This is a railroad town - trains going through all the time. And a railroad car repair yard features prominently in the community. But danged if I can get my hands on a piece of rail! If I could I would have it milled flat and mount it on a big piece of tree trunk. Then it would be worth my time and effort to build a decent forge. Think I'd go propane - coal's kind of nasty, especially when there are neighbors to be considered. But there we are... no anvil. Maybe someday I'll find one in a barn or something and barter for it.briane wrote:well - if you can get your hands on a foot or 2 of old railway track - that can work as a small anvil if you bolt it down.but anvils are Expensive, large and room hogs.
had a chunk of rail track left in the shed by previous owner - and I have used it as a mini-anvil many times.
whacked some simple blades out of rebar and a hot fire while back - also great for turrets!
Passtime
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Re: Passtime
Re: Passtime
Go find your local metal scrap yard.
Tell them you want to buy an anvil, and to call you if any come in as scrap.
Bring a ball peen hammer, if it doesn't ring like bell, its cracked.
Ideally you want one that's over 200lbs, and has a hardy hole(the square hole for accessories)
John
Tell them you want to buy an anvil, and to call you if any come in as scrap.
Bring a ball peen hammer, if it doesn't ring like bell, its cracked.
Ideally you want one that's over 200lbs, and has a hardy hole(the square hole for accessories)
John
Do not limit yourself to what others think is reasonable or possible.
www.johnchristou.com
www.johnchristou.com
Re: Passtime
Thanks, John. Actually, if I could get a hundred pounder I'd be happy. 200 lbs would be Awesome. And bringing a hammer is a great idea. I already know to bring a ball bearing and check how it bounces on it to check for cast iron. Don't want that.
I live in a small town. Our scrap metal dealer, well I doubt he sees anvils very often, if ever. I think most folks around here, if they had an anvil they didn't want to use they would make a yard decoration out of it. But if I offered them a couple hundred bucks for one they might reconsider their landscaping decor.
A hardy hole is Very nice, almost necessary. There are also anvils with another, round hole (I forget the name) that is very handy, too.
I live in a small town. Our scrap metal dealer, well I doubt he sees anvils very often, if ever. I think most folks around here, if they had an anvil they didn't want to use they would make a yard decoration out of it. But if I offered them a couple hundred bucks for one they might reconsider their landscaping decor.
A hardy hole is Very nice, almost necessary. There are also anvils with another, round hole (I forget the name) that is very handy, too.
Re: Passtime
They are out there. My dad does the garage sale/estate sale/etc. thing pretty hard; where he lives is better known for wine and tourism than blacksmithing, but he's come across several anvils (and has been able to flip them all for nice profits, or so he claims).sepulchre wrote:But there we are... no anvil. Maybe someday I'll find one in a barn or something and barter for it.