tom_ET

Hey Hans, Not exactly sure what you mean here. i was also thinking of a blind piece with a shoulder but then i thought, such shoulder would probanly be in the way of the tool. now Goods brought me to the following idea (although i think he meant something else.) the blind block could have a pin on the side and the shanks could all get a small hole to take the pin in each (or actually 2) of the sides. (had a pic but the phone does not let me upload, maybe later via PC) Goods: could you explain your idea a bit more, i dont fully get it i think. i imagine the idea to be similar with what i thought above just instead a blindblock with pin you would have a small spring to push the tool unto one end of the rectangular hole.

Hans: Yes, done, sorry for that. Thanks for the Greetings! Thomas: If i'd go back to check it out, what exactly am I looking for at the screw and the screwbox? I guess I'd see if the thread is seriously damaged which I think you would feel as well when turning?! But maybe I have to take a closer look? Thanks for the links and the book recommendation.

The holes are 22mm x 31mm and 19mm x 27mm The sound, well, I would say rather a TING than a thwap. I tried to record the sound. I have to say it sound a bit less ringing when recorded than life. anvil sound.wav

Hi there, First post after introduction. if you didn't read there, I am completely new to forging, never had done anything in these regards. So I started with buying an Anvil (always wanted one, even independently from blacksmithing not bad to have), In Ethiopia, there is a place where you get a lot of used and old stuff, sometimes you can make a deal, sometimes that's anyway the only place where you can find something at all. So I bought this Anvil. not sure how heavy, my assumption would be something like 30 kg? (yes, sorry, I am metric) Can't see any mark/brand but I assume that somebody brought this one a few decades ago from Europe. Looked pretty plain and has pretty sharp corners. I learned already that I should probably get some radii on but that's a different topic. my first question is about the holes: - I have 2 rectangular holes in there. - Why would they do that? what could be the logic behind it? - I'll probably anyway not get any hardy tools in Ethiopia so i'll probably have to make them myself, I guess I will have to make the shaft rectangular as well?! Or is the sliding left and right not so much of an issue, making the shafts rectangular would otherwise not allow me to use the tools in different directions. - I guess I would use the one with more material below as a hardy hole but what do I use the second hole for? I guess from the position it is maybe still for having some kind of "holding clamp" ?! I know there was a thread where somebody had 2 rectangular holes as well but there is pretty little info there and given it is 13 years old, I thought I can open another one. Best, Thomas

Hello Everybody, Started my question somewhere else (rectangular Hardyholes in my anvil) but I guess I should show some manners and first introduce myself: My name is Thomas, I live since 11 years in Ethiopia, where we are building a kind of self-sufficiency farm (private project) and where I am running a small assembly line for plug'n'play solar systems for rural electrification (job). I have to say I am extremely early in forging. actually never did it yet still. (just bought an anvil a few days ago) As I said, I am much on self-sufficient living and like having some good basics in many directions. I believe it is good for man to know many things, even if not perfectly. "Jack of all Trades - Master of none" is not a negative term for me. So I like working in electronics, wood, agriculture, sheet metal work, concrete, knowing a bit of car-fixing... well you name it, you need it all when you run your farm --> getting some basics in blacksmithing is in this view almost a must. I hope forging won't be a "short fancy", but I don't think so... and if really, then I will probably pick it up again another time. An Anvil is good to have even out of blacksmithing (simply forming sheet metal and wires and stuff) so I got already one. In Ethiopia you have to take what you find. And that is usually not much. And you have to grab it, even if it looks expensive, because if somebody else does, you might never get it again. (There are some places where they sell old materials, while everything is super expensive in Ethiopia, here you can be sometimes really lucky, e.g. finding a nice snap-on wrench that they do not recognize as quality and therefore price as the Chinese stuff) That puts me in a little dilemma right now, because when I bought the anvil and bought a small engineering vise as well, I saw just next to it a freaking post vice. I did not expect to find one in Ethiopia, I don't know if you will ever find another one... The price is not really low and I mean, I am a real starter and given divers interests and needs, I'll probably not become an absolute heavy user of my forge-workshop but who knows. I am afraid to spend and spend money on stuff that I won't use later. Ok, I guess enogh intro! Happy to be in this forum! Best Thomas