[SEL] Blacksmithing / Anvils

Fri May 5 19:26:17 PDT 2006

The Peter Wrights are nice anvils. Maybe combine the classic design with
a thicker heel like the Vaughan/Brooks and you would have a winner. The
thicker heel makes it much easier when using hardie tools and heavy
iron. Oh and you could make things much nicer if you cast in some strap
anchors on the base. Makes it easier to anchor them on a bench. As for
the cast surface that isn't a problem since most used ones have to be
reshaped or smoothed out. Just make sure the edges are nice and sharp
since every smith seems to want them different anyway.

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: Thursday, May 04, 2006 7:24 PM
Subject: Re: [SEL] Blacksmithing / Anvils

> Looking at the page in your link I personally like the peter wright
and hay
> budden designs.   Someone else has already asked me about making the
cones
> but I cannot remember who.  I can also make the hardie tools someday.
>
> We have a logo which used to be the William Tod Company's logo.  Its
on our
> sign in front of the property.
>
>
http://community.webshots.com/photo/453467954/1453484357033749120aGCDLF
>
> I was thinking of putting that logo with "Tod Engine Works Youngstown,
Ohio"
> on one side and the weight and casting date on the other.
>
> Rick
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steve W." <falcon at telenet.net>
> To: "The SEL email discussion list" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
> Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 9:10 AM
> Subject: Re: [SEL] Blacksmithing / Anvils
>
>
> > Tom has a good pattern you could copy... The picture he linked has a
> > pretty good line-up of different designs.
> >
> > Basically it needs to be stable and have the steel under the areas
that
> > you use for working the steel. While the Nimba is an UGLY looking
anvil
> > it is a great working piece. Then at the other end of the spectrum
are
> > the newer farriers anvils, they don't have enough iron in the heel
or
> > horn to be used effectively as a heavy anvil.  Then if you toss in
the
> > old Japanese designs (simple block shapes) or some of the German or
> > Greek armorers anvils (they had cast in curves and divots to form
arm
> > and leg armor) easier, it gets a bit confusing.
> >
> > Personally I like either the Peddinghaus style or the Vaughn/Brooks.
The
> > old Mouse Hole anvils are good workers but that short horn means you
> > need to have a few stake anvils to form smaller items (which isn't a
bad
> > thing) You might consider making a few accessories as well. Things
like
> > forming cones and stakes and hardie tools are getting very hard to
find
> > because of all the folks "collecting" them.
> >
> > http://www.blackiron.us/anvil-types.html  shows many of the styles.
> >
> > Now for the 100 dollar question, What will you be using for your
> > trademark on the anvil? Maybe a cast in image of the Tod?
> >
> > 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: Thursday, May 04, 2006 7:00 AM
> > Subject: Re: [SEL] Blacksmithing / Anvils
> >
> >
> >> It won't be a huge money maker for me but apparently there is a
need
> > for a
> >> moderately priced American made anvil.   Anyways 100 years from now
> > they
> >> will become collectors items.
> >>
> >> The question now seems to be to pick a design for the anvil.
Anyone
> > have
> >> any thoughts as to what the best design would be?  I don't know
> > anything
> >> about blacksmithing and wouldn't know what or what not to include
in
> > it.
> >>
> >> 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 7:03 PM
> >> Subject: Re: [SEL] Blacksmithing / Anvils
> >>
> >>
> >> > If you can turn out a 250 for $2.00 a pound you WILL sell a BUNCH
of
> >> > them. That is just about what used old anvils are bringing in
price.
> >> >
> >> > 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: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 10:52 AM
> >> > Subject: Re: [SEL] Blacksmithing / Anvils
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >> 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
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________
> >> >> >> >> SEL mailing list
> >> >> >> >> SEL at lists.stationary-engine.com
> >> >> >> >> http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/sel
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> >> >> > SEL mailing list
> >> >> >> > SEL at lists.stationary-engine.com
> >> >> >> > http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/sel
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> _______________________________________________
> >> >> >> SEL mailing list
> >> >> >> SEL at lists.stationary-engine.com
> >> >> >> http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/sel
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >
> >> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> >> > SEL mailing list
> >> >> > SEL at lists.stationary-engine.com
> >> >> > http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/sel
> >> >>
> >> >> _______________________________________________
> >> >> SEL mailing list
> >> >> SEL at lists.stationary-engine.com
> >> >> http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/sel
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > SEL mailing list
> >> > SEL at lists.stationary-engine.com
> >> > http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/sel
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> SEL mailing list
> >> SEL at lists.stationary-engine.com
> >> http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/sel
> >>
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > SEL mailing list
> > SEL at lists.stationary-engine.com
> > http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/sel
>
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