ironstein

Nice demo Clnton. I try to stay away from drifting once it's thinned out. I like to draw the opener out on the horn while chamfering, i feel i can keep more heat in the thin parts this way.

Nice work Wood. Nice looking shop too!

Very nice haul indeed! Good job Aaron.

Nice work borntoolate! Thanks guys for al the comments. Hey Clinton, try out the corkscrew from Hofi's post, its a great forging exercise. Funny thing was, the first corkscrew i did came out perfect, and i havent been able to duplicate it! That is the key to good blacksmithing, taking an item and remembering the steps and being consistent. This is what i struggle with, but i can't think of anything i'd rather be doing in my spare time.

Thanks guys! Teenylittlemetalguy, I only drift the hole to around 3/4, then i take it to the horn of the anvil and draw it out to the size i need so it doesn't get too thin.

Rhrocker, pm me your info and i will get you some 12" pieces, i am swimming in the stuff i throw tons of it in the scrap bin at the jobsite all the time. The #18's are hard to come by, but i can get you some #11 bar for sure. Maybe some big stuff too, i'll check the next time i am at our yard. I just started a big job and i am the foreman so i can take small amounts of scrap. Brian

I made a few items to test out the new anvil. A damascus kitchen chopper for my fathers birthday, a corkscrew (Hofi thread inspired me), a candle holder with a twist, and some horsehead bottle openers. Thanks for looking. Brian

Well Mark, this one won't be that big, only 1500 tons of rebar. All reinforced concrete walls, slabs, and multi-strand cable reinforced transfer girders to provide clear space with no supports in the way on the football field. Will be a challenging project, i am the foreman running the steel on the job, a ton of responsibility. It doesn't help that it is Tutor Saliba who is the contractor, they aren't nice to work with. That mine job sounds like a big one! Brian

Thanks guys. I wish i had some time off to play. Unfortunately i am starting a new sports complex for the USC Trojans tomorrow, its gonna have an underground football field! Pretty crazy design. I am not looking a gift horse in the mouth though, i am stoked to have job security for the next eight months! Gonna have to play hard on the weekends. My wife already commented that now she will never see me at all! Thanks for all the kind words. Brian

Quite a collection there! Nice shop too. An indexing anvil sounds like an excellent idea.

Nice, stout looking tongs.

Thats a nice stand Mark. I like the way you turned the feet inward. Wheres the anvil?

Heres mine. One inch plate, and super stout 3/8 wall square tube, half inch plates welded to the feet, bolted to the floor. I used silicone to quiet the ring, this anvil is now quieter than my 148 pound hay budden, and this one is 460 lbs!

Hwii, I don't know where they are cast, but I do know the prices are going up. What amazed me was that steve shipped this anvil on a Monday and it was at the shipping hub by Friday! That's quick considering it changed trucks twice.

Old n rusty, not a chance! I still have my 148 lb hay budden, top half is tool steel!

Thanks Joshua! I'm not rich, i just have an understanding wife, and a good tax return this year! That anvil is worth every penny.

Alec's post is what we did when i visited Brian.

Thanks everyone. Phillip, that made me laugh out loud! Clinton, yes, the one inch plate was given to me by a great guy at Gold Coast Erectors in Camarillo, ca. I did spend a little bit banging some hot iron, and it is an amazing difference. Steve Fontanini is a super nice guy, and i was literally shocked when i first got a look at this anvil in person, he does an amazing job finishing them. Mark, i too am of the opinion that these are some of the most beautiful anvils made.

I got my new anvil today! She is a beauty, all 460#'s of her. I fabbed the stand out of one inch plate, and used 3/8 wall square tube with 1/2 inch plate at the feet of the stand. I set the anvil on the stand and tapped her with a hammer, the ring was the loudest i have ever heard, almost unbearable! I put a layer of silicone caulk down before i placed her in her final resting place, i couldn't believe how much the ring dissipated! I am so excited to get out there this weekend and play.

My heart goes out to you Dave. Its a tough decision to make.

Scrapartoz, Great work! You are a true artist, great vision.

Jw, that is a nice score! One of those cones would be a perfect hardy cone, looks like you can forge down the end with the shoulder and have a nice tool. Great score.

Yep, you were blessed. Good looking dog there Nuge, he looked like a frisky one!

Thank you very much Frosty. I had missed your response, and a heartwarming response it was. I have had dogs all my life, and will continue to have them. Yes, its tough losing a friend, but its worth all the good times. My dogs really pick me up when i'm down, and no matter what, they are loyal. A happy dog, excited to see you sure makes a crappy day better somehow! I think we have enough furry friends for now (2 dogs, 2 cats) but when the time comes, we will rescue a lucky animal! Thanks again Frosty it meant a lot. Brian