Fly

I plan to machine a hole for my make shift anvil. What is the most common size square hole with hardy holes. I plan to make most 

of my own tooling, but some I may just buy. I want to keep this the most standard for that reason. 
 

            Fly

My anvil is a chunk of steel I picked up many years ago. I.m just wondering if it’s going to work?  
 

        Fly

Some one must be sick, to flag my for this. That is plan WRONG!  Fly I may not be back, I must go cool down  & give this 

some thought. Some one here ##### never mind. Fly & by!

Just curious? Fly

....

Spot on my friend. Like I have said that is why I came here. You guys have cleared up so many questions I have had. 
 

        Fly

Thank you Charles I think I remember reading that but not sure I would have remembered it. Lucky I still have 

much more to do on mine. I may put them in the wife’s oven on very low temp over night after she goes to 

bed. You don,t mind if I blame it on you, do you? Fly

I got it! Thank every one of you. I did a search on my saw. My saw does indeed have a much shallow cut than most 

10 inch saws. But I messed with it some more & got just enough to get it done. Things I learned though. Be sure & soak 

you bricks in water. It will help keep it cooler. And as you said Frosty take it slow. Cut a little way and pull it out, then go 

a little more and let the blade do the cutting with out pushing hard. When it starts to get a little harder pull it back out. 
 

let it clear the degree. If not your blade will try to walk on you. I had one do that but caught it in time to save that one. 
 

The blade I have is thin so I had to take my time. I hope this thread helps some one else. This is a great form with alot

of good people that are willing to help each other. This form is so much better than trying to learn from YouTube. You can 

get some very bad advice from them. Don,t get me wrong there is a lot of good there also, you just need do more research 

than take a video at face value right off. Here you have people that have forgotten more than most will ever know about 

blacksmithing. Listion  to them, & if some one is a little bit off on a topic some other will correct them. That’s what I love 

about the folks here. Thank each of you for the advice you give. I just hope I can help some also, when I can.  Fly

Frosty the thing is if I can cut these I have twice as many, (wink).   Ya they did not advertise them in the description  and I did

not catch that. I,m about to eat a late breakfast they going out there & try this.   Fly

Steve I do not have a chop saw, but I do have metal cutting carbide tip saw works like a chop saw but runs at 

a slower rpm. I thought of trying that but the blades are like $70. I was scared to chance that. But you just gave me 

a idea. I could put this 10 inch blade diamond blade on it & try that. That’s why I love this form. Many heads are better than 

one. I,m going out there & try that. I will be back to you. I know this thread will help someone else in the future. 
 

       Thank you fellows Fly

Well I do not have a sawzall, funny I have every other type. though. But I think I have a friend that may & if. He does I will see if he

may lend it to me & go by  that blade . Thanks great idea!   Fly 

Well I will get back to lt in the morning. I think you are right. I will post again tomorrow once I try. We learn by doing & pass lt 

on win or lose (wink).  Fly

Please never get mad at me.

I ordered some hard firebrick & got it Wednesday but have a problem,  there to thick. There 2 1/2 inch instead of 1 1/4, great.

I ordered diamond saw blade for my table saw to cut them into. I plan to soak them in water & then try cutting them in half. This 

is a cheaper blade from Amazon but had really good reviews so I,m hoping in works. I,m sure if I was doing a bigger job I would 

need a higher priced blade, so I shall see. My biggest problem is my table top saw is only a 10 inch. These bricks are 4 1/2 wide. 
 

I plan putting them on there side & cutting them long ways, then flipping them over then cutting them from the opposite side 

long ways. The problem is even though it is a 10 inch blade it only sticks up from the saw is 1 1/2 inch. So even if I cut from opposing 

sides I will still have 1 1/2 left to cut from the center of-the bricks. Any ideas from you guy. Do you think I could score them with a 

thin blade of some kind like a-paint scraper threw the saw cut or something similar  as to get them to brake apart
 

    Fly

Billy I will take you up on your offer my friend. Plus I look forward in meeting you. 
 
            Fly

Ya l kinda though car savage yards would most likely big high. I think I will take your advice & start hitting up repair shops.

        Fly

Where are you guys getting leaf & coil springs. Car salvage yards first comes to mind. I have not done that yet. But is that we’re 

place to get the best price on this metal?      Fly

Ya I think your spot on Charles. The only reason in making our own would be to save a buck. I think it would not

 Think there would be enough cost saving to mess with it. And even that they most likely would not hold up as 

well. I just thought I would throw that question out there & see what guys as you would say. Thanks for the reply. 
 

I can now put that to bed. Fly

Ok I know this has had to be brought up many times. I failed finding this topic on the search engine so I posted here. There are tons 

of YouTube ricipe,s for making fire bricks. Many work & many fail. Seems like the ones that work fall apart after a few fires. Is there 

truly one that will work over a reasonable time or is this a blacksmiths just a blacksmiths dream?  Fly

Did you get collets with it? If you need any advice just give me a pm.  
 

           Fly

George i,m beginning to really like you. I like what you just said above. ( any that works for themself wake up every

morning with out a job). Oh my friend I know that feeling. I once had a small machine shop in back of my home. During 

the 1970, s the oil industry was booming here in Okla & many machine shops jumped into doing work there because thats

were the $$ was. I had a mill & lathe Quit my job a decided to take on all the work that those other shops had abandoned. 
I did very good for a time. But I lacked all the tooling to support my shop as rotary table, dividing head, a larger horizontal 

band saw, ect. Seemed like every job that payed well, I turned around & spent it on more tooling. Then the oil boom crashed 

almost over night. I had a family to support. I just so happened to land a great job after being on my knees in prayer. Yes that

hit home when you said that.   Fly

knees 

I think it’s just frustration ! I have held off buying up stock for my small home shop. It would be much worst if

i was running a business as I,m not. I have just cut back big time on buying anything. I need to badly redo my

front porch, as lumber been the same. Oh well it is what it is.   Fly

Cool l love hearing that. I have watched so many YouTube videos my eye have crossed. But I have seen times 

where shook my head & thought why did he not drill that hole on a drill press? Then he pulls from the fire & punches 

it faster than I could hunted up a drill & chucked the drill,(wink). The thing you guys do that is really cool is all the tools you make 

to speed things up. The one thing that came to mind even though i have not seen one is a punch & die for 

square holes, but I know you must have some. Being a tool maker my self I keep envisioning so many things that

could be made & most likely you have already made & in your tool box. One thing I have I have learned threw all 

my years in tool work, there’s ,s never a new idea there just a adaptation of something from the past.  

          I,m making charcoal in my retort for now & storing up. I had a operation & have been limited to doing much for now 

but I will be back soon then I will post some pic,s.  Fly

I know most that read this form blacksmithing is a hobby or another way to make some cash. But me being new to this, just how 

many still make a living into days world? Now I know many do, which I applaud you. I,m not taking shoeing horses. But with CNC 

machines & all the advancements in fabrication how can it still be possible other than making things of art. Now I can see that.  
 

I was just wondering? Me being a retired tool & die maker there are fewer of us left. With cad cam & all the new programs available 

in this new world so many of the old craftsmen are  gone. Even with my background i,m amazed at what you guys can achieve with

a fire, a hammer & anvil. I,m a student & having a ball reading all I can on this fantastic trade.  
 

      Fly 

Ya I do need to get the word out. As Billy said I do live in a farm community.  My problem the people that live by 

me are not farmers. This will serve me for now and my plan is finish my forge and start making tools & to work with. 
I still have much to do but I will get there for sure.  Fly

I,m like many new comers in this venture I though I need a anvil & the search started about 4 years ago. No way I was going to

pay $700 or more for a 100 lb or bigger steel anvil. I went to sales, actions looked every where & zero. If I found a haft way deal 

it was across the US some wear. I came very close to buying one of those cast steel china made ones. In fact I did order it putting it on 

my debit card. Then as I alway do went to YouTube & found this guy addressing new guy. It turned out he was addressing this topic. He

 was saying you do not need a good anvil or even a anvil at all to get started. Then he was giving all these examples of things people beat

hot metal into things I thought could only be made but on a anvil  . Then I remember this huge hunk of steel I picked up years ago at the metal 

scrap thinking I might have a use for it some day! I went out to my shop, wow. We are talking 6” thick x12” x8” . I went in

& canceled my order. This thing has a very good rebound. Maybe not a English Peter wright but I bet it’s better than that china one. I plan 

to machine me up a horn & shape it to the way I want. Bore a 2” hole in the end of the block & turn a interference fit on the mating end of 

the horn, press it in & weld it on. I think I gave maybe $15 to $20 for that hunk of steel way back then?