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Zsteve
12th Oct 2015, 09:20 PM
Hi All,

Thought it was about time the smithy forum here had a 'show me your anvil' thread, as if you are like me, you like anvils and its good to see how everyone sets things up.

Mine at home tends to be fairly portable although I have access to a blacksmithing shop that I help coordinate so have not had a great demand at home to bolt it all down...

This i my anvil, there are many anvils like it but this one is mine... its an Attwood (made in Stourbridge) marked 1-0-14 (126lb). nice anvil with good rebound and a good surface. its had more work on it now that when this pic was taken (ie less rust). Still needs the horn repaired - job for another time....though I have others to use. built the forge a little while ago and recently made up a gas forge.

BobL
12th Oct 2015, 10:16 PM
My anvil, most of my other smithy stuff and some of my firings are in this thread.
http://metalworkforums.com/threads/168547-Building-a-natural-gas-forge-WIP

YBAF
12th Oct 2015, 11:23 PM
I'm continually amazed at the prices them anvils get. Here's an auction due tommorow and already its up to $200.
http://www.lloydsonline.com.au/LotDetails.aspx?smode=0&aid=2997&lid=537768&pgn=3&pgs=100

BobL
12th Oct 2015, 11:44 PM
I'm continually amazed at the prices them anvils get. Here's an auction due tommorow and already its up to $200.
http://www.lloydsonline.com.au/LotDetails.aspx?smode=0&aid=2997&lid=537768&pgn=3&pgs=100

When I bought mine in 2011 the recommended price of a medium quality anvil was $3-$4 a kg so that one is already way over priced.

Old-Biker-UK
13th Oct 2015, 06:21 AM
Here's mine - looks very tidy but the pic was taken when the anvil arrived, not so tidy now....
It was bought on fleabay from a local farmer. He had taken on some derelict land & found three anvils in the brambles! He later found the original elm block for it.
I started to make a gas bottle forge and asked my neighbour, an agricultural engineer, for some steel to make some bits for it. When I told him it was for a forge he said ' I've got one you can have, a few days later he had dug it out from some falling down shed & brought it round on the fore-end loader of his tractor. It turned out to be a WW1 portable forge, even has the broad arrow on the blower.
I'm very much a newbie at this but do like to have a go and develop new skills
My first 'smithing' was for the leatherworking clamp.

Mark

Some notes on making the clamp here http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=197727

Zsteve
13th Oct 2015, 08:11 PM
Hi old biker, do you have any more pics of that forge? It looks good. Also as I know someone who wants to make one.

BobL- good forge build thread and have been through it before. Have you bolted down your BK - as it seem to quiet them down a fair bit.

Cheers

BobL
13th Oct 2015, 09:33 PM
Hi old biker, do you have any more pics of that forge? It looks good. Also as I know someone who wants to make one.

BobL- good forge build thread and have been through it before. Have you bolted down your BK - as it seem to quiet them down a fair bit.

Cheers

Thanks Steve, Yes I have bolted it down and as my shed is fairly well insulated I can use it pretty well anytime I like.

Old-Biker-UK
14th Oct 2015, 07:43 AM
Here's a couple more pics of the forge. Had to empty 2 fert' bags of ash and clinker....
Basically it is a steel sheet suitcase (complete with handles!) with a cast iron dish to stop the the fire burning through the bottom.
The blower slides onto a dovetail casting riveted to the back of the case.
One pic shows the small gates at each side so long stuff can be heated. The lid is held open by short arms which fit into slots in the gates when the lid is down.

Mark

DSEL74
14th Oct 2015, 08:24 AM
My anvil is French, a Hulot Harmel. Here are some photos from the day I bought it.
359016359017359018359019

It is 110kg and has a side opening hardie hole and no pritchel hole. I also have a BK Sydney 56, and a worn out Dudley, as well as my two home made anvils.

I'll try to get some photos of them later.


Here is the forge.
359020

Zsteve
14th Oct 2015, 09:49 PM
Thanks Mark, Also see another pic of it on your web site. Cheers

DSEL -Nice looking Anvil - whats the rebound on it like. and Where the heck did you find that. Certainly look European, not so many of that style around here.

DSEL74
14th Oct 2015, 11:28 PM
Rebound is awesome best I've ever used. Several experienced smiths have already tried to talk me into parting with it. Although I prefer a regular through hardy hole.

ImJay
15th Feb 2016, 06:29 PM
Not my anvil, nor do I smith, but the workshop manager at the organisation where I am completing my apprenticeship made this bad boy for a customer over the weekend.

150kg, 900mm tip to tip, 145mm face

Just thought I would share some beautiful work.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160215/bad4fe13fc43f07c3a6b3a8e1e1e5f73.jpg



EDIT: Honorable mention, https://facebook.com/PJHMetalworks

DSEL74
15th Feb 2016, 07:13 PM
That's Wim smit's new anvil he is stoked with it.

Zsteve
15th Feb 2016, 08:23 PM
nice looking anvil

AndrewOC
17th Feb 2016, 07:37 AM
G'day Zsteve, I noticed your blower in the first post. Haven't seen one like that before- do tell!
Maybe I should start a 'show us your forge blower' thread...
;)
AndrewOC

Zsteve
21st Feb 2016, 07:03 PM
Hi Andrew,

Dont know much about the blower unfortunately. I got it at a swap meet a while ago now, its in quite good working order and blows well. Its made out of cast alloy material - standard hand cranked blower - the only marking on it is 60A on the other side. You can also run it off a V belt on the small pulley.

I like the hand blowers as they basically slow down and stop blowing when you let go, so it saves a bit of fuel as the fire is not burning away when you are at the anvil, then it starts the fire up quickly when you come back.

Cheers

361187

Zsteve
20th Sep 2016, 10:38 PM
time for another one. This is the forge set up at my local smithy. Thats a ~2cwt Peter Wright.

364290

eskimo
28th Sep 2016, 10:01 AM
the workshop manager made this bad boy for a customer over the weekend.







made over a weekend...mmm... shouldnt cost much then

Ueee
28th Sep 2016, 10:57 AM
made over a weekend...mmm... shouldnt cost much then
He just made a monster 400kg one too. Unfortunately the horn looks really light, not nearly enough depth were it meets the body.364427

eskimo
28th Sep 2016, 11:37 AM
He just made a monster 400kg one too. Unfortunately the horn looks really light, not nearly enough depth were it meets the body.364427

Oh allright ...he can make me a 400 kg one then

but the 150kg would be easy for me to move around

Ueee
28th Sep 2016, 01:55 PM
Oh allright ...he can make me a 400 kg one then

but the 150kg would be easy for me to move around

$6k for the 400kg one i believe!

DSEL74
28th Sep 2016, 02:45 PM
Smallest to largest
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160928/a203d88daaa825f628f5a8e7390ac8f4.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160928/b1105661acba3becf7fa7ab628cbb4de.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160928/6d695aa93e3fc11e43320ed08ffec8e6.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160928/c01deb76fc34bc327c8fcaa41d28e409.jpg

Cast with top plate
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160928/74ba4919f07e0f2c02a61fd4c6784179.jpg

Wrought stumpy nose
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160928/d3872488395d6fa34067289f1064bf6d.jpg

70kg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160928/fdc074698a9576577616c4029276c4f7.jpg

105kg solid
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160928/c815a051dd71a60e3eb720b20f1b18a2.jpg

160kg wrought
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160928/cbab8ae57c66e67634963a82bfd88988.jpg

Over 200kg Wrought
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160928/781654fc311b5093c08b4215688f54eb.jpg



And the striking anvil.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160928/ebef88a9182279c60a1b2fe62e17ae37.jpg

Coke forge.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160928/c7e06e376b714148091ca246ae67031d.jpg

Zsteve
28th Sep 2016, 08:27 PM
and I thought I had a few.....

what's that 70 kg lump of steel from?

DSEL74
28th Sep 2016, 08:35 PM
It was a slug of something like 4140, from a water jet place. It was my first anvil as I couldn't afford a real one at the time. It still gets used as it is super flat and has sharp edges.

I also forgot one....http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160928/ee1ba43b1a341c4b9d49ca875debcd3b.jpg

DSEL74
28th Sep 2016, 08:37 PM
and I thought I had a few.....



So let's see em

Zsteve
3rd Oct 2016, 11:15 AM
ok here's a few
another of the attwood
364564
224 BK
364565
112 BK
364566
and a small jewellers style that I made the pattern for and cast when I was an apprentice
364567

there's also another but its behind too much stuff to get a pic.

DSEL74
3rd Oct 2016, 11:18 AM
I guess your not using the one you can't get a pic of then lol.

pjh66
4th Oct 2016, 08:41 PM
may appear bit light but the horn is actualy 140mm thick where it meets the body of the anvil. The foot of the anvil is 65mm thick not including the upset block. 1400mm tip to tip.

pjh66
4th Oct 2016, 08:43 PM
None get made in a weekend but finished on a weekend.
This post refers to post 19

pjh66
4th Oct 2016, 09:18 PM
364582 Pictures not very good but hope it helps

He just made a monster 400kg one too. Unfortunately the horn looks really light, not nearly enough depth were it meets the body.364427

Poloris
22nd Oct 2016, 01:24 AM
This is my 84 lb BK.
Laminated Merbau block with stainless fittings to stop the tannin corroding them.
I put lead flashing between the anvil and block to dampen the ringing.
It looked so nice I made a heavy steel base to stop the block being scuffed.
So far I have only used it to do a bit of peening.
Mark.

YBAF
22nd Oct 2016, 01:51 PM
This is my 84 lb BK...

Nicely done. :)

What do the "BK" stand for ?

Poloris
22nd Oct 2016, 07:26 PM
Here you go.
BK SYDNEY AUST Anvils - Anvil Reviews by brand - I Forge Iron (http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/42073-bk-sydney-aust-anvils/)
Mark

Zsteve
29th Oct 2016, 09:30 AM
That's a nice looking BK and block particularly on that block Mark

Poloris
3rd Dec 2017, 03:28 PM
Iv'e traded up to a larger anvil, so I had to pimp this one too.
The Anvil is a 75Kg WL Bassett.
I haven't been able to find out much about them.
The wood block was a dining table in a previous life and the base was made from a 1.5m length of curved stainless 17mm thick.
All fitting are also stainless
Striking it results in a satisfying low sounding clunk.

Zsteve
13th Dec 2017, 09:01 PM
haven't heard of a WL Bassett.

It looks remarkably like a BK (Bradford Kendall) anvil.

At a quick search it looks like Bradford Kendall purchased WL Bassett. Based on the BradKen history in 1970 they "Purchased marine equipment merchant, W. L. Bassett & Son Pty Limited. and commissioned their Port Hedland Plant. so it makes sense that its in WA.

Grahame Collins
17th Dec 2017, 07:40 AM
Here is an anvil I made.

The deck is made from an offcut from a dragline bucket.

The sides and base are cut from used welding 19mm welding coupons and shaped under a brake press.

The hollow inside the base was filled with melted lead.

It was made as a knife making anvil and has no pritchel or hardie holes.

I estimate a weight of around 60 kgs.

Grahame

bwal74
18th Dec 2017, 06:27 PM
Here is an anvil I made.



Not many people can say that. Great job too! Better than my chinese scrap metal ASO. A real anvil is something I'm always on the look out for.

Ben.

desbromilow
3rd Jan 2018, 02:09 PM
here is the one I made - old photos
links to build photos:
Des' projects or "Musings from the Shed": Homemade Anvil - RR Anvil - Part 1 (http://desbromilow.blogspot.com.au/2010/04/homemade-anvil-rr-anvil-part-1.html)
Des' projects or "Musings from the Shed": Homemade Anvil - RR Anvil - Part 2 (http://desbromilow.blogspot.com.au/2010/04/homemade-anvil-rr-anvil-part-2.html)



371530
371531


since these photos were taken, another piece of 16mm bisalloy has been welded on top of the table to add further mass and resilience to the anvil.

Des

Grahame Collins
3rd Jan 2018, 04:55 PM
Its a nice chunky anvil.

A somewhat eye-catching colour scheme too.

Was the paint left over from painting RC's lathe? :D:D

Grahame

desbromilow
3rd Jan 2018, 06:26 PM
The paint is a "garage sale special" - cheap, and gaudy enough that people can't say "I didn't see that" - can be a reasonable theft deterrent as well since people aren't as quick to claim a purple anvil (or muller, or...), but I must admit my next can of garage sale paint will be a nice "pale red" for the same purposes. :)


Its a nice chunky anvil.

A somewhat eye-catching colour scheme too.

Was the paint left over from painting RC's lathe? :D:D

Grahame

johnc
8th Jan 2018, 10:44 PM
file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/YRICNOOG/IMG_0018.JPG


Ok I have it upside down, hopefully the mods can tip it the other way. This Anvil looks like it was made in 1925, it was bought new by my grandfather and the date would be around then. he was a Stone Mason/Sculptor and this was used to fire sharpen stone working chisels. He died around 1958, my father used it up until the 1970's and it has sat in the shed since then. very rarely I have put it to some minor use. It is 112lb and the makers stamp shows faintly along with Dannem which I assume means it is Dannemora iron used when it was made and if I am correct the Sodorfors stamp is also faint showing only the upper part of the letters. for those of you who actually know about this stuff does it actually look like a Sodorfors Anvil to you? I am actually thinking of selling it on to hopefully someone who will put it back to use. I had thought once I might do a bit of wrought iron work but that now seems very unlikely.

anglesmith
9th Jan 2018, 05:17 PM
Yes it does look like a Swedish anvil. Nearly all of them have the date stamped on them (Usually in the 1900- 1920s range) Always stamped in lbs and when you look at the waist from ends the casting is always narrower than the width of the working face.
Graeme

DSEL74
9th Jan 2018, 06:36 PM
That would make a nice replacement for my demonstration anvil.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180109/6068aa51a60ad4b2afbc4c44307f888c.jpg
It was all I could afford and as you can see has had a hard life.

DSEL74
9th Jan 2018, 07:13 PM
Has the Dannemora stamp on there, indicating the mining/iron district in Sweden where the iron ore came from to make this anvil.
Dannemora steel was claimed to be of a higher quality than other steels of the time.
Some Soderfors of the same time period I’ve seen do not have the Dannemora stamp (that I can find) on them

Dannemora, Falun, and Stockholm have been on different anvils marked Soderfors.


SODERFORS made cast anvils in this period although at a time they also made and advertised forged anvils. I have talked to people with and seen photos of solid cast anvils as well as ones with top plates.

The London pattern shape was used by Soderfors as was the beautiful old church window type. They were a proficient manufacturer that was in business a long time. They produced anvils for Colombian and Parragon which feature both names stamped on them.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180109/0f0ba5a1eae6f1ddfece76b23e829ef1.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180109/b18f10ccdb0df3802298f89aa0b97b4c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180109/d6fae79b8841c8d1c6e34ec01e1f5852.jpg

johnc
10th Jan 2018, 10:16 PM
That would make a nice replacement for my demonstration anvil.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180109/6068aa51a60ad4b2afbc4c44307f888c.jpg
It was all I could afford and as you can see has had a hard life.

A few years ago I was in a junk shop on the Bass coast, they had a few old anvils for sale, damaged horns and the tops pretty much destroyed, all had prices tags north of $350, I have seen prettier garden ornaments for a lot less, there only use would be that or boat anchors.

Zsteve
12th Jan 2018, 08:21 PM
got to wonder how anvils get so badly damaged..

JohnC if your anvil has Soderfors on the side of it then I'd have no reason to doubt it. other markings on it look very much like all the other Soderfors anvils I have seen. They are good anvils (cast steel) - can be quite hard and the edges can get chipped. thats one is a good size at 112lb.

AndrewOC
13th Jan 2018, 09:11 PM
got to wonder how anvils get so badly damaged..
I reckon the great unwashed think any anvil is indestructible...
;)
A.

russ57
21st Jan 2018, 09:25 PM
So, my anvils, me, my phone, sufficient charge, and sufficient memory coincided..

My first anvil. Not what I had in mind when my mum encouraged me to ask an elderly neighbour (former boiler maker) if he had an anvil. Still very useful, along with two bootloads of other tools.. [emoji16]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180121/7065d580cd1d3ef8e91c6369543ee8d4.jpg

-russ

russ57
21st Jan 2018, 09:26 PM
My second. A clearing sale somewhere.

A bit beat up, but eminently usable.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180121/4bd84d9d535eb1af272cb79fe1257ed9.jpg

-russ

russ57
21st Jan 2018, 09:30 PM
And my third.

A real score... Kerbside shopping!

The pink was the first paint to hand to decipher the legend.

I haven’t actually used this one much, as it appeared after I had paused active smithing, following a family expansion.

Will make a great portable...
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180121/875d6144dd838e58898196b718fbdfb8.jpg

-russ

DSEL74
21st Jan 2018, 11:34 PM
That double horn was a very good find, wish I had your kind of luck!

russ57
22nd Jan 2018, 02:07 PM
That double horn was a very good find, wish I had your kind of luck!It doesn't happen often [emoji16]

Got a huge sledge hammer head with it. Drove past a pile out for collection one night, nearly stripped the gearbox hitting reverse to take a closer look!



-russ

Zsteve
22nd Jan 2018, 07:15 PM
hi Russ, some nice anvils there. don't see many twin horns. according to Wiki - iron production started there at Kirkstall forge (Yorkshire) in the 16th century making it the oldest forge in England. likely that your twin horn is at least pre WW1 as they apparently stopped forging to concentrate on axle production.

any markings? on your second anvil in post #50

russ57
20th Feb 2018, 10:59 PM
hi Russ, some nice anvils there. don't see many twin horns. according to Wiki - iron production started there at Kirkstall forge (Yorkshire) in the 16th century making it the oldest forge in England. likely that your twin horn is at least pre WW1 as they apparently stopped forging to concentrate on axle production.

any markings? on your second anvil in post #50I will get photos, haven't been able to get out to the shed for a while.

-russ

AJ.
25th Feb 2018, 08:29 AM
This is an Anvil I made a few years ago from a piece of old Railway Iron. I use it regularly, very handy little item.

http://s28.postimg.org/xe2tytxal/Anvil_1.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

http://s28.postimg.org/5s02e5dxp/Anvil_2.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

http://s18.postimg.org/84zo3hotl/Anvil_3.jpg (http://postimage.org/)


Cheers Andrew

DSEL74
25th Feb 2018, 10:35 AM
There were lots of anvils and leg vices at the Swapmeet this weekend.
i came home with 3 new anvils, spent some time yesterday cleaning up the face and horn of one of the bigger ones.
372248372249

russ57
28th Feb 2018, 08:29 PM
I will get photos, haven't been able to get out to the shed for a while.

-russPhotos of the 'inscription', or what is left of it.
The weight reads 1 3 5
Which is I think 112+56+28+5=201 lbs.

No idea what the other bit says, but it seems much lower down than normal. A Clue?
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180228/5f4b6c8e8183864b06da30a332a248dd.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180228/18764baf515bfdc4857f605f0719b4e6.jpg

Russ

russ57
28th Feb 2018, 08:32 PM
Not anvils but vices..
Small, and extra small... :-)

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180228/8832bdb9871575f314dfd79bdcb9c532.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180228/229a10e859b06c0f81c05e58d9947dcb.jpg

Russ

DSEL74
28th Feb 2018, 08:44 PM
I like that little clamp on vise with the star on it.

russ57
28th Feb 2018, 11:06 PM
I like that little clamp on vise with the star on it.It even has a tiny anvil at the back!


Russ

Zsteve
8th Jul 2018, 08:07 PM
Russ, re your post#58, I think the word on the top at least is Joshua.

checking my reference (Anvils in America) there is a Wilkinson Anvil marked down low like yours - Joshua Wilkinson Warranted.

likely thats what yours is.

jhovel
4th Sep 2018, 12:29 AM
Just finished a new rail-line anvil with my 10 y.o. grandson. I taught him oxy cutting on some scrap, them marked out the anvil shape on the rail line and let him at it.
Don't worry, he got plenty of help and guidance - and supervision and was suitably kitted out. Sorry I didn't take any photos of the sparks and "lava" as he called it, but I kept my eye on him at close range instead....
Between us we ground it clean, I put some weld beads on the curved top surface and then we ground it roughly level. The finishing touch was to surface grind the top and sides. With a lick of red enamel, it's now his pride and joy.
Oh, I made him promise to pass it on to his grankids and tell them how we made it :)
375182

Grahame Collins
4th Sep 2018, 01:27 AM
Hi Joe.
The young feller is very fortunate to have a grandad like you.

It is something he will treasure and use and remember all through his life. It ticks all of the boxes.
It sounds like he will be a hands-on type of kid.
I dipss me lid to you ,sir!

Grahame

DSEL74
4th Sep 2018, 08:44 AM
Joe if you want to bring him around some time we can light the Forge and show him how to use it. Could even Forge him a little hammer head.

jhovel
4th Sep 2018, 06:39 PM
I'm sure they would love to come and see you - and so will I. I'll ask them.
I'll be in touch.
Thank you for the offer!

Cheers, Joe

Mark F
26th Oct 2018, 10:27 AM
Got lucky at a local car swap meet on Sunday and ended up with this 116lb Peter Wright anvil.
Pretty rusty but cleaned up well.
Wire cup on an angle grinder, tannic acid, boiled linseed oil and beeswax.
Should protect it until I am able to start using it.
Thanks to BobL for the tannic acid.
https://image.ibb.co/fHp1kq/20181021-110003.jpg
https://image.ibb.co/jxZvBV/20181021-110028.jpg
https://image.ibb.co/jDeRkq/20181024-144833.jpg
https://image.ibb.co/itFXQq/20181024-144841.jpg

DSEL74
26th Oct 2018, 10:39 AM
English Hundreds Weight (hundredweight) System:Typically the hundreds weight markings are seperated by dots but not always. These figures were stamped into the finished anvil and are often not very deep. The first figure to the left is hundred weights which equal 112 pounds. The next figure is quarter hundred weights which equal 28 pounds and the last number is whole pounds. The three are added together for the total weight. Examples:


1 · 0 · 4 = 112 + 0 + 4 = 116 pounds

DSEL74
26th Oct 2018, 10:43 AM
The edges are pretty chipped and rounded.
Make yourself a square block with good edges to go in the hardy hole.
You can dress the edges on each side from sharp to larger radii.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181025/a486efc0843cdeb3ca264242f848e6e1.jpg

BobL
26th Oct 2018, 12:37 PM
Came up nice Mark - well done.

Mark F
26th Oct 2018, 01:47 PM
Just curious. How much can you pound on the hardy hole end of the anvil without causing any damage or breaking it off???

Zsteve
26th Oct 2018, 07:52 PM
there's no hard and fast rule for how hard you can pound on them without doing damage to the heel and horn. At just over 1cwt your anvil is certainly not massive but a nice useable size.

You could use a 4lb sledge in the centre of its mass on hot iron without much concern. but you do need to be careful on the heel (hardy hole end) as you do see quite a few anvils where they are broken off.

If you do need to belt the cr@p out of something using a hardy tool - make a striking anvil out of some thick steel plate.

DSEL74
26th Oct 2018, 08:00 PM
A lot of anvils get the heel broken off by using ill fitting hardy tools. Basically an oversized wedge put through s undersized hole has to breakout some place.
the hardy should always seat on the face of the anvil with no gap.

Mark F
27th Oct 2018, 10:41 AM
Thanks for the tips guys. Dsel that block for the hardy is it just mild steel? I think my hardy hole is 7/8" so will get some square stock and make a few tools. Maybe a hot cut tool

DSEL74
27th Oct 2018, 07:24 PM
Thanks for the tips guys. Dsel that block for the hardy is it just mild steel? I think my hardy hole is 7/8" so will get some square stock and make a few tools. Maybe a hot cut tool
Mildsteel would be just ok if your working hot mildsteel. You’d really want something a bit tougher and harder wearing. You can always weld the shank on hardy tools so you could buy a block of bisalloy and weld a shank on to do the trick.

Mark F
27th Oct 2018, 09:56 PM
Bisalloy. Can you recommend a grade Dsel?

Zsteve
19th Nov 2018, 08:40 PM
not strictly and anvil but you still use it for smith'n - finally got around to making a stand for my swage block. even used it today, and not for just putting stuff on (like a table).
377015

Grahame Collins
8th Dec 2018, 06:02 PM
Lots of blokes have anvils but not a lot have a swage block.

Good post.

Grahame

Grahame Collins
8th Dec 2018, 08:51 PM
Bisalloy. Can you recommend a grade Dsel?

Hi Mark,
It's not Dsel but Grahame. Maybe use bisalloy 80 if you can access some offcut at scrap value.

They don't sell it in anvil sized pieces, rather big sheets.

In that case it would be far cheaper to just buy your anvil.

I was fortunate in that I had access to a scrappy who was buying scrap from some of the Mackay based Dragline bucket repair shops.

It was as a strip of 450mm long x 70mm x 75mm. Also, I was fortunate at the time to have access to oxy cutting and heavy welding eqpt. I made the base of 20mm structural plate under a 150 ton brake press.

You need to evaluate what types of steel your scrappy can access.

cheers

Grahame

Mark F
23rd Dec 2018, 11:54 PM
Thanks for the recommendations Grahame.

TootsieB
23rd May 2019, 10:32 AM
Bought this anvil about 5 years ago, seller told me he believed it came from the WAGR workshops in Midland. Had to buy it as my Dad was a fitter and turner there from after the war (WWII) until he retired. It has 1 0 3 stamped on side so 115 lbs or about 56 kgs. No other identifiers so it may have been cast at the workshops.
I have cleaned the dings with a flap wheel, painted it and made the block, it has magnets to deaden the ring you can just see one next to Pritchel hole , I am inner city so the noise is an issue. In the picture you may be able to see two hardy hole inserts I made one with reo to give leaves some veining the other is a fuller and I have another similar sharpened up for hot setting it is on the back of the block. They are both made from leaf spring steel. You can also see my gas forge which replaced a charcoal forge I made but sold to save space.
i have another forge at an old fibro beach house in Busselton, that has a brake drum charcoal forge and a farriers anvil I bought new about 20 years ago. I may take some photos of that and post later.
The other photo is my new fly press which hasn’t been used yet I am tooling it up and making a stand to get it up off the floor. It is a Sweeney and Blocksidge and based on screw diameter (2 1/2”) it is approx a number 10 so should be able to give about a 10 ton whack. The weights are my addition the ball weights were missing, the shiny new clamping bed is mine and you can see a dishing tool I made from a tow bar. The tool holder I drew up but had machined. The tool in holder is a cutter I made from a piece of coil spring braised on to a 1” bolt to fit in the holder and spread the impact through the bolt head. Intend to make a curve bender for gate tops next and a small right angle bender.
The power hacksaw in background is fairly new got it about six months ago had to replace the motor with single phase and put in a coolant pump. It is part of another thread.

379551 379554

BobL
23rd May 2019, 02:41 PM
I fixed the orientation for you this time.

TootsieB
23rd May 2019, 06:23 PM
I fixed the orientation for you this time.
Thanks Bob how is it done, for next time?

Zsteve
23rd May 2019, 08:03 PM
I like the look of that fly press, can do quite a lot wi th them.

I use mine for forging and bending mostly. Also good for punching hammer eyes.

BobL
23rd May 2019, 08:22 PM
Thanks Bob how is it done, for next time?

I downloaded your photos and used a very expensive photography program called Photoshop to correct the rotation and the uploaded them again. For correcting image rotation using Photoshop is a bit like using an elephant gun on a mouse. Others may be able to give some budget level ideas.

TootsieB
23rd May 2019, 11:23 PM
I like the look of that fly press, can do quite a lot wi th them.

I use mine for forging and bending mostly. Also good for punching hammer eyes.

I have to admit I like making tools more than things but I do make stuff. The press only cost me $300 so less than my small anvil and I can see it being equally useful. Probably won’t make any hammers, I like using old hammers. My last big project was my neighbors’ front fence. Some forging but lots of welding.

Love to to hear more about your press, tooling and what you have done with it.
cheers Peter

m.j.bower.69
18th Oct 2019, 08:48 PM
Here's our anvil, plus one of our non-anvil anvils.

The first pic is a small anvil, about 280mm from heel to horn. It was used by my partner's great grandfather who used to be a jack of all trades in country Victoria. He had an Indian with a sidecar in which he carried around his tools. He was also an apiarist.

Marked John Forrest. Anyone know more about these?

The second pic is of one of our non-anvil anvils. A heavy rail tie I think. Very heavy and great for bashing stuff on. The rounded bit is kind of like a horn.

Me and my eldest son did a few intro to blacksmithing days at the forge at Bundoora a few years back. Recently the kids have decided they want to get back into it, so we're setting up a forge out the back of the shed.

Martin https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191018/33950665551ad54fb7ad0237a81f7b25.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191018/6df3ed67f1a83bffcaf23fec93c54192.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191018/f3cfa1f1266255e286b9f7a9bb11f37d.jpg

Sent from my H4133 using Tapatalk

BobL
19th Oct 2019, 11:48 AM
I thought I should ddd my Anvil to this thread.
Gets used a lot - not so much for smithing
382932

And my Swage Block.
I've used it only a few times
382933

Zsteve
19th Oct 2019, 08:12 PM
HI Martin,

Nice looking Anvil what its weight?

Looks like an english made Anvil - no reference in my resources to John Forrest, whats the text just above the JF?

Cheers
steve

rcaffin
19th Oct 2019, 08:43 PM
It's not an anvil really, but it is good for hammering on. It looks like a 150 mm length of 75 mm round steel rod sitting up on a square base - but that is not the full story. I tried to cut it and, well, failed really. Turns out it and its identical mate were hardened steel link pins out of some large hydraulic machinery. Kinda heavy, but it is portable.

Cheers
Roger

DSEL74
20th Oct 2019, 08:50 AM
Bob that’s a nice Bradford & Kendall cast steel anvil.
I wish my swage block was in as good condition as yours.

shaper07
20th Oct 2019, 06:25 PM
I thought I should ddd my Anvil to this thread.
Gets used a lot - not so much for smithing
382932

And my Swage Block.
I've used it only a few times
382933

bob
where did you get your wood block for your anvil
steve

rcaffin
20th Oct 2019, 07:27 PM
where did you get your wood block for your anvil steve
Well, it looks like a bit of a dead gum tree to me.

Cheers
Roger

DSEL74
20th Oct 2019, 07:35 PM
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191020/408a0a67667a17fcf1fca45a044ef286.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191020/1d145fd7988f5e12e3684194cfb6a09b.jpg

BobL
20th Oct 2019, 08:22 PM
bob
where did you get your wood block for your anvil
steve

I cut my own
One of my "other" hobbies is milling timber.
382950


Plus I have a special jig for cutting all manner of blocks and stumps so the two ends are parallel.
These are horse slalom poles for a horse agility course.
382948

PM me if you are interested.

shaper07
21st Oct 2019, 06:11 PM
Well, it looks like a bit of a dead gum tree to me.

Cheers
Roger
yea
could be handy if you happen to have some near you
steve

rcaffin
21st Oct 2019, 06:22 PM
could be handy if you happen to have some near you
I live on a farm :)

Cheers
Roger

shaper07
21st Oct 2019, 07:54 PM
I live on a farm :)

Cheers
Roger

i dont hence the reply

rcaffin
21st Oct 2019, 08:15 PM
Must be someone in Perth or nearby who can help?

Cheers
Roger

BobL
21st Oct 2019, 08:32 PM
Must be someone in Perth or nearby who can help?

Cheers
Roger

See last line of my last post.