Website

I don't know if I've mentioned that Yahoo Sitebuilder is the tool I've been using to build and maintain my website. At any rate, the program has yet to be updated for compatibility with Win7, and it's not looking like it will be. So thank goodness for Blogger, because this is where all of my updates will be until I can get a replacement program. I may try a wordpress blog template. Stay tuned here for updates.

Anvil update

Here's a picture heavy entry about my new anvil. My -guess- is that it's an Arm & Hammer, possibly a Trenton. This is based entirely on the rough finished heel, as there are no maker's marks on it. I did find a 5 or 6 digit serial # and there is a 6 or 9 stamped under the heel. I believe it is a 9 because I saw another anvil with a 4 stamped on it, but the 4 was upside down if you look at the anvil as it would be mounted for use. This anvil has been in use for a while and has several weld marks on the face. Too bad the welds weren't very good and have gaps. She was a "painted lady" at one time-- while I wouldn't characterize her as a prostitute (to use the terminology) she's no stranger to working hard.
I spent nearly two hours with a hard disk trying to remove chisel and punch marks from the face, and trying to make a couple of relatively flat spots. I don't honestly think I could have made things worse, and I need to post one of the photos that shows the face before I started. In the side-by-side picture all of the pink chalk on the face represents either a chisel/punch mark or roughness from exposure. I was fairly successful-- using a steel ruler to gage flatness, the gap is now about 1/16" and there are only a few deep pits remaining. The last picture in this series shows the face after a quick wipe with ferric chloride (used to bring out the areas of different hardness, as with welded layered/patterned steels). I've inquired about having the face welded and/or machined but will see if it does what I need before I go messing about with it.

 

 

 

 

I gained about 400lbs

I've been working on my 156# Peter Wright since about April 2005 (at least, that's what my old emails indicate).  I wish I'd recorded what I'd paid for it, I'll have to look at my smithing journal. Even though 156# seems like a good weight, there are limitations. This anvil was (ab)used but a smith in the mid-west who likely did a fair amount of horseshoeing, or shoe repair. There's not a square edge on the whole thing, the hardy hole is 1" at the top and wider at the bottom for some reason, so all of my hardy tools wiggle around (even with shimming) and I can bounce it with my hammer strikes. It's been a fine tool, and I plan to keep it in my stable for now. But, it's time for an upgrade.
After not being able to decide between a new Nimba, or an Old World Anvil I did a google search for used anvils and ran across a post about an ad with anvils for sale. Turns out the seller is local, but in the ensuing year had sold off all of his 250#-range anvils. So I picked up a 400# instead. He had a 500# anvil with a nicely polished face and horn, but it was $600 more for another 100# and I really couldn't justify it.

I've chalked the sides. I've used soapy water and a wire brush to scrub off any dirt, paint, etc. I cannot find any markings on it at all, except for a large 6 that was deeply stamped just to the left of the handling hole under the horn. It only has 3 handling spaces, too. The hardy is just about 1.5" and the pritchel is about 5/8". She rings like a bell regardless of where I tap her. My hope is that it's some unnamed Swedish anvil that is forged from steel- it was clearly forged by hand, given the rough texture under the tail and horn, and the unevenness of the sides. I'll take a ton of pictures and I'll tip it on its side to see if there's anything underneath.

It is far from perfect. The people who used it before were clearly not blacksmiths- there are punch and chisel marks all over the sides and face, the edges are rounded (though not apparently from abuse) and there is welding stick in some of the holes. It's going to take a while to dress it, but instead of spending an additional $600 on the other anvil, I can spend a full work week at my shop rate and break even. Tonight the face meets Mr Angle Grinder, the step is getting touched up and I'm putting at least 2" of fairly sharp edge somewhere on it.