johansen
Stainless
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2014
- Location
- silverdale wa
I have my grandpa's 550 pound anvil.
Problem being the outer surfaces are too smooth for a cast steel anvil, my grandpa (deceased in 2005) bought it from a blacksmith shop that was closing in Fowler California around 70+ years ago.
It appears to be wrought iron forged steel, with a wrought iron tool steel top plate forge welded to the anvil as was common 100 years ago. The top plate has a grain to it and will not grind to a polish, the metal has a lot of slag in it, as does the body which has a low carbon spark pattern when you take a grinder to it.
My dad's thoughts are that someone ground it down to get rid of the makers mark and serial number...because someone stole it.
No markings whatsoever can be found and the body looks as smooth as the later period cast steel anvils, but it was definitely forge welded at the waist.
I 'm academically curious as to how do I chemically etch the surface to bring out what I think should be a standard hay budden makers mark on the side. It looks exactly like any other hay budden anvil you can find photos of online. The proportions are slightly different because it is 550 pounds than many of the lighter weight anvils.
Problem being the outer surfaces are too smooth for a cast steel anvil, my grandpa (deceased in 2005) bought it from a blacksmith shop that was closing in Fowler California around 70+ years ago.
It appears to be wrought iron forged steel, with a wrought iron tool steel top plate forge welded to the anvil as was common 100 years ago. The top plate has a grain to it and will not grind to a polish, the metal has a lot of slag in it, as does the body which has a low carbon spark pattern when you take a grinder to it.
My dad's thoughts are that someone ground it down to get rid of the makers mark and serial number...because someone stole it.
No markings whatsoever can be found and the body looks as smooth as the later period cast steel anvils, but it was definitely forge welded at the waist.
I 'm academically curious as to how do I chemically etch the surface to bring out what I think should be a standard hay budden makers mark on the side. It looks exactly like any other hay budden anvil you can find photos of online. The proportions are slightly different because it is 550 pounds than many of the lighter weight anvils.