True_Grit Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 Hello. I had a borrowed farriers anvil a few years back, since returned. Been wanting to get something to start messing around again with and came by this. It is in VERY rough shape, but I am hoping I can salvage it, at least for my very amateurish efforts. It will beat the railroad plates we had been banging on since returning the farriers anvil. I would like to do right by the anvil if at all possible, but realize it may be to far gone. I'm pretty sure I could(sacrilege) take it to a machine shop and mill off 1/16-1/8th and have something usable. Looking for recommendations. I am just really happy to be finally circling back to playing with metal. I don't need beautiful, just functional. The anvil weighs 344# on a non certified scale. I've been looking through threads here and so far it looks to be the worst shape of any I have seen. Oh well. Hope the pics and information are enough to enlist your help. Thanks for any ideas. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 Well you could take it and have it milled and have a large paperweight. Those have a thinner steel top plate and milling it down takes away the reason it had a top steel plate. I suggest just using it as is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JME1149 Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 I'm not sure what you are seeing that I am not, but that's not what I consider to be in bad shape. Looks like some pitting on the face.... no big deal, just start beating some hot metal on it will help polish the face. I do see some minor damage along one edge, but nothing that makes it unusable. To my eyes, it's a nice old Fisher in decent shape. with plenty of usable surface. Wire wheel to clean it up, a coat of linseed oil to preserve the finish, and put it to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
True_Grit Posted December 28, 2017 Author Share Posted December 28, 2017 Seriously, I thought (hack newbie here) the pitting was so bad it was ruined. It looks like this was in a field for 50 years. It has rebound as far as I can tell with a hammer, although the pitting throws it off. I am THRILLED milling is not the answer. Was really down about the prospect of that. Was intending to hitting it today with the wire wheel and linseed oil. Thanks for the replies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 Hot metal will shine up the face real nice. The 344 pound anvil should be used for a year (2000 hours) in order for you to get to know each other. You can then consider any modifications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
True_Grit Posted December 28, 2017 Author Share Posted December 28, 2017 Well mostly I just want to get to practicing with the hammer, so I'll get right to it. Should I wire wheel the surface before hammering or just pound over the rust? Also would sandblasting (light brush blast) with fine media be a no no as opposed to using a wire wheel? I have very fine or even soda I can use. I will do no modifications. I do want to clean her up just for fun, but more the priority is digging out my few hammers and tongs and banging...Going to look up some beginner projects. Thanks you all for your guidance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 If you clean up the surface(s), what are you then going to use to protect them from rusting again? Why not a good metal primer and paint which should last several years. May I suggest plaid, or at least the family tartan. (grin). Keep the protective coating off the top surface of the horn and face as the hot metal will remove it rather quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lionel h Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 Use it as is , it's still got plenty of use left. wire brush it some to clean it up a bit ,then a lite coat of oil on the sides. Pound some hot iron on the top,that will start to polish it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 I sandblasted my first anvil and it didn't hurt it, but I didn't like the finish it left. A wire wheel will polish it better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
True_Grit Posted December 29, 2017 Author Share Posted December 29, 2017 Thanks guys. It's easy to get caught up into making it look prettier, when really I just want to use it...So until it warms up outside, it'll stay rusty...But I am using it...Not doing much, but still banging on MY OWN anvil...Looking around to see what I should try first. My forge is still out in the barn, so I am heating up metal in our woodstove coals. It is slow and I am not as hot as I'd like, but I'm doing something. I'll grab the forge this week so I can get metal to proper temp. Again thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 Modeling clay gives you the practice without needing heat. You can use non-ferrous metals on the anvil without the need for a fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 Your anvil is a fine tool with many more years of honest use to come. A flatter, &/or small auxiliary anvil (e.g. a large smooth chunk of scrap yard steel), can make your art work smooth on the times it needs to be prettier. Regards, SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotoMike Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 I've only been hammering hot metal for a couple months now, but I see what you all mean by polishing the surface. the bick is getting polished up and a spot on the plate as well. Hopefully, I'll get the whole thing polished in the coming year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
True_Grit Posted December 29, 2017 Author Share Posted December 29, 2017 19 hours ago, Glenn said: If you clean up the surface(s), what are you then going to use to protect them from rusting again? Why not a good metal primer and paint which should last several years. May I suggest plaid, or at least the family tartan. (grin). Keep the protective coating off the top surface of the horn and face as the hot metal will remove it rather quickly. As a professional pipeline painter, I may be able to pull off the tartan with some creative masking.....GRIN....I suppose when I do get around to cleaning her up, I could paint the body, but think I may just go with an oil. Not sure if I can oil and season the sides like a cast iron pan. Down the road in anycase, right now I am banging on some obligatory railroad spikes. Maybe a hook or something later in the day..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.