zampilot Posted March 13, 2011 Posted March 13, 2011 This anvil has certainly seen better days, has a few rough edges ans a chip at the hardie hole, but it's not beat up too badly and works fine. It's marked "1-3-3" but actually weighs in at about 188 or so. Is it unusual to lose 10-12 pounds over time or was it an error at the factory? Doesnt look like there's that much accountable in the chips. Quote
macbruce Posted March 13, 2011 Posted March 13, 2011 Not unlike us, anvils shrink with age...................:rolleyes: Quote
Marksnagel Posted March 13, 2011 Posted March 13, 2011 Most of us tend to gain some added weight through the aging process. Or am I alone in this! Your anvil may have seen some better days in it's past but it looks like it has plenty of good days left in it's future. Mark<>< Quote
zampilot Posted March 13, 2011 Author Posted March 13, 2011 Maybe your scale is wrong. I was hoping so, particularly after I step on it...............it matches my old scale. Quote
Steve Sells Posted March 13, 2011 Posted March 13, 2011 you do realize that the weight numbers are cast into the anvil as a part of the mold. They are not added after being finished and weighted? A cast is poured to an average level in the mold, there is going to be variance in the finished weight dues to how far it was filled, as well as how much was removed in the grind/polish of the face after cooling. Do you think 5% or so is very far off when dealing with molten steel? just a FYI Quote
macbruce Posted March 13, 2011 Posted March 13, 2011 you do realize that the weight numbers are cast into the anvil as a part of the mold. It doesn't look cast to me....................:mellow: Quote
zampilot Posted March 13, 2011 Author Posted March 13, 2011 you do realize that the weight numbers are cast into the anvil as a part of the mold. They are not added after being finished and weighted? A cast is poured to an average level in the mold, there is going to be variance in the finished weight dues to how far it was filled, as well as how much was removed in the grind/polish of the face after cooling. D0 you think 5% or so is very far off when dealing with molten steel? just a FYI Seems to me the numbers are stamped, post-forgeing. Quote
pkrankow Posted March 13, 2011 Posted March 13, 2011 Anvils loose weight as they age. With the various damage to parts of the anvil it is not unreasonable, but seems like quite a lot since there is no major pieces missing, but lots of small pieces. Weighing it on another scale may not be a bad idea though. Quote
eric sprado Posted March 13, 2011 Posted March 13, 2011 Best solution: Ship it to me. I'll feed it and make sure it is treated well... Quote
ThomasPowers Posted March 14, 2011 Posted March 14, 2011 You do realize that Mousehole anvils have no cast parts to them and were assembled by forge welding up chunks of real wrought iron and the weights were stamped in them after they finished welding them up and weighed them? Most types of anvils are not cast and so the previous post on casting is not germane. On old anvils it seems like the factory weights have quite a bit of slop in them 10% error is fairly common, not to mention loss due to wear and rusting. Does anyone remember if Postman mentioned stamping the weights hot after the final forging and so not including loss due to grinding the face fair? Quote
Steve Sells Posted March 14, 2011 Posted March 14, 2011 ok I stand corrected. This was not my first screw up, and most likely wont be my last either. My Kohlswa looks cast. :) Quote
philip in china Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 Possibly more accurate to say most old anvils were not cast. I don't know the figures but would think that virtually all new anvils now are cast. Casting technology has come on so much in recent years that the difference between castings and forgings seems to be little enough- see the separate thread on cast and forged Hofi hammers. Quote
ThomasPowers Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 Kholslaw are cast; but I don't consider them an "old" brand....if all anvils were the same Postman would never had to write that book! Wonder why those folks thought a mousehole anvil was French? Quote
zampilot Posted March 15, 2011 Author Posted March 15, 2011 Maybe they thought it was 'moussehole'? Quote
Bentiron1946 Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 Well no matter it's weight, that is a fine looking anvil for it's age and you'll be doing some fine work on that anvil for as long as you have life. Treat it kindly and then pass it one to the next fellow with respect. B) Quote
Sam Falzone Posted March 18, 2011 Posted March 18, 2011 Not unlike us, anvils shrink with age................... But that would then be a difference in volume ... not mass ... Quote
Sam Falzone Posted March 20, 2011 Posted March 20, 2011 Depends on how it lost that volume... True ... but Macbruce's comment was just about shrinkage. Lopping off the heel or horn of an anvil will also result in a decrease of volume AND mass. Quote
macbruce Posted March 20, 2011 Posted March 20, 2011 Well right, personally speaking I have dropped an inch or two in height ,and put on a little extra around the middle, but my weight still went down.......The lost mass was no doubt caused by the loss of my fine head of hair..........the anvil is bald :P Quote
ThomasPowers Posted March 21, 2011 Posted March 21, 2011 The term shrinkage does NOT mean that it doesn't lose mass. When you think of hot steel cooling and contracting---that shrinkage doesn't loose mass If you talk about retail inventory shrinkage then that does indicate losing mass---by theft. Quote
macbruce Posted March 21, 2011 Posted March 21, 2011 True ... but Macbruce's comment was just about shrinkage. Macbruce's comment(s) are bs....... Maybe the guy who stamped the anvil #'s on a Friday had ''liquid lunch'' .... That's as close to a serious answer I can give on this...............mb Quote
zampilot Posted March 24, 2011 Author Posted March 24, 2011 Liquid lunch is a possibility. How about "Henry, that anvil weighs 187 and it's supposed to weigh 197......make it so" Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.