Savage11 Posted January 13, 2020 Posted January 13, 2020 I recently picked up a armitage mouse hole anvil, a blowhorn stake, and a pair of tongs for $150.00. The anvil is in rough shape but its perfect for newbie with five hours of blacksmithing experience. Quote
Stash Posted January 13, 2020 Posted January 13, 2020 Doesn't look very rough from my vantage point- just looks well used, as expected. Sounds like a good deal unless there's major chunkage missing from the other side. Steve Quote
ThomasPowers Posted January 13, 2020 Posted January 13, 2020 Only thing that anvil needs is a lot of hot steel pounded on it's face! DON'T try to *improve* it!!! (Especially with so little experience smithing.) Quote
Savage11 Posted January 13, 2020 Author Posted January 13, 2020 1 hour ago, Stash said: Doesn't look very rough from my vantage point- just looks well used, as expected. Sounds like a good deal unless there's major chunkage missing from the other side. Steve Its missing a foot on the other side. No major damage. Quote
CtG Posted January 13, 2020 Posted January 13, 2020 Can I mirror TP? Only exception might be a non-knotted wirebrush to knock the loose nasties off then a light coat of oil. Fogging oil, WD, Boiled Linseed... Just avoid abrasives. A time may come for that down the line, but the time is not now. Get some hot steel on her and work it in. You'll learn what you like about her! Have you had a chance to do a ring test and rebound test? What's her weight? Sweet find! Quote
Savage11 Posted January 13, 2020 Author Posted January 13, 2020 1 hour ago, ThomasPowers said: Only thing that anvil needs is a lot of hot steel pounded on it's face! DON'T try to *improve* it!!! (Especially with so little experience smithing.) I have zero interest in doing anything to her other than working hot metal. I think its from the 1840s. Just now, CtG said: Can I mirror TP? Only exception might be a non-knotted wirebrush to knock the loose nasties off then a light coat of oil. Fogging oil, WD, Boiled Linseed... Just avoid abrasives. A time may come for that down the line, but the time is not now. Get some hot steel on her and work it in. You'll learn what you like about her! Have you had a chance to do a ring test and rebound test? What's her weight? Sweet find! I think she weights about 116 pounds its hard to read the numbers. Her rebound is fantastic. I pounded hot iron on her yesterday for the first time. Quote
CtG Posted January 13, 2020 Posted January 13, 2020 10 minutes ago, Savage11 said: I think she weights about 116 pounds its hard to read the numbers. Her rebound is fantastic. I pounded hot iron on her yesterday for the first time. Wonderful! Congrats! If you get a chance, give her a brush-and-oil and snap some more pictures. I'm a complete greenhorn myself, but from what I've heard, Mousehole has quite the heritage. Quote
Savage11 Posted January 13, 2020 Author Posted January 13, 2020 Ill most definitely post future pictures of her. I posted pictures of her and my DIY forge in the new member introduction section you are more than welcome to check out. Quote
ThomasPowers Posted January 14, 2020 Posted January 14, 2020 What kind of bathroom scale do you have where you can't read the numbers? I have a Peter Wright that is missing a foot too; I love that kind of anvil as it doesn't affect using it and does drop the price substantially. I do fine it odd as mine doesn't have any abuse on the face---but is missing a foot???? Broken off too. Quote
Savage11 Posted January 14, 2020 Author Posted January 14, 2020 22 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said: What kind of bathroom scale do you have where you can't read the numbers? I have a Peter Wright that is missing a foot too; I love that kind of anvil as it doesn't affect using it and does drop the price substantially. I do fine it odd as mine doesn't have any abuse on the face---but is missing a foot???? Broken off too. My anvil doesnt have a bathroom scale nor do I. Im not sure how the foot broke off. I can only assume it was dropped or wacked with a sledge/hammer or something. I think the history behind it is fasinating, wish the anvil could talk. Quote
swedefiddle Posted January 14, 2020 Posted January 14, 2020 Good Morning, If you don't have a scale, put it in your car and drive it over a Commercial Truck Scale. Take the Anvil out and drive over the Scale again. Basic mathmatics, no fee at the Scale. Neil Quote
SLAG Posted January 14, 2020 Posted January 14, 2020 An alternative is going to a feed store. They have scales that will easily weigh an anvil. A few donuts should motivate them to weigh your anvil. SLAG. Quote
KYCATS Posted January 14, 2020 Posted January 14, 2020 2 hours ago, Savage11 said: I think its from the 1840s. No prichel hole would put it pre 1830's. Either way though you got a deal on a nice anvil. I love my mousehole Quote
Marc1 Posted January 14, 2020 Posted January 14, 2020 5 hours ago, SLAG said: An alternative is going to a feed store. They have scaleshave scales that will easily weigh an anvil. A few donuts should motivate them to weigh your anvil. SLAG. You could also go to the chemist with the anvil in your arms and weight yourself, then put her down and weight yourself again ... and work out the difference ... Quote
Savage11 Posted January 14, 2020 Author Posted January 14, 2020 6 hours ago, KYCATS said: No prichel hole would put it pre 1830's. Either way though you got a deal on a nice anvil. I love my mousehole Wow, she is over 190 years old. That is a blow of the mind. Quote
arkie Posted January 14, 2020 Posted January 14, 2020 Savage, if you can, borrow or buy the book Mousehole Forge, by Richard Postman. Fascinating reading about the forge and the anvils themselves. Quote
Savage11 Posted January 14, 2020 Author Posted January 14, 2020 40 minutes ago, arkie said: Savage, if you can, borrow or buy the book Mousehole Forge, by Richard Postman. Fascinating reading about the forge and the anvils themselves. That is a must read on my list. Should be available online I would think. Quote
ThomasPowers Posted January 14, 2020 Posted January 14, 2020 Available on Amazon. It's a fairly recent book; so not out of copyright. Quote
Savage11 Posted January 14, 2020 Author Posted January 14, 2020 Thank you kindly sir much appreciated!! Quote
arkie Posted January 15, 2020 Posted January 15, 2020 Savage, I don't have a link for you, but a couple of years ago, my son ordered both Anvils in America and Mousehole Forge for me as a Christmas gifts and bought them directly from Richard Postman...don't know if you can still do that. As I recall, the price(s) were cheaper from him than other sources, and Postman even autographed them for me. You might do a search for some webpage of his or something like it. Quote
tanglediver Posted January 15, 2020 Posted January 15, 2020 3 hours ago, arkie said: Savage, I don't have a link for you, but a couple of years ago, my son ordered both Anvils in America and Mousehole Forge for me as a Christmas gifts and bought them directly from Richard Postman...don't know if you can still do that. As I recall, the price(s) were cheaper from him than other sources, and Postman even autographed them for me. You might do a search for some webpage of his or something like it. How cool is that?! My MH is very similar in age, and also has phenomenal rebound, and just a bit of a swayback to keep life interesting. Quote
Savage11 Posted January 26, 2020 Author Posted January 26, 2020 On 1/15/2020 at 12:48 AM, tanglediver said: How cool is that?! My MH is very similar in age, and also has phenomenal rebound, and just a bit of a swayback to keep life interesting. My anvil is indeed old, but it has more talent than I. Quote
tanglediver Posted January 27, 2020 Posted January 27, 2020 Anvils have potential as tools, only people can have talent. But desire to learn can also count for much. You'll do fine! Quote
Savage11 Posted January 27, 2020 Author Posted January 27, 2020 10 minutes ago, tanglediver said: Anvils have potential as tools, only people can have talent. But desire to learn can also count for much. You'll do fine! Thank you sir, just wish I had more time to learn. Work and living in the sticks takes a ton of my time. That's life I guess. Quote
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