Zwalla Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 I've always had a sort of nagging interest in smithing, and have been reading furiously about blacksmithing and lurking here for a few weeks. I've decided to join now because I'm actually getting tools lined up. My maternal grandmother's family have been on the same land since it was deeded to them upon arrival from Ireland in the early 1850's. The vast majority of them owned and ran a wagon shop and even the ones who didn't were farmers who made many of their own tools. Because I knew all this, I contacted my grandfather who now lives there and asked if he knew if they had an anvil around or knew someone who did. He said he knew he had one that he guesses is about 200lbs. I told him I was thinking of trying my hand at blacksmithing, he got a little excited and told me he had many older, family blacksmithing tools around as well. He has told me he's gotten everything he could find and has it waiting for me up there. I should be heading up this weekend and most likely bringing it all home. I'm hoping the anvil isn't damaged! Sorry for rambling on and telling you all my life story. Anyways, I've joined because I'll most likely be posting and asking questions about this anvil I have waiting for me. I've learned a lot from this community already (thanks for that), and hope to learn much more. Zack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Entrance Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 Ontario, CA, or Ontario, Canada? If you're in California, I'm not that far from you. My guess is Canada, based on the family history. Either way, welcome. :) (did I just sound like Thomas Powers there for a sec?) :huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
781 Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 Welcome to the groupGlad your gandfather still had some tools to pass down to you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zwalla Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share Posted December 12, 2012 Thanks for the welcomes! Yes, I live in Ontario, Canada. I suppose I should go update my location to show that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshua.M Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 hey! i'm in Ontario too, i would suggest that you buy a crappy cast iron anvil to learn on, there is no sense in using a family heirloom to practice your hammer control on, save it for when you don't need to worry (too much) about missing the steel. Regards Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko13 Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 I don't "live" in Ontario.. but work there... Nice to see some more people close by showing up here. Welcome to IFI :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNewman Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 There are several OABA members in the KW area. You should come out to some meetings and join. As well our President has an open forge at his shop just north of Fergus in most months. http://www.ontarioblacksmiths.ca/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zwalla Posted December 13, 2012 Author Share Posted December 13, 2012 Thanks, I'll probably join OABA once I get everything home safe and sound! An update on the anvil: My grandmother came down today with pictures of it. Looks a little dirty but there are no obvious defects. That's a good sign, I guess! I'll try and post some of the pictures once I find the cord for the camera, and I'll post any markings/numbers I find on saturday to try and ID this sucker. He also has a bunch of different hammers, a pair of tongs, and an old homemade crank forge. Since lifting it he now guestimates the weight of the anvil to be about 175 lbs. I'm getting excited..! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 Welcome aboard, glad to have ya. I'm envious your Grandfather passing his tools to you. If you buy a soft hammer, as in not hardened steel hammer, you can build your skills on his and not worry about damaging it. There is one serious caveat though, don't miss a blow on the edges, they can be brittle and send a chip into your leg or privates. Without a leather apron such a strike from a chip of steel can be life threatening, your femoral artery is on the front inside of your thigh and pretty close to the surface. Of course there is the possibility of taking a ship in the eye but I'm going to assume you're an adult and smart enough to wear eye protection. Okay, all that's out of the way. Is your Grandfather in shape to show you some stuff?; My bet is he'll be thrilled to death (not literally!) to show you some of the craft. Smithing gets in your blood and it's a terrible blow to get to an age where you can no longer ply it. Welcome to the addiction, nothing beats playing with fire and hitting things with hammers. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yves Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 Welcome to the addiction, nothing beats playing with fire and hitting things with hammers. Frosty The Lucky. This pic was taken this summer. The grandson is working the blower. I had the pic made up as an anniversary card. When school started, he put this pic in a report he had to make about the summer vacation as an illustration of what he had done. One of his classmates asked : "You played with fire?" "Yep!" he answered, glowing in the admiration. Frosty, youre right, nothing beats playing with fire. I got him a nice little anvil for the next time he becomes the apprentice sorcerer. Of course, he will be dressed up. Here is "his" anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko13 Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 Yves, looks like a mighty nice anvil to start with! Where about's are you in Quebec? Quebec city itself? I'm in Gatineau and have been traveling the province for tools since October... Sorry to semi-hijack the thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zwalla Posted December 14, 2012 Author Share Posted December 14, 2012 Oh, sorry, my grandfather has never really done much smithing as far as I know (though he does seem a little excited about me trying it, as he is the one who took/sent the pictures and called me again today to tell me about what he's found. Maybe he has a secret smithing past I don't know about. I'll have to ask). This is all my great-grandfather's stuff that he also inherited from his father, and some/all of it has quite possibly been in the family longer than that. The only thing my grandmother knows is that it's been around far longer than her. On my grandmother's side, they've pretty well always ran a wagon shop and as such did a lot of smithing. I've found many hand-forged things partially hidden in the barn and whatnot over the years. I'm actually not an adult. I'm 16, but yes, I will be wearing an apron and gloves and eye protection. My father will be with me much of the time as well. Once again, thanks for the warm welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yves Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 Yves, looks like a mighty nice anvil to start with! Where about's are you in Quebec? Quebec city itself? I'm in Gatineau and have been traveling the province for tools since October... Sorry to semi-hijack the thread! 125 km east of Montreal. If you are around here, drop by. My coordinates are on my WEB site, yvescouture.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zwalla Posted December 14, 2012 Author Share Posted December 14, 2012 Here is the anvil. I warned you it was dirty, but I hope it's still usable? I'd like some input on this if possible: An old hammer that has obviously seen some use: The forge: So what do you guys think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko13 Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 That anvil will get better as soon as you put hot steel to it... no joke! A little work with some WD40 and brush wheel will get it better for sure... wear eye protection! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko13 Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 125 km east of Montreal. If you are around here, drop by. My coordinates are on my WEB site, yvescouture.com. I was down there just two weekends ago! If I had known I would of stopped by :) I'll keep it in mind next time I'm around there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zwalla Posted December 15, 2012 Author Share Posted December 15, 2012 The anvil is an 1853 William Foster. There's a post about it in the Anvils section now. Thanks for all the help! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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