Subject: Rolling your own, Anvil shop visit

From: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 17:38:08 EDT

I send this once, and it did not show up, so I am sending again as
best I can remember.

On $1 per pound anvils, no such luck for me, $2 to $2.35 per pound.
I saw a Mouse Hole, 136 pound at $275.00. I guess there is no way to
accurately date these anvils.

They are doing a roll your own anvil at the ABANA conference this
year, are they not? Should be interesting for those who attend.

I did visit a foundry that does some anvils. They make a variety of
anvils and the going price is $2.35 per pound using an existing
pattern. They took me to a room that had anvils stacked up
everywhere, of similar style; narrow table with an enormous horn,
apparently targeted to farriers.

They pour their anvils from 4140 and the average weight is 140
pounds. They have a 400 pound monster that was commissioned by the
Colonial Williamsburge people. Permission must be obtained from CW
to have one made in their pattern. I did not see one of the CW
anvils, but comments about it lead me to believe it is crafted for
period fidelity rather than functional precision.

No, I did not get to see any made, but I have considered obtaining
their schedule for the next pour. I did not test one, but they are
constructed from the same materials as the Mankel anvils which fare
well.

The owner suggested I either have a reusable pattern made for them
to use, at approximately $500, or obtain a 10x25x5 piece of 4140,
machine one flat and have it hardened. He knows of some knifesmiths
that have taken this route to get a meticulously flat and wide
surface. I do not know how much .72 cubic feet of steel would weigh.
Thanks,
Vance

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*  Message From : BURNS, VANCE A.       *
*  Location     : US-HOUSTON(IS3) LAN   *
*  KOMAIL ID    : FVAB94  (IS3     )    *
*  Date and Time: 04/25/96  17:31:01    *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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From: [email-masked] (Dan Hughes)
Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 18:23:11 -0400

>surface. I do not know how much .72 cubic feet of steel would weigh.
Approximately 350 pounds. Where is this shop located, Vance?

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Mon, 29 Apr 1996 21:58:44 -0400

In a message dated 96-04-25 17:42:41 EDT, you write:

>I do not know how much .72 cubic feet of steel would weigh.

.72 cf of steel would weigh approx. 352 lbs.

For anyone interested, steel weighs about .283 lbs. per cubic inch (changes a
little with alloy content, but not much).

Pete Engle