Jump to content
I Forge Iron

Recommended Posts

Posted

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.

post-12484-0-71034700-1300026726_thumb.j

post-12484-0-55504700-1300026751_thumb.j

post-12484-0-60758300-1300026767_thumb.j

post-12484-0-56678800-1300026782_thumb.j

Posted

Most of us tend to gain some added weight through the aging process. Or am I alone in this! :blink:

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<><

Posted

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

Posted

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.
Posted

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.

Posted

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?

Posted

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.

Posted

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?

Posted

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)

Posted

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.
Posted

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

Posted

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.

Posted

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'' ....:lol: That's as close to a serious answer I can give on this...............mb

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...