Still looking for blacksmith tools

Mike Davis · 08-15-2008, 10:43 AM

We are still looking for cheap or free blacksmith tools.

We need a big anvil, a forge, a hand crank blower and long tongs. No hurry and no particular name brands or models in mind.

Both my children and I have an interest in artistic forging of iron and steel for old fashioned hardware, tools, and decorative items. We don't have a lot of money to invest in new tools as they are very expensive.

If you see or know of anything we can use I would really appreciate hearing from you.

I search Craig's list and e-bay all the time so I am aware of the offerings there.

ScottM · 08-15-2008, 11:09 AM

Mike, the John C. Campbell school has blacksmith class. Maybe you can contact them for help.

http://www.folkschool.org/

Mike Davis · 08-15-2008, 11:20 AM

My daughter took the class and worked there one summer, that is one reason we need tools.

I think they buy every tool they hear about making it harder for us to find anything usable on the cheap side.

My son taught forging at Raven Knob this summer, he too wants to do more at home.

Yard sales, flea markets, estate sales, donations are what we are looking for.

JimmyC · 08-15-2008, 12:02 PM

Mike,

Every once in a while they come up on Craigslist, I'll keep an eye out for you. About three months ago someone was selling a complete set up and he was in your neck of the woods (Greensboro).

I'll keep an eye out.

Good Luck,
Jimmy

Mike Davis · 08-15-2008, 12:36 PM

Yeah, I think he wanted too much and the tools looked worn out.

Like I said I watch Craig's List and e-bay.

I'm looking for help watching yard sales, estate sales and any out of the way area that would have better deals = lower cost.

Tarhead · 08-15-2008, 04:38 PM

Mike,
The next MWTCA meeting is in Bethania on Nov 8. Usually some pieces at the tailgating sessions. Definitely saw a bunch at Ed Hobbs'. Randy Osborne or Ed Hobbs may know who specializes in them and can put you in touch.

Mike Davis · 08-15-2008, 05:31 PM

Collectors usually want top dollar, but I'll check it out.

Thanks

Ozzie-x · 08-15-2008, 07:08 PM

Mike said "We are still looking for cheap or free blacksmith tools. We need a big anvil, a forge, a hand crank blower and long tongs......"

And I said ""

Seriously Mike, I've been trying to at least just find a "good deal" on a decent size anvil for over 5 years, and I've about given up. You can expect to pay $3 - $5 per pound for a good, old English or Swedish anvil. About the best you could hope for would be to ask around, and maybe luck up on some of this stuff at an auction and nobody runs the bids up, or some kind of a friend of a friend of a friend's twice-removed-great-great-uncle has one in his barn that will get rid of it (cheap). With the recent resurgence of interest in blacksmithing, prices on this stuff have gone through the roof. Some of the tongs and tools you might be able to get fairly inexpensively, and maybe the blower, but you'll probably have to shell out some bucks for a good anvil. I'll continue to keep my eyes open, but all of that type tools I see are usually pricey, let alone free or cheap. Anvilfire has some new stuff, but I haven't even looked at it lately to see what the new stuff is selling for. And I probably don't have to tell you to stay away from the Chinese junk..... You might get a deal on one that is badly worn, and replace or restore the tool steel, I know several people have done that.

(Footnote: I missed a good Peter Wright ~150# anvil with a Champion blower and a bunch of tools about 7 or 8 years ago. The guy wanted $500 for the whole lot. He wouldn't take any less, and I thought that was too much, so I passed it by [like a dummy]).

Sorry I couldn't offer any words of encouragement....

Bummer

My Best
Randy

Mark Gottesman · 08-15-2008, 07:52 PM

Randy is right on the prices. I have been clearing out a few blacksmith tools and have been able to get a decent price for them. My last two complete Champion handcrank blowers went for asking price and the people were glad to get them for that. The few ads in CL have brought enough responses that I have not had to dump anything for a low price. If you need an anvil and don't want to compete with the highrollers then find a big chunk of steel at the scrap yard or machine breakers and use that. I worked for years making edged tools on a chunk of railroad (rings horribly), but it was fine for my needs. A english anvil was better due to having a larger work surface and more mass, but I can't say it was light years better. Heck, I have seen someone somewhere put a piece of plate steel on a vertical timber, sunk in the ground and get to work. Not pretty or elegant, but the output was just fine.

I may have a line on a couple of reasonable blowers. If you are interested, I will email you photos if they are available. let me know

Mark

Kyle · 08-15-2008, 09:16 PM

You might want top try NC Tool for farrier equipment for small stuff. Smithy tools are expensive and in HIGH demand. There is the SCA crowd, other re-enactment crowds
(revolutionary and civil war) as well as homesteaders all asking for this stuff.

Mike Davis · 08-15-2008, 10:01 PM

Nothing I haven't heard before. But it doesn't hurt to ask, I'm well aware it is a long shot.

Miracles do happen and I'm hoping for a big one. Will of course let you all know if I get lucky.

Thanks!

BTW, I've been looking for over twenty years. Patience has its rewards.

Rod · 08-15-2008, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by Mike Davis

We are still looking for cheap or free blacksmith tools.

We need a big anvil, a forge, a hand crank blower and long tongs. No hurry and no particular name brands or models in mind.

Both my children and I have an interest in artistic forging of iron and steel for old fashioned hardware, tools, and decorative items. We don't have a lot of money to invest in new tools as they are very expensive.

If you see or know of anything we can use I would really appreciate hearing from you.

I search Craig's list and e-bay all the time so I am aware of the offerings there.

I have always wanted to learn how to forge and weld and all that...maybe some day. Good luck finding all that stuff. I know of a guy up here who had the setup (tools and all I think) but was charging a huge amount for it. I also saw an anvil lately...might have been in the Danvile CL. I have a broken vise (a big one) with the anvil part still intact if you want it. It's cast I think, which is not preferable, but is a start.

Also picked have a small wood gloat from today that you need to check out....many many many turning blanks. I will be around next week some if you have a day when you can come down.
Rod

Rod · 08-15-2008, 10:56 PM

Originally Posted by Ozzie-x

Mike said "We are still looking for cheap or free blacksmith tools. We need a big anvil, a forge, a hand crank blower and long tongs......"

And I said ""

Seriously Mike, I've been trying to at least just find a "good deal" on a decent size anvil for over 5 years, and I've about given up. You can expect to pay $3 - $5 per pound for a good, old English or Swedish anvil. About the best you could hope for would be to ask around, and maybe luck up on some of this stuff at an auction and nobody runs the bids up, or some kind of a friend of a friend of a friend's twice-removed-great-great-uncle has one in his barn that will get rid of it (cheap). With the recent resurgence of interest in blacksmithing, prices on this stuff have gone through the roof. Some of the tongs and tools you might be able to get fairly inexpensively, and maybe the blower, but you'll probably have to shell out some bucks for a good anvil. I'll continue to keep my eyes open, but all of that type tools I see are usually pricey, let alone free or cheap. Anvilfire has some new stuff, but I haven't even looked at it lately to see what the new stuff is selling for. And I probably don't have to tell you to stay away from the Chinese junk..... You might get a deal on one that is badly worn, and replace or restore the tool steel, I know several people have done that.

(Footnote: I missed a good Peter Wright ~150# anvil with a Champion blower and a bunch of tools about 7 or 8 years ago. The guy wanted $500 for the whole lot. He wouldn't take any less, and I thought that was too much, so I passed it by [like a dummy]).

Sorry I couldn't offer any words of encouragement....

Bummer

My Best
Randy

Give the kids the keys to the truck and send them to all of the yard sales this side of the Mississippi. Someone will have one. Some of the old country guys (no offense to the mature folk here) still have equip like that in their barns. It might take just driving around and knocking on doors. I have found some amazing stuff doing that. BTW, did you post for it on CL?
Rod

froglips · 08-16-2008, 08:40 AM

Mike, a few suggestions (like you needed a few more!).

You might try auctionzip.com. Enter your zipcode, and it pulls up auctions in your geograpic area. I've seen many blacksmith stuff at sales out in the garner/clayton areas. It pretty easy to spot auctions with good , uhm, junk. The more rust the better

I troll auctions, so I'll keep an eye out for ya.

Have you looked into the Lindsay (http://www.lindsaybks.com/prod/sub/foundry.html) books? They have books on making your own setups (http://www.lindsaybks.com/bks8/meador/index.html). Given the advanced degree your children already have it might be to basic. On the other hand, building your own coffee can forge gives one bragging rights around the proverbial water cooler....

Jim

Mike Davis · 08-16-2008, 09:07 AM

Thanks Jim,

Haven't heard of auction zip. I'll look into that.

Yes, I have several of the Lindsay books. Also have been thinking about building primitive forge ala Tai Goo. That would work for me but the kids want to do bigger work. My daughter started a set of big door hinges that she wants to use on her home some day. A coffee can ain't gonna work for that.

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