Chris C

Goat Lady, I'm a member of the Saltfork Craftsman Assoc. Good group. That's what our Thursday night group at the open forge is part of. We pound steel every Thursday. It's a long drive, but if you are ever up this way, let me know and I can give you the particulars.

Yup, I'm with you IFC, I've no neighbors who can help............but I do have a buddy in town who has just finished his forge and he'll help me if I need it, I'd think. Don't have any overhead lifting thingies. A small chain hoist would be nice but then I'd have to build an A-frame. If it's not one thing, it's another. Always building something or repairing something. Guess that's my lot in life.

Thanks, but as I said, I can lift it and if I'm worried about it, I've people nearby who can help. Besides, that would be a 2 1/2 hour drive each way for a 10 minute job.

Makes me want to run out and make a hinge...............and I don't even need one! Thanks for the link, Jennifer.

Oh, don't worry, Goat Lady, I'll be able to lift it..........it just won't be fun putting it up on a mid-chest high perch! Just for safety sake, I'll probably get a friend to help me so I won't mess up the work I've done on the forge or my back. We "old" guys have to take that into consideration even when our ego's won't hear of it! Frosty, the pipe is 1/4".................far too thick, but it was free, and right now free sounds pretty good to my ears. Honestly, if I ever make another, I'll go to a sheet metal shop and have one bent into a box out of sheet metal. The pipe weighs 51.5#, the refractories weigh 23# and the bricks come in at a whoppin' 71#. So the total weight is 145.5#. Of course, I could lighten that a little by only casting a 1/2" of KOL, but that wouldn't save all that much weight. My only concern is the cart is pretty narrow. I'm tempted to bolt some C-channel onto the bottom like outriggers and mount the wheels further apart...............just wide enough to get through a door. I'd hate like the Devil to have this thing topple over when I'm moving it. I'd really be in trouble then!

"Waste not, want not." Those look great!

I didn't read anything that would have offended. You are a welcomed member at the campfire gathering. Everyone gives everyone helpful advice..............that's what this bunch is about. And the years of experience...................WHEW, these guys have it. I'm rather stubborn sometimes, but they humor me at let me go my way. Guess they figure I'll learn by making some mistakes on my own.............which I'm inclined to do. Good example: When I told Frosty about my total build, he warned I'd not be able to lift the durned thing. But says I, "I'll only have to lift it once to put it on the cart, besides, I'm in the gym 3 days a week and I'm strong." Well today, I got a taste of what he meant. Don't have a weight on it, but the 12" steel pipe, 17" long isn't what I'd call light. And I was (for some stupid reason) assuming the soft bricks would be light like compacted Vermiculite. Ha! Two cases of bricks and I'm not sure I could pick them both up at once without effort. Add to that the weight of the Kast-O-Lite. Man, is that thing going to be heavy. I might have to get one of you to come and help me put it up on top of the stand...........which is up on top of my cart! (I hear Frosty laughing right now!)

No need apologize............I'm sure you stepped on no toes. Remember, Goat Lady, these guys are tough blacksmiths...............they don't get their feelings hurt. On another note, I just arrived home with the square tube I'm using for my forge body and two cases of soft bricks to start lining it with. "Inch by inch, step by step"...................................... Headed out to the shop to clean up the plasma cut edges and put a sander to the rust so I can get a coat of paint on it so it won't rust further while I'm working on it. "Inch by inch, step by step"...................................

Ha-ha.....................I've not enough knowledge in this area to attempt such.

Well, I didn't say it was "better than", I just said what if the rebound were 60-70%. It's probably a moot point because I'm probably never going to find an anvil anyway.

Oh, don't get me wrong, Thomas, I've got my ball bearing in the truck. But I'd imagine (though I don't really know) there are some fakes that would bounce a bearing 60-70%. Of course, I could be wrong.

Party Pooper!

Yup, much more Art Deco or California Mission than Greene & Greene. Whatever style it's in, I like it. When you get it finished, I'll give you my delivery address.

I sure hope I don't run into fake anvils...............I don't have the knowledge to ascertain the difference between fake and real. That's scary! Just give me a rusty 'ol anvil that was "once in great-grandpa's barn".

Indeed, Frosty. I fully understand shills. Used to go to auctions with my parents when I was a kid. I've watched my share of shills. My Mom was a serious antique collector and our home looked like a museum when I was growing up. That's okay, though, because it gave me a respect for beautiful old furniture.................and possibly what led me to becoming a furniture builder and carver. Anyway, I have been mentioning the anvil and leg vise search to everyone I talk with.........even if I don't think they'd have any idea of a source. Patience isn't one of my virtues, but I'll do my best to hang on.

Well, I can't say either, Peppie, but I can say that's a might fine looking piece of equipment you're designing there. I'm a retired furniture builder and it's reminiscent of the "cloudlifts" in Green&Green style furniture. I like it.

Can't wait to post a picture of it completed. Then I'll feel like one of the crowd! Right now I just feel like an information sponge.

I Wish!!!!!

Gotcha, Frosty. Sure am anxious to start puttin' the pieces together.

Glad to hear you'll be able to spend more time with your wife now, Thomas. Makes for a happier life. "Between chin and eye level"..................don't know if I'm going to be able to get it quite that high with the parts I have, but I know it's not going to be too low, that's for sure. Gettin' older has it's perks! You really look forward to having the next Birthday..............more and more each year. The alternative means my little wife is gonna be ticked with me because I didn't get rid of all my "stuff" before kickin' the bucket!!! She brings up the subject frequently.

Thanks for the "Happys" Slag and Goat Lady. Gittin' old ain't fer sissies....................and ain't a whole lot of fun if'n ya don't have a lot of money to enjoy playing with. Just finished installing the fan on the cart that will hold my forge. Need to wire up a switch on the cart that will be convenient and not make me bend over to turn on the fan. Gittin' closer by the day. Going to pick up my soft K26 bricks tomorrow. All I need is the forge body so I can decide on the lengths of 2" black pipe and PVC pipe to purchase, weld up my plenum and cast my ribbon burner and I'm ready to get on with this project. My attention span is pretty limited and I want to get this project completed before I lose interest and dive into some other hobby!

I dunno..................I love puttin' things back in their original condition............even appearance wise.

Well, my back is gettin' old...................not me, mind you, my back. It's 74 years old as of 4:15 am today, and when I spend a lot of time bending over it reminds me of every one of those years. I'm gonna start out high and do my best not to stare into the white hot "oblivion", as per Frosty..................though I've always loved to stare into a hot fire.

Couldn't put an answer to that question..............though I do detest "flippers", unless they put a lot of work into what they are flipping to make it worth the extra $$ they are seeking.

Talked with 4 farmers today. I've been stopping by any place that has an old barn or a lot of farming equipment in the yard. All but one of them said they'd been to a farm auction in the last month or so and had seen anvils. They didn't know the actual weights of the anvils but the "arm stretch" estimations seemed as if they were probably in the 100-150# range. Prices were upwards of $450. One said the auctioneer got two fellows into a bidding war and sold a small anvil for $575. The guy said it had to be about a 100# anvil. CRAZY!!!!!