Timber Ridge Forge

Doesn’t look like it will be used for blacksmithing the way it is. So enjoy it I personally would never buy a freshly painted anvil.

That’s a beautiful mosaic. My father was an archaeologist. I once went on a Native American dig with him. I got admit as a kid it wasn’t nearly as cool as I think it is now. 

Man you made my day. I went to college and Ancient Rome was my main focus of study. I would suggest checking out a book called .

Artefacts in Roman Britain: Their Purpose and Use edited by Lindsay Allason-Jones

The book has some great historical information on Roman anvils.

I know boiling copper in vinegar does the trick when I am working it not sure if it would have the same effect on stainless.

Not sure if this qualifies but I made this guy because I couldn’t find one to fit my 1 1/3” hardy hole.

The anvil is a great beginning anvil. Unless your an experienced welder. I would suggest not messing with it. The fact is you will more then likely to more harm then good

Several over the years although they are uncommon they aren’t 1 of 1 custom made hay budden anvils. 

Thanks Thomas! 

This came with the hog tongs and everything else.

what is it? 

I am a 6”3 Big old softy when it comes to animals. I am also a realist so I get the purpose back in the day just still feel bad(especially when I saw the diagram of its usage). 

Yikes! Just read about them seems rather Cruel but who am I to judge. 

Here are a few more photos 

Gotcha thanks guys. It was something I noticed literally it was among about 20 tongs so I appreciate the information.

I picked up two of these in a lot of tools my guess is for a farrier but would love to know

Yeah this was a lucky find but it was 120miles outside of Chicago near Madison wi. I really didn’t need everything. I learned long ago buy everything you see. I plan on keeping the block and selling the rest. It’s hard to justify spending this much on a tool after the holidays any other way.

So I always say patience pays off. I ended up agreeing to buy most of the contents of an old farm blacksmith shop. 

The block is 16x16x4

Unfortunately I didn’t ego’s can prove to be the Internet blacksmith down fall dude you seem to have a problem I don’t understand. I said it “might” a poor quality cast iron anvil can still last a life time and high quality anvil can have casting flaws so maybe take it down a notch there frosty. I never said it was the case 100% of the time 

I dumbed it down! Too much? 

A couple factors go into the life of an anvil but the main ones are proper usage if someone has no clue what they are doing uses it. It might not last a life time. The next is quality a poorly made cast iron anvil might not last as long as a high quality cast steel. Other factors include size and environment. The fact is a quality anvil used right and taken care of should last multiple life times. 

So I have started casting some stuff in my shop in my forge. I have wanted to install some better ventilation regardless of the casting. I have never really had a problem before hand as I can open the doors and get some good air flow also have a filteration system I turn on normal when grinding or any situation where stuff is flying but this stuff is just nasty. I have two vents on the roof was thinking of installing an old stove range hood with fan to some stove pipe. The question is? Is this an adequate solution and two what’s the recommend height from the forge. I plan on building a portable foundry so this is more for the forge in the future. 

I find I need 3 anvils 

1- large shop anvil

1- clean shop anvil normally with better edges and for when a student is in my shop. I let them use the shop anvil and I can still work

1- smaller anvil for demonstration as I get older 150lbs plus anvils suck moving around and unloading 

Here are a few I picked up this year 

54LBS Hay Budden 

Date: 1895

SN: 17175

19.25”L x 11”FL x 7.25”BL x  6”BW x 2.5FW x 7.5”H

Hardy: 1”

Pritchel: .5”

Horn: 6.5”

Step 1.6”

101LBS Hay Budden 
Date: 1912
Sn: 199429
22”L x 13”FL x 9”BL x  8.25”BW x 3.75”FW x 9.5”H
Hardy 1”
Pricher .5”
Step 2”

100lbs Hay Budden blackjack 
Date: 1901
Sn:73364
22”L x 13”FL x 9”BL x  8”BW x 3.75”FW x 9.75”H
Hardy .75”
Pricher .5”

161lbs Hay Budden 

29.5”L 17.25”FL x 10.75”BL x 9.75”BW 11.75”H x 3.75”FW Hardy 1” Pritchel holes 2x 3/4”

Hay budden 350ish had some serious damage 
 35” length 
5.75 face w 21” length 
13” height 
12” base 
1.5” hardy
Sn 1349
Made in 1892

Have you ever seen an old chrome bumper? When they rust? The problem is if you have any separation between the iron core and chrome water will basically eat away the iron. I suspect that anvil got serious issues hidden underneath. I would never trust anything plated.  

I had a guy send me photos of what he thought was a Swedish anvil. He wanted to two swage blocks it trade. I was told it’s was around  250lbs. Clearly he had no clue what it was but I was curious. So when I first saw the photos. It hurt my brain turns out it’s a Hay Budden that was given to the guy he got it from. It was a retirement gift from the shop he had worked at for many years. They thought they would chrome plate it for him.

I would personally pass at $350 I believe you can find something better. I believe I have seen photos of that anvil and it’s been available for a while.