bcarroll_us

Was out helping a friend and spotted some old steel in a building falling in next to his shop. After getting the story on the building and settling on terms I gathered several pieces and took back to my buddies shop to try to see if it'd be useful. As it turns out, it's all wrought iron, not the mild steel I thought it was. It's a shame really, seeing this building full of giant old heart pine and wrought pieces here and there just crumbling. I made a deal to salvage some of it, but using the wrought is out of my league. Maybe I can find someone around the Mississippi or south east area with an extra post vice that'd rather have some cool old metal to play with - because as hard as I've looked, one of those escapes me, but this hundred year old out of production iron fell right in my lap haha.

Frosty, good info and I completely get it. Very well said. I found and tried a pretty small bell pein hammer and got a good response. Also, for kicks a took a photo with the hammer laying on it to play with the perspective... Is it a giant anvil or small hammer (assuming you don't know anything about English hundred weight, anvils, etc)? As promised, I think the results of the ball bearing test were good. I took and posted a video if any of you would confirm my findings, but it looks like 85-90% or so pretty much across the whole face. The video ends pretty neat too in my opinion, but I won't spoil it. Let me know w that you think!

After quite a bit of wire brushing, some ATF and a little chalk she's pretty but ready for some hot steel For future reference to anyone that comes across this post researching, I found out that the missing "Solid Wrought" under the PETER WRIGHT PATENT stamp dates this one as manufactured between 1852 and 1860 (Second hand info from Anvils in America by Postman - of course) Pretty neat to own something besides the dirt and rocks out in the yard that predate the Civil War. I'll check back in once I find a ball bearing, but a second round with a larger ball peen (pein) hammer has me convinced it's sound. How "alive" it felt really surprised me - though I admit I may just be biased/smitten. I spotted another stamp I haven't been able to get definitive info for. It's an 8 under the horn (see pic). I've read speculation that it may have been an inspectors number/approval but I thought I'd see if any of you knew more surely, just for curiosities sake.

ThomasPower more specifically I was taking about going to be telling someone about my first PW but I'd love to see your setup! I tried to get a few more photographs of that spot in better light. It looks solid to me but I'm open to the opinions of more educated eyes.

Haha, Realtree, unfortunately I can't take credit for that one. I took those when we got back to my buddy's house. Funny catch though. Frosty thanks for the welcome and cautious eye. That's certainly one of the spots that had me considering having it worked on, though for different reasons. I'll definitely look more closely at it. ThomasPowers thanks.. I'm hoping to be in a similar spot in a few decades!

ThomasPowers it was $200, I'm in middle Mississippi. Also, VERY good suggestion on the dampening stand or even ear plugs I guess. Daswulf, yeah that's a great point and suggestion. Thanks

Daswulf, hey thanks, I forgot to mention the markings, but you are correct it does say Peter Wright Patent. It doesn't have the circular "Solid Wrought" stamp I've read is usually on the Peter Wright anvils. Not sure what that's about, maybe someone here does or I'll figure it out as I read more. Regardless, I'm looking forward to putting it to use! ThomasPowers I haven't come up with a ball bearing yet, but a ball peen hammer gives an ear piercing ring across it. Hopefully once I can come up with a bearing I'll be able to come up with a more solid examination. As the pictures show, there are some pretty rough spots along the sides but I don't know I want to change it though.

I've been in shops my whole life but am just getting to the position to try to put my own together and broaden my skill set. I fumbled my way into being able to take a trip to an out of town scrap yard with a buddy yesterday and came across this anvil at what I thought sounded like a decent price. Unfortunately we were pressed for time and I was a little uneducated about how to really examine it so I took what I thought was an educated gamble. After we got home I've done some reading and think I'm ok but I'm curious if I should look into getting the edges cleaned up or "restored" (I'm leaning toward no for what it's worth) and any other info or suggestions the crowd here has outside of "heat up some metal and put it to use!" I just took a wire brush to it to knock some of the pollen and dirt off of it before the pics. I'm sure a cup brush on an angle grinder and some oil would help tremendously.