01tundra Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 ThomasPowers, on 25 Jan 2015 - 7:54 PM, said: I have one of the top hammers and was told it's a Spanish hammer. Mine has the faces not parallel to the handle axis and so hard for a new smith to use as they can't understand why they are not hitting flat---like them using a turning hammer never noticing that once face is flat and one domed. (I tend to not bring either to classes to avoid the pain...) What was the benefit/purpose of the faces not being perpendicular to the handle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Good question! ISTR a couple of medieval woodcuts showing construction work being done with such hammers but you shouldn't trust the little details in a woodcut without other evidence.. Stone working as I recall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 The angled faces are supposed to match the arc of your swing and hit the stock square and true. It's much the same as how you see some doghead hammers with the handle and head at slightly less than 90º to each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Hopfinger Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I came home to find my wife had gotten me a birthday gift. Two legs on the forge need some work but I was able to move the parts underneath. I am not sure what make the anvil is. The only markings I can find are a 100 on the base under the horn. Any help in identifying would be appreciated. The gentleman she acquired them from had the anvil stored outside so there is a bit of lichen for me to clean up. http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/38684-birthday-gift-from-my-wife/ http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/38686-birthday-forge/ http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/38685-birthday-anvil-and-refreshment/ http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/38680-birthday-anvil-close-up-markings/ http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/38679-birthday-anvil-horn-end/ http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/38681-birthday-anvil-side-2/ http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/38682-birthday-anvil-heel-end/ http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/38687-birthday-anvil-side-1/ http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/38683-birthday-anvil-top/ http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/38688-birthday-anvil-bottom/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Kinda looks like a Vulcan with the thick horn. Scrub the sides down, and see if you can see any markings. A Vulcan is an arm holding a hammer inside of an oval. It will be a raised logo since they were cast. Good looking forge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 So I was trying to hold on to my allowance as I head out Thursday to NW Arkansas for my grandfather's 90th birthday and who knows what might turn up? But when I get to the fleamarket folks are going crazy trying to sell me stuff---a new condition bullpin for US$3 a lot of old rusty wrenches to continue my bottle opener Tyrannosaurus wrench practice all priced at my buy point, and a very nice broad axe head for $5. Ah well it's only money---and then my student today wanted to *pay* me for his first class! I did accept enough to cover the propane and steel and returned the rest to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 Hmmm, picture looks right, then flips.....Anyway, saw a garage sale Saturday on Craigslist for 8am Sunday. Emailed , and asked for info. Sunday at 10am I get a call from the owner. He didn't have much info other than it had Wright on it, and he guessed 100#. They emailed me this pic, and I asked how much? An 80 mile drive to him, and $100 later I have my first Peter Wright in right good shape. The sale had been going on since Friday, and he told me everyone who saw it said that's neat, and kept walking. I also beat out another guy who drove in from Boulder City for it, but I had told him I would buy it before I left the house , so he told the otjher guy I had first dibs. Also picked up a double screw type chain tensioner for my trailer for $5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsoldat Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 (edited) Wife has been watching a few local buy and sell pages on facebook. well she found an 8x8' shed for cheap. $50 and an hour later had it home. Think she was thinking a bigger chicken coop... I get it for my stuff though set of old camper jacks, pry bar and block onto to the little trailer it went. Tight squeeze between the corner of the house and the trees. Only one branch ended up in the way. One little adjustment because of a dip next to the tree. Not cool blacksmithing tools but it's the next best thing a place to store them... The neighbours boy helped me drag it into place with the chain block tonight. He had fun! Just need to build a few shelves down the one side and it'll be nicely setup. Edited March 19, 2015 by Dogsoldat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I spotted this little lady on E bay a couple of days ago, £60 starting price no bids and only twenty miles up the road.So today I handed over £60 and home it came.................17 inches from tip of horn to heel, 6 inch by 12 face and 10 inches tall. No pritchel hole a small hardy hole and the horn is slighty off center.I have not weighed it yet but going by the size of the body I estimate in the ball park of 160 lbs there are no markings I can make out at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 @ Wayne, that looks like a right little Cinderella @ Dogsoldat, a video of you loading that beautiful baby would have been worth the watch!, I love watching (and learning) guys using their noggins . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gergely Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Hi Wayne, Good score! She sure looks like an old lady. I'm really no expert on anvils but my guess would be pre 1850. BestsGergely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklebuster Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 About 6-8 months ago, a long time neighbor friend who used to own an antique store called my wife and asked if I might be interested in an anvil that she had. Her mom had just passed away (She owned an antique store also) and because of the mom's passing, the kids were selling her house and had to clean it out. Although I have always been interested in the Blacksmith trade, about the closest I have ever been, is when the Farrier comes over to shoe my horses. Well, she figured since I have horses, I might be interested. Long story short, I went over to pick up the "anvil", and as it turned out, it came with the former owner's original stump, hangers, hammers and tongs, in addition to a milk crate full of a selection of hardys and hand made cold chisels. The entire setup looked as if the former owner had been using these tools up to the day before I got them. Another surprise was when I found out that the anvil is a Peter Wright, and from what I have read here on this site, it's a pretty good one! Try as I may to pay my friend, she flat out refused. She said that she just wanted it to go to someone who would appreciate it, and who may use it. And this is why I am a new member to this site, as I am stoked and excited to learn the Blacksmithing trade! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 If the side isn't too beat up, the weight is stamped into it. It will be numbers pretty widely spaced, mine is marked 1 0 26. The first number will be in hundredweight which is actually 112#, so if it was a 2 it would be 224#. The second number will be a 1,2, or 3 these are quarter weights and are multiples of 28#. The last number will be straight pounds from 0-27. So my anvil being marked 1/0/26 is 112+0+26 = 138# Your anvil looks to be usable as is, even with the edge damage. The broken tongs can be repaired, or modified. Overall a pretty great starter set. This is why it pays to be neighborly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 If this isn't living proof of the benefits of good neighbor relations I don't know what is. All you need do is get the forge burning and go to work. I'd call that a pretty complete kit, fancy stuff can follow but that's enough to make the fancy stuff in time.Congratulations!Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklebuster Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Best I can tell, the numbers on the siade are 0 5 16, so based upon BIG GUN's formula, I believe i have a 156 pounder. But the story gets better! So I now have this Anvil and tools, and start reading up on Blacksmithing, the basic tools required, and am now itchin to get started. A cople months later I'm workin out of town, and just happen to stroll into a local antique store in the town I am working. I go deep down into the basement, and way off in the far corner I find this portable or revit forge buried in the corner. Everything works except that the pump handle is weathered, and it is missing the drive belt. He was asking $367, and I picked it up for $250. I bring it home, replace the handle and belt, oil it up and it is ready to go! Two weeks later, out of the blue my other neighbor shows up at my back gate with a Post/Leg Vise (3 1/2" Jaws). I had never told him I was looking for a post vise, he just shows up with one. He said he was cleaning out his garage, and thought I might want it. Other than missing the mounting bracket and spring, the screw is good, and the jaws line up. Although he said you can have it, I gave him $80. So i am either incredibly blessed with the "Luck of the Irish", or devine intervention is telling me to hurry up and get my xxxx started in the art of Blacksmithing! Again, I appreciate all the fine input, photos and information posted by y'all on this site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 As the center number is in quarters it's unlikely to be a 5. What did it actually weigh when you put it on the bathroom scale? Some of the old 3's look like a 5 when battered a bit.a weight of about 100# would make it a 3. A weight of 156 would make it one of the rare but possible weight mis-stamps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklebuster Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Thomas,I didn't weight it, but i will. Thanks for the feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Nothstine Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 I picked up 30 new hammer handles for $15.00 at a sale, but the best fine of the year so far was a scrap yard only 15 minutes away that sell steel for .20 lbs. picked up a 9" steel disk to make a bender out of and some 2" round 1045 for hammers, with all the new handles I will have to start making hammers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Petty good hunter, gathering there. I think a couple of those handles are hatchet handles but still a good score.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklebuster Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Frosty,Looks as if you got it "Handled"!Nice pick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Frosty,Looks as if you got it "Handled"!Nice pick!Oh my, you Hafta say things like that to me? It's a Helva temptation you know.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklebuster Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Frosty,This also appears to be a box of those infamous "Left Handed handles" that apprentices are often sent to find. Use wisely!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Remember to wedge both ends or you might or get your head handed to you.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Nothstine Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 It's been a good month. My sister said she had some square tubing that was left in a house she is sell and asked if I want it? Showed up at my place with a trailer. Drop off 38 ft of 2.5" square tubing 3/16 thick, 16 ft of 2" square tubing. and a 3" round solid bar about 12" long. Was thinking of making a anvil stand not sure if 3/16 is thick enough for the legs, could double it up and make 2.5" x 5" legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 The 3/16" wall 2.5" sq tubing will do a fine job, you ain't strong enough to damage it beating on your anvil. both my anvil stands are 2" x 3" x 3/16" wall rectangular and you could park a loaded pickup on them without them flexing even.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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