Irondragon Forge ClayWorks

You might want to edit your post and remove the quote to stay on the moderators good side. The quote feature

I think you have a Swedish Northern Star anvil. If you do a search on your favorite search engine like this swedish star anvil site:iforgeiron.com I got 77 hits. Here is one. https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/48016-swedish-star/

Have you looked into "crowd funding", how short are ya on funds?

According to AIA your Hay Budden was made in 1900 and the pock marks were caused by a previous smith testing the hardening of the punches he made (common practice). A fine anvil indeed, hope you have read about not doing any grinding, milling or welding on the hardened face. How is the ring and rebound?

When we mixed it according to directions, it was the consistency of a castable, not thin like a wash and it hardened like concrete. Don't know if you remember this ( or maybe I never posted it) when I added the balance of the 5 lb sack to make a flat floor. It's about 3/4 inch thick in the center.

Look under the Refractory Coatings tab.

I don't think it is heat rated high enough for use in forges, so I wouldn't use it.

Welcome aboard Garreck. Wish it could be under better circumstances. As has been said we will help you with the value and how to sell his shop. IFI has a Tailgating section that you could list items there, just read the rules before posting. Like Dick said tailgating at a club meeting is probably the best approach.

OK, you have peaked my interest. I just measured the kettle and it's 21 inches in diameter and 13 inches deep. According to a kettle volume calculator (love Google). It will hold 19.49 gallons. That is 156 pounds + the 100 pounds for the kettle for a total weight of 256 pounds. Pretty good for a 3/8 piece of scrap rebar. Here is a close up of the ring.

High Temperature Tools & Refractory is where we bought it, that was from their site.

Welcome aboard, I suggest reading this to get the best out of the forum. READ THIS FIRST Also reading through the sticky Forges 101 will help you in building your forge. this thread is especially helpful. https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/61288-my-consolidated-notes-for-new-forge-builders/

It can be forge welded without flux. The ring of this kettle stand was (didn't refine the weld) but it has held since 3/2017 with the 100 U.S. pound load and when the kettle is full of water no idea of the weight.

Where the JWJ is stamped, I would say probably a prior owners initials/mark, doubt it's a maker mark. That's merely a guess on my part. Undoubtedly it looks like an excellent anvil. How is the ring & rebound? All it needs is hot steel pounded on it to make the face shine.

A Blacksmith makes Tools, Tools do not make a Blacksmith. ~swedefiddle

Yep...

That was a great launch, not quite as spectacular as the Saturn 5 or space shuttle launches though.

This is what we ordered, took a 5 pound bag to give 3/8 inch all around and a flat floor in the 20 pound propane forge. "Bubble Alumina Refractory Coating: Highly flux resistant! This material works really well for coating an Inswool lined forge for protection against flux when forge welding. This is one of the most flux resistant coatings we have found to date! - 3300 degree temperature rating - 2.5 # bag is enough to do the floor in a 12" vertical forge (3/8" recommended thickness) 84# per cubic foot (1728 cubic inches) 2.5 pound bag - $17.00 5 pound bag - $32.00 20 pound bag - $120.00"

Also the poster hasn't logged in since 2013. Might try sending a PM to see if he will answer. In the mean time, I suggest reading this to get the best out of the forum. READ THIS FIRST

Nice job on your first chisel.

A picture of how the bellows is mounted will help. Probably needs cross bracing.

To upload pictures they need to be resized by 50%.

I will ring the anvil in the garden three times to ask for comfort to be sent to family and friends.

Yep, and a darned good looking one from the picture. If it passes the ring & rebound test it's worth it for sure.

Oh, I didn't include Vanyel in my search parameter, my bad.

The only place I can get it is my favorite auto parts store, been in business since around 1940 kinda like the old time hardware stores were, if you can't find what you want, there is a good chance it has been discontinued. I need the old Dexron for my '82 4X4 Chevy and '87 Cavalier Z24.