Conrad.blacksmithing

Cool work everybody! I like the chime CGL.

I forged a knife today. Unlike others I kind of just started forging rather than drawing it up. A lot of things would probably go smoother for me if I started by drawing them out lol.

I would not worry about the price. The joy alone of having a tool with such history behind it is priceless. You will enjoy learning more about Mousehole Forge as you do more research. The area alone in which these anvils were made is anvil-history rich.

I am no expert, but since I would not have enough money to buy another anvil, I would at least put some weld in that crack. It would deaden my spirits if my horn fell off. But take this advice with a grain of salt.

That is a very beautiful Hay-Budden Crazy. I have one that is 82 pounds. What is the serial number on the foot under the horn? This will help with finding the manufacture date.

Thank you Jasent.

That hammer really needs to be dressed! Chip waiting to happen!

Yesterday I finished my first cross peen hammer. I have never ground the sides of the faces, but I really like the contrast it makes.

Thanks! Hammers are my sort of obsession.

Right at 3lbs. 

Cool rose Eventlessbox! 

I forged my first cross peen today. I always find it a challenge to get the troughs lined up perfectly. 

Here are the forgings from the day. I kind of messed up on the crane as I watched the how-to video last night and tried to make it from memory. Also did my first basket twist!

This is not about my dad wearing his wedding ring for a long time... but yesterday I practiced on some leaf keychains. Still need practice on getting the stems the same length.

Your anvil could be a Wilkinson Dudley... I am no genius but is has the same feet and horn....even the heel is short like a Wilkinson. Don't count on me though

I *believe* that A&H was an American anvil company. It looks to have a welded steel face plate. Very good condition! I don't know as much about the history of A&H as Hay Budden but that is a very nice anvil! I hope you make many great things on it.

Thanks Crazy goat lady. They are very fun to make.

I finished up a 4lb rounding hammer that has the twin head to another 3lb rounder I made recently. 

Yes the drive shaft will work. Just save up money to get an anvil as you go.

I did the exact same thing you are doing when I started. I really wanted to grow in blacksmithing but I was pretty broke so I couldn't afford an anvil. So I went to the machine shop and bought a 130lb drive shaft (7 inch diameter). Yes it was not very hard and there was no hardy or horn bug I made everything from hammers to hooks o that thing. I waited saved and eventually bought a new anvil. I now use that drive shaft as a striking anvil. 

You would be surprised how much you can do on a flat metal surface without a horn. I also will add that the anvil I bought was the NC cavalry (112lb, very good quality) and this is sufficient for working larger stock despite what some would say would require a larger anvil. 

Whatever choice you make, I hope it benefits you to the fullest.

Thomas, that is a great idea! I never thought of that and yes there looks to be enough to cut off and make a straight or cross peen. 

Here is my 82# Hay Budden. It isn't mounted yet because I'm currently working on a 112# NC Tool anvil (bottom of anvil tree). My dad's vulcan is in the middle of the tree.

Cool anvils Bubbadreier!

I finally bought my first bag of coal to burn in the forge (I've been burning wood...not so good) and punched a couple hammer billets. I didn't realize how fast coal heats up steel and burned a side of one billet. It will just be practice. Got my Kerrihard trip hammer mostly put back together and greased. Also made a leaf for the first time in forever.

Lol. I heard that you are looking for a hammer. I am a toolmaker trying to get in the business. If you're interested just send me a PM so I can show the hammers I make.

Pinto, very nice anvil! I hope you make many fine tools on it!

Happy hammering

On 10/5/2019 at 6:08 AM, Smed72 said:

I am actually looking for a bigger anvil than 170 cause theres a lot of agricultural machinery scrap lying around in my area that I can reforge, some of it is big and needs to be hammered on pretty hard.

I dont think anvils are so common here, good new ones are extremely expensive, for example a German drop forged Ridgid Peddinghause 75kg (165lb) will cost you around $3500, that is about 2 times the cost in the US from my researches.

I have a 112# NC anvil and I have forged 1.5" and 2" stock 75% of the time i have had it. Before i got this anvil, I also thought that I needed a big anvil. I hope that you are not forging stock over 2" by hand. 170lbs is the most you will need for forging by hand in my opinion. Others prefer a big anvil but I have grown to enjoy the ability to lean over my anvil and utilize more of the face. 

Thank you once again Irondragon! I always love learning about the history of tools.

Yes, I saw that thread earlier. The photos don't load for me. I just cant put together how my power hammer would break so much and have to be completely forged and rebuilt. Pretty unique, I think.