Slightly OT...forging equipment

[Brian Gingras]

I just got back for a 4 day teaching run at Snow Farm in MA and I was talking with the management about their plans for a new Forging studio. This is something they have never offered before but have an experienced instructor already. Trouble is the complete lack of equipment and studio. I've already offered to put the studio up this Spring, so the equipment is the issue. Does anyone know of a clearing house for used forging tools? Forges can be built onsite, but they are looking for Anvils, and all the various other items.

[Alexander Adams]

A great used anvil, smooth-no knicks-pointy horn-clean stake hole, is a rare find and uber expensive.


A good used anvil, some knicks-rounded horn-rough/no stake hole, still has a very high resale price.


A bad used anvil, deep knicks-chunks missing-blunt horn-rounded stake hole, might sell for the same price as a new chinese anvil of similar size.


There are some blacksmithing/blade smithing forums that have used equipment classified section.

There is a guy in Tucson who make knives using very primative equipment. Amazing stuff. Here is the link: www.taigooknives.com (http://www.taigooknives.com)

Tai is a cool guy, I would ask him about where to go for smithing equipment.

-Alex

[Garner Britt]

good, old forged anvils are very hard to come by and expensive. I see them on ebay at times but it seems there are so many anvil collectors (never help one move) that prices go through the roof.

The shop that I teach in has several NC anvils, they are cast and not forged, and not very big but for the price, they are hard to beat

http://www.nctoolco.com/pages/anvils1.htm

They NC Anvil is really a farriers anvil but works great for teaching beginning and intermediate students

Hammers, tongs, etc are in my opinion not worth buying used. We by a lot from

http://www.blacksmithsdepot.com/

garner

[Eben Horton]

cast one up.... lost foam in foundary sand.

ive never done it but its possible.

[Ted Trower]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Blacksmith-Anvil_W0QQitemZ200155077420QQihZ010QQcategoryZ1386 9QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I spotted this one yesterday just because it came out of a prosthetic lab.

[Pete VanderLaan]

Frank Turley
Turley Forge
Santa Fe New Mexico.

Google him or call information.

[Ken Peterson]

I'm no expert but, I dont think you want a cast iron anvil. I think it's too soft. I was at harbor freight a while back they had a selection of three anvils. I hit all three with a hammer. The two smaller ones made more of a thud, but the large one made a ping. I decided for a hundred bucks I'd give it a shot. Made in russia not china. I haven't used it yet.

[Pete VanderLaan]

Swedish steel is what you want. Expect to pay at least 3.00 per pound. The horn is critical and should be free of chipping. Go for at least a 230 pound anvil. Cast iron is awful. Ferriers use them.