[SEL] Blacksmithing / Anvils

Wed May 3 07:52:59 PDT 2006

I did some research and there is a fellow in the US making steel anvils, 
however I think his prices are a bit on the high side.  How many hobbyist 
blacksmiths can afford to spend $1,450 on a 260 pound anvil, even if it is a 
beautiful piece?

http://www.anvils.nimbaforge.com/

According to his website he has them poured out of 8640 steel and heat 
treated to rockwell 50.   I've made 8640 before and a local heat treater 
will have no problem doing the correct treatment.  We could probably sell a 
comparable anvil at a profit for around $500.  However the anvil would have 
the as cast finish except for the face which I could plane on our 1880s 
Putnam planer or 20" G&E shaper.

I think Curt is interested in making the pattern for this one. I can't pour 
these with my current furnace however I'm agressively looking for a 300 
pound furnace which would be able to handle this size anvil.

Rick Rowlands
Tod Engine Works
Makers of Quality iron, steel, ductile iron
and nonferrous castings
249 North Water Avenue
Sharon, PA 16146
330-728-2799
Fax 330-759-1524
www.todengine.org/engineworks.html

 ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve W." <falcon at telenet.net>
To: "The SEL email discussion list" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 9:55 AM
Subject: Re: [SEL] Blacksmithing (a tad OT) bringing the next generation 
along.

> Not sure what steel it is but it runs about .40 points of carbon
> content. The main problem is that the face isn't heat treated evenly so
> some have soft areas. What kind of money would you be talking and how
> large could you pour? There is actually a LARGE market for a good steel
> anvil made in the US.
>
> Steve Williams
> Near Cooperstown, New York
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Rick Rowlands" <jrrowlands at neo.rr.com>
> To: "The SEL email discussion list" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 6:23 PM
> Subject: Re: [SEL] Blacksmithing (a tad OT) bringing the next generation
> along.
>
>
>> I'll make you one out of real steel (8630 heat treated) once I get the
>> larger furnace installed.  Who knows what that russian stuff is.
>>
>> Rick
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Steve W." <falcon at telenet.net>
>> To: "The SEL email discussion list" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 4:05 PM
>> Subject: Re: [SEL] Blacksmithing (a tad OT) bringing the next
> generation
>> along.
>>
>>
>> > Want a decent anvil for a GOOD price? Wander into Harbor Freight and
> buy
>> > the 110 pound RUSSIAN imported steel anvil they sell. I have two of
> them
>> > and they work  well once you reshape the nose and clean up the face.
> I
>> > do blade smithing on mine and use the other to make "iron" items for
>> > other folks.
>> > I also have a 200 pounder that I found cheap.
>> >
>> > Steve Williams
>> > Near Cooperstown, New York
>> >
>> > Pacifism - The theory that if they'd fed
>> > Jeffrey Dahmer enough human flesh,
>> > he'd have become a vegan.
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message ----- 
>> > From: "Curt" <curt at imc-group.com>
>> > To: "SEL" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>; "SEL (Oldengine.org)"
>> > <stationary-engine at oldengine.org>
>> > Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 2:49 PM
>> > Subject: [SEL] Blacksmithing (a tad OT) bringing the next generation
>> > along.
>> >
>> >
>> >> We've attended the SIAM show for quite a few years and this is a
> show
>> >> Devin particularly enjoys in large part because of the blacksmith
>> > there.
>> >> He has been very patient with Devin thru the years as he hung
> around
>> >> poking the fire and cranking the blower. In time the fellow has let
>> > him
>> >> do more and more and Devin seems to be picking up a strong interest
> in
>> >> this part of the old iron hobby.
>> >> For those at Portland in the SEL area last fall, you may recall
> Devin
>> >> picked up a forge blower. For his birthday last weekend (now a
>> > teenager)
>> >> we picked up a forge pan from Clayton Ballard that was missing all
> the
>> >> built in blower parts. This was perfect as Devin had a stand alone
>> >> blower. I made a air entrance and elbow to attach the temporary
> hose
>> > to
>> >> (shop vac hose) and Devin gave it a whirl on Sunday evening. Missy
> and
>> > I
>> >> sat and had our afternoon drink (her Scotch, my beer) and enjoyed
> the
>> >> entertainment Devin provided. I took a couple of pictures and they
> are
>> > here:
>> >>
>> >
> <http://www.oldengine.org/members/holland/images/BlacksmithDevin/Thumbna
>> > ils.html>
>> >> The little anvil he is using is a tad small, so we may be on the
>> > lookout
>> >> for a decent sized anvil. Believe we will also set up a little area
> in
>> >> the backyard with a roof for him to 'smith in. He definitely needs
> to
>> > be
>> >> further away from the house as the coal smoke will soon soot up the
>> > side
>> >> of the house!
>> >> Missy and I are quite encouraged that he is showing interest in
> this
>> >> even as the teen years are beginning. Kids need something
> productive
>> >> that keeps them challenged and interested in contrast to all the
> other
>> >> temptations available to them at this age.
>> >> Not many pictures to look at on the link yet, but we hope you enjoy
>> > them.
>> >> Curt & Missy Holland
>> >> Gastonia, NC
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
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>> >> SEL at lists.stationary-engine.com
>> >> http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/sel
>> >>
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>>
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