Shagwagon Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 Hey all, My brother, father and I have decided we are going to learn this craft. None of us have any experience, but are all excited to learn! After researching anvils for a month or so to get an idea of what to look for, I came across a 160# hay budden which I think looks like it is in great shape for a good deal. I can't quite read the first two digits of the serial number on the foot under the horn (maybe 44?). I don't have the master book (Anvils in America), does anyone have an idea of when this beauty was made? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin A King Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 According to Postmans "AIA" 14K serials were produced in 1894 24K serials were produced in 1896 34K serials were produced in 1897 44K serials were produced in 1899 54K serials were produced in 1900 64K and 74K serials 1901 84K serials 1903 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shagwagon Posted August 14, 2017 Author Share Posted August 14, 2017 1899, that's pretty cool. Thanks for the information! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 The style of the stamping may help narrow that down. lets hope some of the anvil mavens read this soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-ManBart Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 I recall there were changes over time in the number of handling holes, with some variation based upon weight, as well as the shape of the depression in the base. Pictures of the base along with pictures of any handling holes might help as well. You sure picked a good one to find first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted August 15, 2017 Share Posted August 15, 2017 Welcome and I'm sure you have already read about no grinding on your new to you anvil. If you go to your profile and add your general location you might be surprised how many members are close by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-ManBart Posted August 15, 2017 Share Posted August 15, 2017 I'm not asking to start an argument...just an honest question. You wouldn't lightly dress the sharp edges on some of those chips so they don't get worse? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted August 15, 2017 Share Posted August 15, 2017 Most would say to forge on her/him for a year then see if you want to. Honestly most of those chips are probably older than you or I. An experienced smith might very well touch them up, then again maybe not. My farrier anvils have rounded edges, about 1" in the heal and about a 1/4" in the front. The only fight you will get from most of us is going off 1/2 cocked and doing something to ruin an anvil like that, she can go another century or two. Just do your reserch, consider the opinions of experienced smiths, ask the anvil and hot steel their opinions and then do what you think is best. Just remember, it's hard to put material back on a hardened tool steel plat. By the way, even I go off 1/2 cocked. Welcome to Glenn's front porch, I think I need to apologies to you. Sorry we got off on the wrong foot, I was mulling over a sore spot and I used you to get on my soap box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horse Posted August 15, 2017 Share Posted August 15, 2017 I am not a master smith by any stretch but I do have a Hay Budden anvil with some similar chips. There is one area in particular that has a rather large chip that can be quite useful for some some bottom fullering I took the advise of one of my mentors and touched that area very lightly a bit at a time and took out a sharp edge or two so it became a "go to spot" for some applications. I did not touch that spot for at least six months until I was certain it would be a good choice. Even then I would just touch it and use it for a bit until I was certain I wanted another softening. Look for those special spots on that anvil and use them to your advantage. I really believe a brand new anvil would tempt me more in terms of grinding than would an old one that over time has developed some areas that are useful. Your Hay Budden is a great anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shagwagon Posted August 15, 2017 Author Share Posted August 15, 2017 Thanks for all the advice everyone! I am probably going to not grind for now, learn the craft, get smarter and make that decision later. The idea of restoring it later does seem appealing, but we will see! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 15, 2017 Share Posted August 15, 2017 It's funny how with use you start liking certain parts of your anvil edges for certain tasks. There is a 1" section that's perfect for necking down stuff I make a lot of. If you gave me a brand new anvil I'd have to grind the edge to match at the same place just so I could find it fast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted August 15, 2017 Share Posted August 15, 2017 Sharp edges are not your friend, they lead to cold shunts, and cold shunts lead to cracks in things you forge, so "restoration by trying to weld up and grind the edges is a step backwards, not to mention with out very spacifically materials and techniques you can dammmage the top plate. Certainly don't try to mill or goring the top flat either, that will ruin an anvil fast. As you learn to work an anvil you will find the "improfections" become assets. Try flattening a cold bar on a flat anvil, tough to do, but with just a fraction of an inch dip and it flattens very fast. A slight crown is another matter, as it speeds drawing. You will see, the anvil and steel will show you how they want to be worked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted August 15, 2017 Share Posted August 15, 2017 14 hours ago, G-ManBart said: I'm not asking to start an argument...just an honest question. You wouldn't lightly dress the sharp edges on some of those chips so they don't get worse? From what I see in the pictures there are no sharp edges to those chips, just decades of honest work. Unless I saw something in person to contradict that the only thing I would put on that beauty is hot steel/iron. Not arguing just my opinion on what I see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-ManBart Posted August 15, 2017 Share Posted August 15, 2017 Fair enough. I opened the first picture up to it's full size, and it looked like the one chip at the front, and one near the back had sharp edges on the top side, but it could just be the lighting since metal isn't easy to get good pictures of. Obviously, running a finger over them would be worth lots of pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-ManBart Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 On 8/15/2017 at 1:08 AM, Charles R. Stevens said: I think I need to apologies to you. Sorry we got off on the wrong foot, I was mulling over a sore spot and I used you to get on my soap box. No need...I've got thick skin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 Glad to hear that, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dioskouri Posted March 11, 2018 Share Posted March 11, 2018 This is my new gal. Coming out of a collector hoard. 300lbs HB. Looks like she is in amazing shape for the age. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted March 11, 2018 Share Posted March 11, 2018 12 hours ago, Dioskouri said: Thoughts? Outstanding find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou L Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Yep, beautiful anvil that is. I would make one correction to what you said though. It was not from a collector hoard. It was from a “failed collector hoard”. Because, seriously, what collector would release that beauty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dioskouri Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 A collector who's at the end of life journey shall we say. Time to release his unicorns back into the wild where they can run free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Nice. Same as mine. What is stamped on the side of the heel? How's the rebound? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wazz Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Looks like im late to the topic, but i just aquired a HB. It weights #135 and is stamped 169201. Im full on noob but does that translate to a 1895 model? I also have a cast iron stand. Can i learn on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 You can use it for an entire career of smithing. Why would you not be able to learn on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wazz Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Well, when i was young my dad always told me i could break an anvil. I didnt know if it might be too valuable for a beginner or worst case could it be "dead"? A hammer barely bounces off the center. Could somebody have ruined it And the cast stand is no where near as heavy as the anvil itself and not mounted to the floor (yet) it is only as wide as the foot and not as long as the horn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Pictures! As to the possibility of it being ruined: Is the steel face plate still on? Has it been through a fire? Is your hammer hard? This is sounding like: "I have a used car; was it in a wreck?" How would you answer that question with that amount of information provided? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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