It's pointed...its metal...but not quite a weapon.

Atlantia · 20th August 2008, 07:47 PM

Its a beauty David!
How the hell did you come by it? LOL, did the seller deliver? I know the ancient Celts ran the Stonehenge sarcens down from Wales on rollers but.........
;-)

Regards
Gene

lemmythesmith · 20th August 2008, 08:19 PM

Hi David, nice anvil!! About the size I had when I had a proper shop not just 10' by 7' in a garage! The anvil I use now for bladesmithing is one I made myself from scrap, last thing I ever made using my power hammer before I sold up-weighs about 70lb so I can move it about no problem. If you make a block from sleepers it will be enough to stabilize your anvil without sinking a foundation. Thick lead sheet under the anvil base can help with noise reduction. My forge is fabricated from sheet, air blast supplied by a car radiator fan (with extra fins) mounted on the shaft of a bench grinder then covered by a tupperware cake container-crude but it works!! The tuyere is made from 50mm plates with 20mm holes through them then welded together.
Here's some pics from sunny Wigan, Lancashire...

A. G. Maisey · 21st August 2008, 12:42 AM

My forge is a truck wheel, and the the blower is an old vacuum cleaner.Its lined with just ordinary garden earth, which is fine for general forging, but if welding, it is a bit easier if you create a fire hole using fire bricks, but its not essential, no matter what you use to line the forge, you're going to get clinker, so you just need to learn how to manage the fire. The earth is pretty clayey, so it bakes up hard anyway.Use fire bricks, and they do burn out and need replacing fairly regularly, use earth and you just pick up a bit from the garden. If you're welding, you need a good depth of fire between the job and the tuyere.

If you cannot get it properly mounted on a stump, you might like to consider sitting it in a bed of sand. I've never used this, but I know people who have, and they reckon it cuts noise down pretty well. A properly mounted anvil---on a stump--- really doesn't create much noise at all.Think about it:- what you are hitting is material that is already soft because its been in the fire, its not like you're actually hitting the anvil. When you're working at black heat there might be a bit of noise, but its not really excessive. You're going to be using 2lb and 4lb hammers mostly, and if you have a striker, maybe a 10 or 12 lb hammer, and you're using them on a big anvil. That's a lot different to using an oliver or a power hammer.Put it this way:- your blower will probably make more noise, and whatever you do, it won't be as bad as one of those blower things people use to clean up leaves.

Here are some keris blades I've made.

Scroll down to my name and click on the index pics.

http://www.kerisattosanaji.com/PBXIIempus.html

katana · 21st August 2008, 12:21 PM

Lemmy, I really like the idea of creating your own anvil ....and then using it to create other things

Do you use it to forge blades ? Do you use coke as the primary fuel in the forge ? I have seen plans to create a forge that uses waste oil and is clean burning. Not certain if it would be a good choice as I thought carbon from the coke/coal/charcoal found its way into the work piece?

'A G', thank you for your suggestions and the link. Those blades are beauties

If I can produce something half as good ...I will be a very happy man. Are you 'self taught' or did you learn from another bladesmith?

Regards David

A. G. Maisey · 21st August 2008, 01:08 PM

Thanks for your compliment, David.

My first teacher was Gordon Blackwell, who is probably one of the last traditional smiths in Australia.

My second teacher was Empu Suparman Supawijaya, of the Kraton Surakarta, Central Jawa.Empu Suparman passed away in 1995.

However, I taught myself to weld damascus, and I had made my first keris before Empu Suparman accepted me as his pupil.

Apart from these two gentlemen, I have learnt much from other smiths, pandai keris, and especially from Empu Pauzan Pusposukadgo of Surakarta.

lemmythesmith · 21st August 2008, 09:26 PM

Hi David, my forgework consists of bladesmithing only these days!! I used to be a professional smith who specialised in blades but did anything from making nails, repairing farm machinery, wrought ironwork etc. I use coke as fuel-"smithy breeze" also known as "three washed coke" pretty small pieces about 10-20mm, burns reasonably clean but as Alan mentioned you get clinker. Good fire management is half the battle!!
If you put "meteoric patrem" into the search there's a couple of my pieces and some fellow smiths work too.... Forging keris is fairly new to me my background is Nihon-To based, tamahagane, yakiba and hada!

VANDOO · 22nd August 2008, 06:04 AM

CONGRADULATIONS ON THE ANVIL EVEN VULCAN WOULD BE PROUD TO USE ONE LIKE THAT.

katana · 22nd August 2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemmythesmith

Hi David, my forgework consists of bladesmithing only these days!! I used to be a professional smith who specialised in blades but did anything from making nails, repairing farm machinery, wrought ironwork etc. I use coke as fuel-"smithy breeze" also known as "three washed coke" pretty small pieces about 10-20mm, burns reasonably clean but as Alan mentioned you get clinker. Good fire management is half the battle!!
If you put "meteoric patrem" into the search there's a couple of my pieces and some fellow smiths work too.... Forging keris is fairly new to me my background is Nihon-To based, tamahagane, yakiba and hada!

Thanks Lemmy,
the link is
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...0&page=3&pp=30

Excellent work, love the blade....another 'talented' formite

I would really like to see some of your Nihon pieces, could you post some pics ? Did you produce your own tamahagane ? a skilled art in itself. After reading the comments in the thread above I am beginning to think that using gas or similar for the forge may be better. There is a guy in Britain that has made a 'waste oil' furnace, capable of melting iron. Others have modified his plans for use as a forge. It is clean burning and gets up to 'heat' very quickly. There would be several advantages, the cost of the fuel (waste oil) is incredibily cheap or even free. The components to create the forge can be made from scrap and 'recycled' parts, again keeping costs down. An added advantage is that it could still be used as a furnace to cast crossguards, pommels etc with copper, brass, bronze or even iron.
http://artfulbodgermetalcasting.com/3.html

Kind Regards David

katana · 22nd August 2008, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Thanks for your compliment, David.

My first teacher was Gordon Blackwell, who is probably one of the last traditional smiths in Australia.

My second teacher was Empu Suparman Supawijaya, of the Kraton Surakarta, Central Jawa.Empu Suparman passed away in 1995.

However, I taught myself to weld damascus, and I had made my first keris before Empu Suparman accepted me as his pupil.

Apart from these two gentlemen, I have learnt much from other smiths, pandai keris, and especially from Empu Pauzan Pusposukadgo of Surakarta.

Wow, what a privilege to have the opportunity to learn from such great teachers...

and for you having the talent to be accepted by Empu Suparman

I'm very impressed

Kind Regards David

katana · 22nd August 2008, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Its a beauty David!
How the hell did you come by it? LOL, did the seller deliver? I know the ancient Celts ran the Stonehenge sarcens down from Wales on rollers but.........
;-)

Regards
Gene

Hi Gene,
would you believe I got the anvil for FREE

The 'cost' was ...for me to organise and plan to remove it from a house cellar, the hire of a suitable hoist, 'convincing' a number of family members to help me, car ramps, timber, two cars, a small trailer, 2 gallons of sweat and an aching jaw (because of the permanent 'grin' on my face)......a SMALL price to pay. I know I am incredibily lucky and the previous owners generosity (a rare commodity) is greatly appreciated.

Thor must have been smiling on me that day.

The scaffold pole rollers were indeed inspired by our ancient forefathers and work perfectly.

Kind Regards David

20th August 2008, 08:19 PM	#2
lemmythesmith Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 93	Hi David, nice anvil!! About the size I had when I had a proper shop not just 10' by 7' in a garage! The anvil I use now for bladesmithing is one I made myself from scrap, last thing I ever made using my power hammer before I sold up-weighs about 70lb so I can move it about no problem. If you make a block from sleepers it will be enough to stabilize your anvil without sinking a foundation. Thick lead sheet under the anvil base can help with noise reduction. My forge is fabricated from sheet, air blast supplied by a car radiator fan (with extra fins) mounted on the shaft of a bench grinder then covered by a tupperware cake container-crude but it works!! The tuyere is made from 50mm plates with 20mm holes through them then welded together. Here's some pics from sunny Wigan, Lancashire... Attached Images

20th August 2008, 07:47 PM	#1
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Its a beauty David! How the hell did you come by it? LOL, did the seller deliver? I know the ancient Celts ran the Stonehenge sarcens down from Wales on rollers but......... ;-) Regards Gene

21st August 2008, 12:42 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,047	My forge is a truck wheel, and the the blower is an old vacuum cleaner.Its lined with just ordinary garden earth, which is fine for general forging, but if welding, it is a bit easier if you create a fire hole using fire bricks, but its not essential, no matter what you use to line the forge, you're going to get clinker, so you just need to learn how to manage the fire. The earth is pretty clayey, so it bakes up hard anyway.Use fire bricks, and they do burn out and need replacing fairly regularly, use earth and you just pick up a bit from the garden. If you're welding, you need a good depth of fire between the job and the tuyere. If you cannot get it properly mounted on a stump, you might like to consider sitting it in a bed of sand. I've never used this, but I know people who have, and they reckon it cuts noise down pretty well. A properly mounted anvil---on a stump--- really doesn't create much noise at all.Think about it:- what you are hitting is material that is already soft because its been in the fire, its not like you're actually hitting the anvil. When you're working at black heat there might be a bit of noise, but its not really excessive. You're going to be using 2lb and 4lb hammers mostly, and if you have a striker, maybe a 10 or 12 lb hammer, and you're using them on a big anvil. That's a lot different to using an oliver or a power hammer.Put it this way:- your blower will probably make more noise, and whatever you do, it won't be as bad as one of those blower things people use to clean up leaves. Here are some keris blades I've made. Scroll down to my name and click on the index pics. http://www.kerisattosanaji.com/PBXIIempus.html

21st August 2008, 12:21 PM	#4
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Lemmy, I really like the idea of creating your own anvil ....and then using it to create other things Do you use it to forge blades ? Do you use coke as the primary fuel in the forge ? I have seen plans to create a forge that uses waste oil and is clean burning. Not certain if it would be a good choice as I thought carbon from the coke/coal/charcoal found its way into the work piece? 'A G', thank you for your suggestions and the link. Those blades are beauties If I can produce something half as good ...I will be a very happy man. Are you 'self taught' or did you learn from another bladesmith? Regards David

21st August 2008, 01:08 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,047	Thanks for your compliment, David. My first teacher was Gordon Blackwell, who is probably one of the last traditional smiths in Australia. My second teacher was Empu Suparman Supawijaya, of the Kraton Surakarta, Central Jawa.Empu Suparman passed away in 1995. However, I taught myself to weld damascus, and I had made my first keris before Empu Suparman accepted me as his pupil. Apart from these two gentlemen, I have learnt much from other smiths, pandai keris, and especially from Empu Pauzan Pusposukadgo of Surakarta.

21st August 2008, 09:26 PM	#6
lemmythesmith Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 93	Hi David, my forgework consists of bladesmithing only these days!! I used to be a professional smith who specialised in blades but did anything from making nails, repairing farm machinery, wrought ironwork etc. I use coke as fuel-"smithy breeze" also known as "three washed coke" pretty small pieces about 10-20mm, burns reasonably clean but as Alan mentioned you get clinker. Good fire management is half the battle!! If you put "meteoric patrem" into the search there's a couple of my pieces and some fellow smiths work too.... Forging keris is fairly new to me my background is Nihon-To based, tamahagane, yakiba and hada!

22nd August 2008, 06:04 AM	#7
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	CONGRADULATIONS ON THE ANVIL EVEN VULCAN WOULD BE PROUD TO USE ONE LIKE THAT.