DanielC Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 So today was the day I was off to get my coal forge from a good friend who would soon be related by the marriage of his son to my cousin (Pretty distant, but not to him). It would entail an 8 hour drive round trip to Petersburg VA to go see Albert. Albert is a 70+ year old jack of all trades. He loved blacksmithy, carpentry and sailing. Unfortunately he cannot work the hammer any more, and wanted his smithy equipment going to a good home. My home is where it went. Assuming all I was going for today was a coal forge and a chinese anvil (why not if it was free?), I brought two bottles of Albert's favorite wine. Being born and raised in Italy for a long time, Albert had a taste for the grape. After having a long conversation and a lot of lifting, this is what I acquired today as a generous donation to my growing smithy shop! Coal Forge & Blower, 165lb china anvil, to my SURPRISE a standing vice, Various Tongs and Hammers, an old Ridged pipe reamer, about 60lb. in RR spikes, and another 200lb. of scrap metal. Any one ever see a chinese anvil that large? And that is a peculiar swage looking plate of sorts. Any idea? EDIT: BTW, that Chinese Anvil rings like a bell. Cast Steel instead of Iron? I did not notice any casting marks, but may require further inspection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clinton Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 That "peculiar swage looking plate of sorts" is a stake plate possibly Pexto, they are used to hold sheet metal forming stakes and are worth some money to the right person. They can be worth a lot more with the stakes. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pexto-Stake-Plate-XLNT-Blacksmith-Anvil-Tools-/230893862418?_trksid=e11014.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%252BDDSIC%26otn%3D8%26pmod%3D251192985682%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D4025547555605492618&_qi=RTM1240451 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pug}{maN Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 The anvil don't look too bad. How's the rebound on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOblacksmith0530 Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 Pexto plate definitely. Good score. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuge Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 Those squiggly rail clips are good medium carbon steel, useful for all kinds of tooling. Just gotta straiten 'em out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielC Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share Posted December 9, 2012 The ASO has about a 40% rebound. Not the greatest. It has perfectly sharp edges and step though, and I'd rather get down hammer control on an ASO than my Peter Wright or Fisher. Any way I have sorted through the haul and had a question about a few things. Thank you nuge for answering my question about the squiggly clips being medium carbon steel. In the scrap there was also some "J" looking clips (I have 16 of them) along with the squiggly clips, and some humongous bolts (about 1-1.25" thick), and a few thick plates. I'm assuming these all came from the same place as the squiggly clips. Any idea about these? EDIT: Also, any idea of what kind of forge this is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuge Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 It's all railroad iron, the j clips are similar steel, just not as use-able of a cross section. With the solid one's you get a nice meaty hunk and it's forgiving to heat treat if you chose. You could forge the threads of one of those big bolts into a square shank and it can be your first stake. Good for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 Good Morning, Look closeley around a railroad maintenance area, you will find out what those pieces are. Go for a walk down a railroad track (when the ground is not shaking) and you will see them in place. Good material to start with, could end up being any shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 In the early 80's I once owned a 100 kilo chinese anvil---not of my own free will though. My only anvil was stolen a couple of days from a day long demo at a museum and the buffalo anvil was the only thing I could find in that time. I used it that day and never again---it would dent under cherry red coil spring! This incident so scarred my psyche that I've always tried to have a spare of all my favorite tools---just in case. (and marked the start of my anvil spree!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman50 Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Looks like they have found a new home in you. ____________________________________________ www.sawblade.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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