Jump to content
I Forge Iron

The official "WOW i got a great deal" thread


Recommended Posts

IMG_0301.jpg

Two blowers with awesome cast-iron stands and a 4" post vise. Combined with the 2 hours of driving, at over $3/gal for gas, to pick them up, and I still came in well under three bills for the whole kit and kaboodle!

Best deal I've ever gotten, even if the one blower is rust-welded solid.


Now, if I could just find that big Fisher anvil I've been dreaming about.........
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is a far from complete list without pics due to computer issues. Some pics have been posted to other previous threads.

Anvils purchased between 1980-2010 or so, by either my Dad, or myself.

306# Sodefors-$200 machine shop auction
260# Fisher-$250 from a sale in Lincoln CA
170# HB - $175 Las Vegas Craigslist (we thoiught it was 175# an settled on $1 a pound)
150# Vulcan-$50 high school shop sell off in Vallejo CA
125# JHM Journeyman - Las Vegas Craigslist ,in with a deal that included a single burner gas forge, folding anvil stand w/spring vise, a tool box of horseshoe blanks, tool box of hoof repair epoxy, and a final tool box of farrier tools for $250.
50# old no name-$60 Las Vegas Craigslist. Got this to go with my old mini forge.

Post vises have run free,$5-$50
Blowers $20-$50
Forges (coal) w/blowers $20?-$125 IIRC
Hardies, tongs, and struck tools I paid $3-$5 each at automotive swap meets.

My last big purchase was a Craigslist find for an estate sale a couple of years ago which includes some of the previous items listed.

2 large coal forges-Buffalo w/sheet steel pan, and hood, and a larger cast iron one (possible Champ w/Lansacter blower), really nice 170# HB anvil, 5 gal bucket full of hardies, and struck tools, and a 5 gal bucket full of tongs, 1/4 barrel of coal, couple of stumps for anvils, a Hobart 14" Buffalo chopper w/meat grinder, and stainless rolling cart ($100 SCORE!), couple Dutch ovens w/tripods, some hammers.and more that I can't remember at this time, but $800 for the lot that filled my Dodge's bed.

Since this is a smithing related thread I won't add things like the Dumore model 57 tool post grinder w/attachments I found at a garage sale for $30, the AAR Cuda 4 spd w/ pistol grip shifter for $140, the mint 20ga pump for $30, minty Sunbeam CG-1 Waffle iron for $5, the.............................

My house is filled with great deals because I rarely buy new. I cruise CL, thrift stores,classifieds, I lived at auctions; military DRMO, machine shop, storage unit, hit gararge sales every Fri,Sat,Sun with my friend, fleamarkets on the Sundays we were not at an automotive swapmeet, and every gun show within a 100 mile radius of home.For me these were trasure hunts, ways to sell previous scores, and most importantly for me-social events. Then E-Pay hit the scene. Prices of some items skyrocketed (good for sellers, bad for buyers), some items got crazy stupid prices due to auction frenzy. I got tired of hearing "I can get $$$ for it on Ebay." My response was , "Then why aren't you selling it on there then?". I have had to lay off my treasure hunting some, as the scores were coming in faster than I was selling others off. Concentrating on selling for now to pay for a busines I want to start.

I added the above just to point out to the folks who lament that the good deals are gone. No they are not. To get them you have to work to find them, rarely do they find you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I got this Lancaster swage block about 20 years ago when the foreman at the heavy duty shop gave me a call and said, I'm pretty sure this is some kind of blacksmithing tool and I'm tired of it taking up room on the table, come and get it or it's going in the scrap bin.

I think it's my best deal so far.

Frosty The Lucky.

post-975-0-76892400-1344742154_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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...