Can anyone identify this forge, Pros & Cons?

I have the opportunity in a roundabout way to acquire this forge with some tongs and a bag of coke.

Attachment 318872Attachment 318873Attachment 318874

I'm just a beginner and I am keen to have a home forge to come back to and practise what I am learning on. I am told the blower doesn't rattle when it spins, no way to know if this is accurate or not.

Basically an acquaintance of mine contacted me to say he knew a bloke selling some gear. However he only wanted to deal with him, why or what not I don't know. So I can't inspect or pick up myself I only have some photos sent to judge by. The blower is a Buffalo Forge, and I can't make out the markings on the forge, but I am told it is cast iron and about 600 x1000mm in size.

Not shown in the photos are also a 4" post vice with broken leg, and a heavy bench with 3" post vice. No further info on condition, or material/size of bench. Can be bought separately.




So I am open to ideas on possible make of the forge, pros & cons of this design, & what you think it maybe worth?

Wow! that looks almost exactly like mine

Except for the fact that you seem to have the original rear heatshield thingamy

I can't help with a manufacturer, never found anything on mine when cleaning it up

(sorry for the late reply, I had some computer issues keeping me offline for ages)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MrPete

Wow! that looks almost exactly like mine

Except for the fact that you seem to have the original rear heatshield thingamy

I can't help with a manufacturer, never found anything on mine when cleaning it up

(sorry for the late reply, I had some computer issues keeping me offline for ages)

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Is it side draft?

Where the pics?????

Do you like it and any things that are an issue in use???

"some tongs" are they mank-y big things like in the photos? Those are for two handed use, under power hammer or with striker- or as a BBQ area decoration!

"and a bag of coke." Compare prices with ABA Vic, the guy in SA (mentioned in this forum), and a newcomer in Hornsby NSW 20kg= $25.

"am told the blower doesn't rattle when it spins, no way to know if this is accurate or not."
- get a guarantee on the blower, you may need experience in restoring mechanical antiques if it is stuffed.

"he only wanted to deal with him, why or what not I don't know."
- ALARM BELLS; sounds like someone dodgy or a silly-old-man in the least. See next point.

"So I can't inspect or pick up myself I only have some photos sent to judge by." You will have to rely on your friend- make this known to them and your expectations of bargain vs. troublesome restoration-project.

"The blower is a Buffalo Forge", they are good (i have one) BUT small, from memory that blower originally would have come with a 'rivet forge'.
"...and I can't make out the markings on the forge," Looks like an Alldays & Onions to me, compare the star logo with adverts at http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Alldays_and_Onions I reckon that forge may have had a compact type bellows originally.

"is cast iron and about 600 x1000mm in size." That size is handy- just portable but convenient amount of room for tools and fuel. Never splash heaps of water around on a hot cast iron forge- control the fire physically (bricks, clay, ash, slack etc). One suitable type of traditional water dispenser is a whisk type accessory to flick a spray of water on the surface of wayward fire.

"4" post vice with broken leg," - The leg is the easiest part to fix... if you can weld. If it were me; the more broken/missing parts= more cheap!
"and a heavy bench with 3" post vice." Again price...

Hope that helps,
Tell us how you go.
AndrewOC

I have been looking for a small portable forge in the Sydney area for yonks, nothing decent ever comes up. I noticed thought that ads in Melbourne are a bit more frequent. The few and far between ads I have seen all look more or less like that one, meaning, they all look like they been fished out of a river or dug from underground. However if you can clean up that forge and hoping the blower works ok, it will be a very good first forge. You don't mention prices but I would pay $200 for it, may be $300 if the sun is shining. Don't expect much from those tongs. You can buy just as bad tongs or a bit better for $20 on ebay from time to time. Or you can buy them new for not much more. I think that the only hurdle with this transaction is the third party workaround. Leg vice and bench, depending on price and condition I suppose, what about an anvil? Hope you can struck a decent deal, but if the seller is too demanding for his other bits and pieces that are probably worth very little, concentrate on getting the forge for less than $300, the rest you can find easier on gumtree or ebay.