September 28, 201411 yr Years ago I used to dig for bottles in an old 1920s industrial type dump, full of lots of coal ash, bottles, bricks etc. We used to just toss the metal aside along with the unwanted stuff (wasn't into forging at the time). Went back today to find some of that iron. Top piece is wrought, that looks like some sort of ladder piece. Second down is 4' long x 3/8" thick wrought flat stock, and then below that 1-1/4" round bar, smaller round bar, and some sort of square axle. On left is some short flat stock, triangular thingy, part of car jack, two forged hooks, old file, and rectangular scrap. And...some huge chunks of anthracite. Here is closeup of the hooks. They were attached to corroded thin plate, about 3 feet long. I'd guess they'd been attached to a piece of wood. Here is the triangular thing. Both ends look broken off. It also looks to be covered in carbon? Maybe some sort of boiler part? Close up of the ends of the long stock. Last is closeup of broken end of the wrought ladder-type piece. I've only been at this hobby for a year....it's nice to have something to pound on other than old rebar scrap. No particular plans for any of this stuff the moment.
September 28, 201411 yr I believe the triangular thing is a cast iron rocking grate bar for a coal stove. Or a doorstop.
September 29, 201411 yr I'm with Randy it's being cast iron. And KRS: You are a big "Glückvogel"! What a find! I hope you can use that in health for a long-long time! Bests to you Guys, happy digging! Gergely
September 30, 201411 yr And KRS: You are a big "Glückvogel"! What a find! I hope you can use that in health for a long-long time! Bests to you Guys, happy digging! Gergely Indeed, I could not believe it myself- it was well over a week at the scrap yard and nobody could tell me how much it is, the boss was away then. After she came back I was told to put the shear on the scale, was asked to pay the scrap price (for 230kg with the stand), payed a bit less and put it on the trunk :D Chris
October 1, 201411 yr Quad-State loot: 250# sewell seam coal, 5" postvise "robustus" with beveled legs and stout bottom leg (US$35), Some 1" wide 1087, 40 pieces of 15N20; a burner for my pastor($33), set of Heller Bros tongs ($5); 4 shirts, 2 dewalt cutting disks for my 9" anglegrinder, probably more I don't recall---long trip back to El Paso!
October 3, 201411 yr Not specifically smithing related, but I picked up this buzz box yesterday for $100. It looks to be in good shape and it already has an extra 50 ft of cord wired to the plug. I have been looking for one to build a striking anvil and some other projects that my little mig wasn't up to the challenge for. One step closer to a treadle and/or power hammer now : ) .
October 5, 201411 yr Quad State provided me a nice little tongue vice for demo work, I also picked up the hardy stake (a beast) at a local event in Southhaven Mi. a couple months ago, where I was helping a local smith demo, and a couple students locally obtained a couple kegs, (empty sadly) for my shop, they will soon be quench tanks! Some of you who attended quad state probably saw me walking the little vice around showing it to all my pals there.
October 6, 201411 yr It's been a while since I posted here but that's not because I have stopped digging. :) Here are some pictures about the recent findings, at least those of them which are worth to picture: Old drill press, 62 kg (136 lbs), about 140 cm (3,5') high, gear shift works, main axle is stuck but seems intact. Post vise, 4" jaws, old non-lathed screw, weight: 25 kg (55 lbs), only some derusting needed because of the stuck moveable arm. Now works flawlessly (Although screw box has been welded in the shank.) Machinist's vise 25 kg (55 lbs). It needed a new jaw and to scrape out the broke screws of the old jaw. New jaw is made from 1/2" leaf spring. Even the factory painting is still on. Old and big (almost 2') wrench - it's a total mystery for me: second picture shows the size marking. It's 1 3/8 and a sign, a circle with a double cross on it. But the distance of the jaws is at least 2", so I guess the mark shows the size of one side of the bolthead. - Any ideas?? This flatter/shaper - don't know its correct name - needs some cleaning and de-mushrooming. It was a gift when I bought the drill press. This little (2 kg) stake anvil kind of thing is called the "locksmith's fist" in Hungarian. These ornamental elements are from old Hungarian wagons. They can be so beautiful I always take them when I see 'em on scrapyards. Not too often unfortunately. Their function was to connect the upper rod of the sideboard to the main frame under the board. And just yesterday I was at a fleamarket and found a 36" bolt cutter, a good old caliper and a basic repousse tool set for ~16 $ overall. Wasn't that bad day either... :) Greetings Gergely
October 6, 201411 yr about the spanner size Gerg, it will be the diameter of the thread. dont know the symbol on it, maybe someone else can help. here there were 2 common ways of sizing spanners, either AF ( across flats of the head ) or for some threads nominal overall diameter of the threads on a bolt and a few types that were just numbered common threads here when I was much younger included: whitworth UNF unified fine UNC unified coarse BA Cycle BSP and there were also a lot of specialist ones. most have now been replaced by metric
October 6, 201411 yr Hello. I am new to the site, and this work specifically. This week has me collecting some basic tools. Maybe some will know who made my anvil. I do not. The first photograph includes stamped numerals in the lower left. It is about 30 3/4" long, with 4 3/4" wide face. The tongs and blower came with the anvil. Earlier in the week another blower, a George Cummings, came to me with a post vise stamped "SOLID BOX...?" Much paint on the anvil base and vise. Thank you to everyone here for their dumping of knowledge and photographs. ~g
October 7, 201411 yr I forgot to mention that the anvil is supposedly 235 lbs, and while I did not check that yet, I do know that it's something that I should not be lifting regularly. After I remove some paint I will see if there are more markings, but so far just the two numerals.
October 7, 201411 yr Took my daughter on a pumpkin train ride a local train museum and after talking to a few of the volunteers I came away with a small chunk of track to soon become a small make shift anvil.
October 7, 201411 yr the anvil looks like it is good condition and you have a good selection of tongs Grisaille, just need a forge and some hammers now
October 7, 201411 yr Took my daughter on a pumpkin train ride a local train museum and after talking to a few of the volunteers I came away with a small chunk of track to soon become a small make shift anvil. I don't see anything makeshift about your rail anvil. Spike it down and put it to work, she'll shine up fine. That's the only thing it needs done she's perfectly serviceable anvil. Frosty The Lucky.
October 7, 201411 yr Grisaille; give us a picture of what the bottom looks like and we can make a guess at the brand---anyway it's a good one!
October 7, 201411 yr I have a background in stone masonry, so will be able to build a stationary forge easier than a movable steel forge. Below is a photograph of the anvil's bottom. ~g
October 7, 201411 yr Most likely a Hay Budden though some of the early "german" trentons also had the hourglass indentation IIRC. Either way top brand anvils!
October 8, 201411 yr about the spanner size Gerg, it will be the diameter of the thread. dont know the symbol on it, maybe someone else can help. here there were 2 common ways of sizing spanners, either AF ( across flats of the head ) or for some threads nominal overall diameter of the threads on a bolt and a few types that were just numbered common threads here when I was much younger included: whitworth UNF unified fine UNC unified coarse BA Cycle BSP and there were also a lot of specialist ones. most have now been replaced by metric Thank you, Iron Dwarf, for the info - I try to look after those namings. Greetings Gergely
October 8, 201411 yr Thank you for the input about the anvil. Roadside stands and flea markets have given me these hammers. ~g
October 8, 201411 yr Picked up a small fuller at the fleamarket Sunday for US$1; they hadn't a clue as to what it was, wanted $2 for the ballpeen next to it...
October 10, 201411 yr Today I found in our Local Area a post written like: "Heavy anvil for sell, 160 Dollar (so here 125 Euro), i don't know hold old or used it is" I called the number and directly made a date for meeting. Just an hour and 40km car drive later, I came to the adress and could see this thing: http://1drv.ms/1vRfFAS I didn't wait long and lifted it... i was sure it is round about 200 to 220 lbs ; so i bought it. then returned it home, gave it a nice, intense brushing and voila: http://1drv.ms/1vRg7PC i saw a very, very beautiful surface, no marks, and the best: it is a german Peddinghaus Anvil, it weights 210lbs and a ball bearing jumps back in my hand!
October 10, 201411 yr Oh WOW! What an awesome find and at that price?!? Geeze, that's a once in a lifetime, congrats! If you have too many, shipping from Germany to Alabama can't be that expensive, I'll get it out of your way.
October 11, 201411 yr today picked up a worn Russell green river sharpening steel, some interesting perpendicular snips, and a rockwell 31-352 sander/grinder (1x42", I think). $17 at a garage sale :) anyone recognize the snips? they are unmarked.
October 12, 201411 yr Nice score. I don't think those are snips, they look like someone modified a punch with the blades if that's what they are. Frosty The Lucky.
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