Hi Group,
This is in response to "Mill top of anvil flat" thread, I thought I would just do a new post.
The Peter Wright anvil I had, after we repaired it, was pristine.
For what I see people asking for them, junk, mine was worth at least half again or double.
In my late 20's I got my hands on the Peter Wright, from a german man whom was my employer, teacher and mentor
I no longer do that type of (blacksmith) work, heavy hammering. My elbows are shot and I simply dont want to do it anymore. There is no point in owning such a heavy expensive anvil as I've downsized.
So as cool as it was I'll never own another one like it again.
Here are pictures of an anvil I made when I was 17 years old...a piece of railway track and the cut off end of a 4" stepped shaft. I welded them together and built up the connection with many stringer beads. I welded a 3/8 plate to the bottom.
For many years it was on top of a crappy wood block. It was loose, I couldnt keep it bolted on, the wood was rotting.
So 2 winters ago I decided to take a stand... and make a new one.
I had this reclaimed old growth fir salvaged from part of the old shop... of the forementioned anvil owner... where the Peter Wright was housed! I've had that damned timber packed it around and stored since I recovered it from a fire there in 1980!
So i thought I'd take the pleasure of finally using some of it.
I jointed and glued the 5 pcs of 4x4's together as shown. I rounded the corners with a 3/8" radius router bit, sanded the completed wood assembly and put on 2 coats of Watco oil, my favourite wood finish.
The center block (bottom) is 3/8" shorter than the outside 4, those ones each have a slight angle cut on them and a steel shoe c'sk and screwed onto the bottom.
These 2 features prevent the wood from splintering and I can grab it by the horn and easily drag it across the concrete floor.
(My ex used to drag me by the horn accross the floor
To the top, I recessed it 3/8" deep and carefully fit the plate and rounded rail for full contact to the wood.
I took 2 pieces of 1/4 × 3 flat, drill and c'sk for #14×3 screws and drilled for the hammers, they very securely hold the anvil to the wood with no bounce or movment...super solid
The hammers shown hanging, well I've had them since my early 20's, when I started mill construction.
3 Proto's a 4# machinist and a 3# cross peen
Each has been re handled at least once in almost 40 yrs. I couldnt get the Proto octagon handles anymore so I got Snap on ones.
I have a serious hammer fetish.
I have many hammers.
Many.
My favourites hang here now, at the ready.
A few weeks ago we were rockhounding on the Fraser river between Hope and Chilliwack.
Along with a gorgeous piece of jade my sweetie spotted, (women make excellent rockhounds they are very good at spotting things...but be careful about that) I scored this brand new track plate when we crossed the tracks
I'll make it attatchable by means of sliding it on. It'll be handy for larger flat work. I like it.
Since we are dealing with rail track here theres one of the oldest things in my shop...and a 5/8" thk. segment of mainline I found by the track plate.
It...absolutely... blows my mind to think of the millions of tons of freight on giant steel wheels thats rolled over that sliver of iron I can hold in my hand.
I stood 4m away from the freight train that rolled on by where I found the track plate, just 60 sec. after we crossed the track from rockhounding! That was a real rush!
I love trains
I hope you all enjoy my story
Best,
This is in response to "Mill top of anvil flat" thread, I thought I would just do a new post.
The Peter Wright anvil I had, after we repaired it, was pristine.
For what I see people asking for them, junk, mine was worth at least half again or double.
In my late 20's I got my hands on the Peter Wright, from a german man whom was my employer, teacher and mentor
I no longer do that type of (blacksmith) work, heavy hammering. My elbows are shot and I simply dont want to do it anymore. There is no point in owning such a heavy expensive anvil as I've downsized.
So as cool as it was I'll never own another one like it again.
Here are pictures of an anvil I made when I was 17 years old...a piece of railway track and the cut off end of a 4" stepped shaft. I welded them together and built up the connection with many stringer beads. I welded a 3/8 plate to the bottom.
For many years it was on top of a crappy wood block. It was loose, I couldnt keep it bolted on, the wood was rotting.
So 2 winters ago I decided to take a stand... and make a new one.
I had this reclaimed old growth fir salvaged from part of the old shop... of the forementioned anvil owner... where the Peter Wright was housed! I've had that damned timber packed it around and stored since I recovered it from a fire there in 1980!
So i thought I'd take the pleasure of finally using some of it.
I jointed and glued the 5 pcs of 4x4's together as shown. I rounded the corners with a 3/8" radius router bit, sanded the completed wood assembly and put on 2 coats of Watco oil, my favourite wood finish.
The center block (bottom) is 3/8" shorter than the outside 4, those ones each have a slight angle cut on them and a steel shoe c'sk and screwed onto the bottom.
These 2 features prevent the wood from splintering and I can grab it by the horn and easily drag it across the concrete floor.
(My ex used to drag me by the horn accross the floor
To the top, I recessed it 3/8" deep and carefully fit the plate and rounded rail for full contact to the wood.
I took 2 pieces of 1/4 × 3 flat, drill and c'sk for #14×3 screws and drilled for the hammers, they very securely hold the anvil to the wood with no bounce or movment...super solid
The hammers shown hanging, well I've had them since my early 20's, when I started mill construction.
3 Proto's a 4# machinist and a 3# cross peen
Each has been re handled at least once in almost 40 yrs. I couldnt get the Proto octagon handles anymore so I got Snap on ones.
I have a serious hammer fetish.
I have many hammers.
Many.
My favourites hang here now, at the ready.
A few weeks ago we were rockhounding on the Fraser river between Hope and Chilliwack.
Along with a gorgeous piece of jade my sweetie spotted, (women make excellent rockhounds they are very good at spotting things...but be careful about that) I scored this brand new track plate when we crossed the tracks
I'll make it attatchable by means of sliding it on. It'll be handy for larger flat work. I like it.
Since we are dealing with rail track here theres one of the oldest things in my shop...and a 5/8" thk. segment of mainline I found by the track plate.
It...absolutely... blows my mind to think of the millions of tons of freight on giant steel wheels thats rolled over that sliver of iron I can hold in my hand.
I stood 4m away from the freight train that rolled on by where I found the track plate, just 60 sec. after we crossed the track from rockhounding! That was a real rush!
I love trains
I hope you all enjoy my story
Best,
