GrumpyBiker

Mine is getting close to being finished 

I'm getting started but have a spinal injection scheduled today.

Picked up some steel yesterday for the banding.

I hope to get started drilling, bolting & gluing up the base on Saturday.

Until then I'll just keep looking at all the eye candy on here.

That fellow you have there has an impressive horn.

But is it flat on both sides?

Or is it conical shaped where it touches the jaws / legs ?

Or do they start flat on both sides & eventually contour to the vise over time with use?

Theres not a lot of schematics out there .

Okay I gotta ask, why boiled linseed oil on metal ?

I mean why not some other kind of oil ?

I hear it being referred to all the time for use to protect metal but why it over any other option ?

Well I've finished with all the cleaning & damage removal I'm going to do.

I will continue to work slowly to remove the marks from the face but it's time to build a base and put this old fellow back to work.

Boiled linseed oil being applied.

38557 

I mis-posted 33557 and was told 1918 but when I went back thru my pics o realized I'd mistakenly posted the wrong serial number.

Mine is 38557

My wife & I stopped exchanging gifts 10 years ago but she mentioned buying the AIA book this year for Christmas.

its taken all my strength not to just order  this book & hide it !

Kent & Jackies ... I know the owners, can't remember the shops name.

(they can source items for you)

.... Antiques Trading Post, Berlin Ohio

This is the best I can do Map Quest wise.

The prices & selection used to be amazing here.

Kent & Jackie turned the managing over to an Amish family & im sad to say it's about half as good now.

Evidently the rent for the booths (its like an indoor flea market) is still pretty low for the area as the prices aren't horrible.

This used to be our go-to spot but no longer.

It is still a very interesting shop with lotsa good eye candy & 10% off for cash purchases .

On 9/4/2018 at 1:36 PM, Daswulf said:

Nice score on the Arm and Hammer. Shame about the torch mark but atleast its just on the tail end. 

 

A shame ?!?

I wish mine had that much left !!

His shoulder to hammer head location is like mine.

I'm jealous, I live in Ohio, lived in Worthington (suburb of Columbus) prior to the Corps.

These were made by Columbus Anvil & Forge .

I initially thought & was led to believe that my anvil may have been a Hay-Budden.

I'm actually quite pleased that it's a local anvil given where I live.

I didnt know they weren't as plentiful as others.

Im trying to learn all I can about these anvils but I've yet to buy the AIA book.

I've returned to this thread for inspiration while dressing the surfaces of my new (1st actual / legit ) Anvil.

While I'm anxious I am also wanting a stand that's visually interesting as well as fully functional .

Im a woodworker & sign carver (by hobby)

the blacksmithing aspect is for the purpose of not having to buy / order items I want . Rather I would be able to make what I need for a project , drawer pulls , cabinet door handles, gate hinges, curtain hold backs (the wife has her lists)  vs buying / ordering stock Chinese made crap and adjusting my designs to fit the purportions of what's available.

also I'd like to become proficient in making sign brackets for the signs I carve vs buying bland black painted stuff.

So that's what's brought me to the dark side !

I'll admit to being sucked in to the historical aspect of this form of production .

Much like carving, Blacksmithing is still so hands on & skill heavy that it calls to the creative person like a siren from Homers Odessey.

I'm in, the bug has bitten. 

I feel like an info sponge, "Feed me Seymour" !

***the surface restoration begins & the horns is there***

4 hours ago, G-ManBart said:

AIA says 1918.

Thank you so much !

Anyone have a copy of AIA and be able to tell me the date of this anvil ?

serial number 33557

As it was when I brought it home

Naval jelly doing its job.

I stumbled upon this Anvil at a Junk-tique shop in Amish Country this weekend.

I couldn't make out the stamping on it but the tag said "160lbs anvil" .

Pretty vague but I've been reading everything I can find in hopes of not making a mistake and buying a junk or damaged anvil.

They had a price of $595 on it but I was able to get it for $530 ($3.31 per pound)

After I bought it a couple customers at the shop said they thought it was a Hay-Budden .

Turns out to be an Arm & Hammer the serial number is 38557.

The edges looked really good , only a couple nicks, but I wanted to get all the surface rust off to look for any defects especially cracks.

Didnt find any and I'm actually feeling pretty good about this purchase.

The price aside , as in your area it might cost more or less, what do you folks think ?

I'm sure you've seen more of these than I have.

* I've included a close up of the 3-4 edge issues.

I haven't touched it with a grinder or Flap Pad just naval jelly & wire brush.

This chunk of metal welded on the front & back appears to have been a mounting strap that they cut when removing it from its mount.

Does that sound right?

Or does that look like what its purpose was?

It was the best guess of the Amish & English who were eyeballing it after I bought it.

Yep, Arm & Hammer !

I'll post a new thread over in the Anvil section with s bunch of close ups & would like folks opinions on this.

21 hours ago, Daswulf said:

From what I see now it almost looks like an arm and hammer. Or something. Either way looks like a good one.

You may very well be correct.

I have home & am applying some naval jelly.

It would appear that the Junk-tique shops out here also are decent places to get blacksmith things.

This seller had 6 anvils today.

(One less now that I bought the 160lbs Hay-Budden he had).

But there's often blacksmith things for sale that are mis-labeled.

Looking thru these type places I feel like I'm playing a real life version of "Where's Waldo "!

1 hour ago, Daswulf said:

From what I see now it almost looks like an arm and hammer. Or something. Either way looks like a good one.

Saw this just after reading your post.

I'm anxious to get it home & cleaned up.

We'll see if some naval jelly will reveal anything.

I've been looking but had about given up hope of finding a decent antique anvil at any price I'd be willing to pay.

 But today at an Antique shop owned by a couple we know I stumbled upon a 160lbs Hay-Budden .

It was tagged at $595

I paid $530 so $3.31 per pound and the edges and face are really nice.

I'm out in the motorhome this weekend so it's sitting in the trunk of the car we tow.

I'll get better pics once we get back home & I get this thing in my shop.

I will say this, if we get a flat I'm gonna need help getting to that spare !

20 hours ago, ausfire said:

Grumpy, that is one cool opener. Nice finish - mild steel or high carbon? I like the tab idea. The dimple is different from the usual style. Inspirational. What was the starting stock?

Started with 3/16 x 3/4 flat stock 5.5"-6" long

17 hours ago, ThomasPowers said:

The wood ones look like they should go with an old school wooden bar.  I'd have to use corian as the folks I know keep dropping them in the washtub full of ice!

I had a guy send me a set of Colt 1911 grips. Said he wanted to see if I could do something with them .

So I guess that's my next project.

They're the polymer ones instead of wood.

Finished my second attempt at a wood handled opener.

 I gotta admit I really like making these.

I'd really appreciate a photo & as many dimensions you could provide for the thrust washer(?) between the handle & the forward jaw. 

Mine didn't come with one so I'll have to make one . 

Daswulf, thanks for the pics.

Now I see what that hole in the post is for.

On 8/9/2018 at 10:02 PM, Frosty said:

 You really need to try a vertically mounted rail anvil some time.

Frosty The Lucky.

I'm currently shopping for a 70-100lbs anvil.

After visiting Yoders Blacksmith Supplies I've begun to narrow my search.

I do need to make a new Spring for my leg vice. I received a full leaf spring assembly so I don't have anymore excuses...

Thank you .