Iron & Bolt Co Carpentersville, IL. It may be stamped with II&B CO if it is one of theirs. It is a cast iorn body with a thin hardened steel face welded on during casting. I hope you have read about not doing any grinding, milling or welding on the hardened face which will do more harm than good. If it's in the hundred pound range a 10 should be cast into the base. I bought one in the early '80s and still use it. Mine weighs 110 pounds and the year made is also cast in 43 (1943). A lot of folks scoff at them but I love mine. Since getting the Vulcan, I have also picked up a 106 pound Hay Budden and a cast steel MP Farriers style anvil. Like Thomas said $325 is a little steep for one, I would offer $200 if I were interested in it.

Also be prepared to haggle, blacksmith's are famous for that.

Back in the '50s we would go out and find the best looking outhouse we could and with the owners permission, get it. Then on Halloween we would place it on the steps at city hall. The police would try and catch us but were always busy when we did the deed. By the early '60s the supply ran out and we had to resort to the new fangled porta potty. One year the police chief had enough of the foolishness and had every officer out on surveillance to catch us. That year the porta potty showed up at the front door of the police department.

I'll second that about uBlock Origin.

I think it looks just fine and bet your mother will cherish it.

This by way of Hetty Lang of NCIS fame. "Never mistake motionless for inactivity".

Welcome to IFI... We won't remember this once leaving this post, hence the suggestion to edit your profile to show it, so members don't have to ask you or scroll up to find it. From the pictures I've seen so far you definitely have some items that most blacksmith's will be interested in. There are some members here in the DFW area, if I were closer I'd probably help ya dig stuff out. From the picture with both anvils the blower looks like a Champion 400 and we are always looking for them, even if it's only for spare parts to rebuild one.

I like this fire pot, have used it and it's easy to build. Bob Patrick Firepot

When I enlarged the picture, it almost looks like they were punched from the back by a shaped chisel over a bottom tool (hardy) to forge the bullet shape. You would really need to have it in hand to see how it was made.

If you don't have a belt grinder, a 4 1/2 or 3 inch angle grinder will do it. Just have to go slow and be very careful of the rotation of the wheel so it doesn't grab the edge of the blade ( which is firmly held in a vise).

There is an old saying "If you believe you can or if you believe you can't---you are always right!" ThomasPowers

Here is a minion critter my wife made a while back, can't remember if I posted it or not. he keeps an eye on us in the forge.

For a first pair of tongs, you have done an outstanding job and should be proud of them.

I would go with a hand vise also. Seen one like that used in Gunsmiths shops.

We won't remember your location once leaving this post, hence the suggestion to put it in your profile. As far as the weight the numbers are the CWT of 466 pounds when it was made. Are you sure the first number is a 4? As far as value it depends a lot on if the anvil passes the "ring & rebound " test. I hope you have read about not doing any grinding, milling or welding on the hardened steel face. The slight sway and edge damage will not hinder the performance of that fine old lady in the least. Trying to "fix" it causes more damage than just using it. BTW typing in bold founts is frowned upon.

E6013 electrodes are easy to weld with all position, the only draw back is the metal needs to be clean (no rust) and they don't penetrate very deep so good on thin material.

My wife says, I think I know it all and she is right. Just can't remember it when needed.