@@psychocarney8873 I'm not sure whats going on, but the site was OK the other day. You Might try emailing Steve to check on anvil information sfontani@wyoming.com
Hello John, my name is Stefan my grandfathers were master blacksmiths for many generations. We have records about the Family since about 1650. The forge is now a museum. I am a master toolmaker and unfortunately have not been able to forge with my grandfather. I still use axes and garden tools that my grandfathers forged. That impresses me very much. I really like your viedeos and they always inspire me in the workshop too. When a new anvil comes into the forge there are blessings for good success in the work on the new anvil. I hope I can translate the blessing well enough. THE GOD WHO MADE THE IRON GROW, WAS ALSO MADE THE IRON MEN. THEREFORE MAY ALSO BLESS THE LORD THE ANVIL AND THE HAMMER. I am afraid this blessing rhymes better in German. I wish you success with all your projects on the new anvil. Thank you for your videos
It occurs to me that the side shelf to a large degree replaces the London pattern's heel. They're just about the same shape. Another perk of the German patterns is that the hardy and pritchel sits closer to the center of mass, rather than far out on the heel.
People who do t use it don’t understand the qualities of silicone. First of all, it’s long lasting. Most is warranted for 50 years, but will last a lot longer. Secondly, it doesn’t break up. Quite a while ago, I was a partner in a speaker manufacturer. One product was systems for clubs and disco’s. We were testing a design with 15” woofers and three inch thick wood cabinet walls. We silicones the drivers to the walls. It worked well to dampen vibration, sort of the way it worked for this anvil. When it came time to take the test apart, we had to use a hydraulic jack to try to get the drivers off. The wood broke first. Silicone is very good for this purpose. Yes, some people insist that you need to use some older materials and design. But that’s just their not wanting a new process on something they feel should old throughout.
Congratulations John on moving into the 400+lb club ! You're going to love it :-) that anvil is almost as big as Olga # 465... One thing that you will start to notice is with that big surface you will be able to leave a few tools that are in use on one end while working on the other . really find that ability super helpful for efficient work.
I bought a 250# anvil from Steve three years ago and it's been an awesome anvil. He threw in a steel anvil stand with it for an extra $150 and it was totally worth it. Steve told me to use silicon to attach it to the stand and the anvil has zero ring to it. BTW, I used the shelf just today as a bridge with the face to help straighten a punched hole; it's a great feature.
Ive been drooling after a fontanini for ages as my main anvil. I plan to get one as soon as im able but theres really just not a lot of talk on them online. Its got all the features i want and where i want them but im really glad to see this video. I saw it posted and immediately it improved my mood after a couple failed projects and an unsuccessful trip to the hardware store earlier today.
You may complain about a hardie hole that only fits tools in one direction but oh boy you would hate my early 1800s anvil: 2 hardie holes with irregular and irregularly tapered holes that only fit tools in one orientation! it would drive me nuts if it wasn't such a nice piece of history!
@@sander7165 sort of... more of a double bicked variant of one. Here in the UK honestly I've never met a smith who describes anvils based on their patterns but hey you can see for yourself when I start uploading videos of my blacksmithing!
I was taught to have softer hammers (softer than the usual hammers you can buy at stores like home depot). Reason behind that is not only so you don't damage your anvil but also so that you don't damage your tools like the cut off hardy if you manage to hit it. It's much easier and better to grind on your hammer than try to fix your anvil or hardened tools.
Congratulations John!! I picked up my new southgerman pattern anvil today, just got home from a 600 km drive and I'm now watching your video. What a great way to end this fabulous day😁👌 hope you'll enjoy your new anvil! Great video, enjoy your Sunday Cheers Andy
I bought a 275lb Refflinghaus over a year ago that is very similar with the side shelf and upsetting block. Why I got that design was it has a smooth transition from the face into the horn which creates a very nice area for drawing material out that is close to the center of mass. The side shelf is great for things like you mentioned. It's also nice to have square inside corners for a lot of shaping needs. I don't regret spending the money one bit. I don't live too far from you BTW. I'm in Woodland Park.
That is a very nice looking piece of equipment (is is okay to call it equipment, grin?) In my woodworking shop the primary piece of equipment is the table saw and upgrading that piece was a big day for me some years ago. Knowing that the anvil sets in the middle of you shop makes me think it is the center piece to your work so I am sure this was a big day for you.
I have anvil envey, the new one is a work of art in itself, I used a steel anvil stand I made it from 4x4 angle iron and a bed of silicone and a thin sheet of rubber under the 3 legs it killed the ring perfectly.
Thank you! I just started to make a small anvil out of an approx 30cm long railroad track piece, what has rounded edges on both side. My original plan was to make only 1 horn to keep the surface for hammering big enough, but your video made me realize that i can make another horn too, and i can keep that squared, so the anvil could have almost all functions, except for the Hardy-holes. Thank you for this idea!
I considered the Fontanini but went with Refflinghaus. I would be very proud to own that American made anvil. They sure are beautiful. You finally got the horn pointing in the right direction :).
@@kevinlipka4336 You man have missed my smiley face at the end. Just kidding. If you don't do it like me you are wrong :). The right way is the way that works for you.
The step between the face and horn is know as the cutting table on London pattern anvils.( or at least it is here in England) Back when they were made of wrought iron forge welded together that spot and the bick didn't have a steel face hence that step, its where the hard steel face ended. So with that patch being soft iron it was great for using as a cutting spot. Though on modern cast steel or drop forged anvils it's the same hardness all over so it's never or very rarely used for cutting anymore because its going to ruin your tools
Wow - that makes so much sense. Never thought of the "don't want to ruin your tools" thing as the reason to cut there on softer wrought iron. Thanks for the history!
in a few short weeks I have found this to be such a nice anvil to work on with very little thought on how to use the new options. They all just come natural in the work flow.
@@BlackBearForge have you noticed any improvements in the amount you can get done in a heat? I'm wondering if having the extra options on the anvil mean less reaching for other tools?
@@Zogg1281 Not exactly. I have noticed I have been taking the same starting point and trying many different details using more of the anvils available shapes.
Nice anvil, and a good weight - my new one I got last year is 200kg, and it made a big difference over the old 90kg one I had. I love the bigger face and longer length. I didn't bother retooling my hardy tools. I have a swage block nearby that has the right size hole for my old tooling, so that is where I do most of my work with Hardy's. I have made a few tools for the new anvil that sit in the hardy, but with a 40mm hardy hole, I tend to weld a bit of 40mm square tube under the tool rather than trying to work steel that size by hand to fit!
They sell silicone mats and they work great it's actual silicone already been poured into a mat or belt you should try that and it's not very expensive
She is a real beauty, l would have to win the lottery to be able to justify something this nice. I currently have a Mouse hole anvil and it's 156 lbs. Congratulations on your new toy
A good friend of mine in Delta Junction Alaska has one and its his main anvil. He's the go to guy for custom railing here and he's very well regarded in the local blacksmithing group. I almost bought one of these 12 or so years ago but went with a Incandescent Ironworks Rhino anvil. They are no longer made but are very good anvils too if you run across one.
I love my Fontanini anvil. I use the side shelf all the time. If doing Damascus steel it doesn't rob the heat as fast and like you said, it is great for scrolling. I highly recommend the 460 pound if you can afford it. Steve also makes a tripod style stand for it that is great, though slightly taller than I have had my anvil in the past (I've gotten used to it).
Onwards & upwards! I really like the new anvil! I have 2 anvils. One is a 90lbs Trenton that I take to rendezvous. The other is an Acme, that I got from my Father-in-law. I think it's about the same weight. This way, I don't have to dig out the Trenton from the rendezvous trailer, every time I want to do some blacksmithing. Enjoyed the video! I'm officially jealous!
I just recently saw your video on silencing an anvil and also about dressing the imperfections out of the face of an anvil. That said, I am much surprised to see this video of your parting with that anvil for a replacement. I don't know a thing about blacksmithing,,,,,, (correction, up until recently due to really liking your channel) did I ever know anything so my opinion is one that is an uneducated one. However, after seeing the new anvil and listening to how versatile this one will be and other features I have been sold on it, especially the color and overall look. Thanks for all the lessons and I look forward to seeing many things made on your new prize.
I have that anvil. It’s great. I’m really looking forward to seeing how you make hold downs for it. It was fun to see the guy who made my anvil briefly as well
@@BlackBearForge that has been my experience. I was convinced I was making them wrong, but it’s the depth of hole. I ended up making an adjustable spring clamp from two trampoline springs on a chain through the pritchel attached to angle iron. More trouble than it’s worth. Now I m experimenting with heavy roller chain from a hay baler. Considering a foot pedal attachment to the chain to increase holding force with the whole thing being able to flip out of the way..
@@BlackBearForge You could maybe fabricate an adapter that goes in the hardy hole, with a pritchel-size hole in it? That way you could have a shallower "plug-in" pritchel hole.
@@TonyUrryMakes Yes, but it's wider. Make a square shank that goes say 2-3" deep in the hole, with a pritche hole drilled in the middle of it and you'll effectively have a shallower pritchel hole.
Whew. Thank the lord for silicone. I’m really interested in seeing the dimensions of the 150# anvil. Sounds like it might close to what I’m looking for.
@@BlackBearForge I looked at the 250lb one myself tbh. $1800 isn't crazy high considering it's brand new imo. Wouldn't even be my most expensive toy either 🤔
Thanks! I now know the Anvil I'm getting for my shop once it is finished being built. That 250 pond one is just the right size for my needs. I've worked with a lot of industrial quieting stuff in my time, and silicone is one of the best and easiest to use methods.
Very nice anvil. joining the double horn dark side ive got a 100lb cast anvil love love love it. Can't wait to see what you'll make on this big behemoth. Happy forging John
Congratulations on the new anvil. I will miss the old anvil, I have been watching you use it for almost 3 years, but am looking forward to seeing how you make use of the new features. Thank you so much for taking your valuable time to help us new blacksmiths.
Thanks for sharing with us John, fantastic looking anvil you got. I was glad you got rid of the ringing, makes for a better day working on the anvil. Looking forward to seeing you doing some work on the anvil. Fred.👏🏻👏🏻👍👍
Well, a couple of things. *that anvil is AWESOME. *If you need to lift it again, use isopropilic alcohol to loosen the silicone. *magnets also quiet down anvils. *the square horn is really useful, I don't know how you managed without one that long *I don't think there's a "correct" orientation of an anvil, but I guess the round horn should be to the side you hold the tongs/workpiece, so it would be more comfortable working around it... Just my two cents
That’s a beauty! Very well thought out design! Beat of luck with it and I look forward to seeing it in action...well you in action, the anvil is an inanimate object! Lol!
That's a very sexy anvil! I've never seen on in person, but I've heard nothing but great things about Fontanini and his anvils. Very glad to hear you used my idea regarding the silicone caulk. ;) Caulk or Construction Adhesive really is a miracle cure for anvil ringing. I don't understand the science behind it, but having used it on several anvils, I can say with certainty that it's a lot easy and more effective than chains, magnets, horse mat, conveyor belt and all the other things people do. And best of all..... it makes stealing the anvil dang near impossible! With the anvil being front-n-center on your show all the time, I see Fontanini getting a rather nice boost in sales! Congrats to you both. I look forward to seeing the anvil in action!
That’s a great looking anvil John. The anvil I love to use is a 260# Holland anvil cast from H13 steel. They have a anvils up to 440# and swage blocks. Happy blacksmithing.
Congrats! I love German-style anvils. I have a smaller 77 lb Rigid Peddinghaus, and will probably get a bigger one soon. I do like the portability of the smaller ones, but I often wished the face was bigger. Keep us updated on it.
It's especially a Southern German style, which i really like, but was not able find exactly this type, even then i needed to drive 150 km to get a double horn 75 kg for €500
She is certainly a beauty. And with the silicone setting, really very quiet. Love the upsetting block, side shelf, and double horn. This has got to be a really versatile anvil. I can hardly wait to see all of the uses you find for the new added features you get to "play" around with. Just hoping you don't backhand that horn swing back from the forge while getting used to the new set up. Just remember to use a 'disposable' cutting block with that new softer face and chisels/punches. 😁
Love the German pattern anvils. After years and years of getting by with ASO's, I got the chance to play on a Refflinghause and wasn't long before getting one myself. I didn't get the side shelf, sometimes I wish I had, but it's really not an issue for me at present. It did come with an upsetting block on the side at the bottom and that's a handy feature.
forge52100 I got the #57 275lb Refflinghaus in 2018 and love it. I had already ordered it and had been waiting for about year before I first saw the Fontanini. If I had seen them first, that is probably what I would have ended up with. Wish I could have both.
@@jackphillips8771 I've got the the #57 330 pounder along with the 275 hornless. Sometimes I wish I'd gotten the 210 pounder, but then other times I'm glad I didn't. I'd have to play/try out the Fontanini, but I think I like the harder anvil better so far. Either one should last a lifetime or three.
That's a great looking anvil i can't wait to see you use it and the ways you will find to use the different aspects of your new anvil to complete your projects
My anvil is a hay buden and it’s 144 pounds and i got a smoking deal on it. Half of the face was gone and the guy’s daughter is a welder so he made me a deal and she welded up the face and ground it down made it look all nice and pretty. I paid 400 dollars which later i found out the anvil was worth like 1,000 dollars.
An idea for the walled out hardie hole: You could 'forge to fit' an adapter sleeve from square tubing, with a dot of weld for orientation. One inch tooling to 3/4" tooling. Etc.
Love the new anvil! Absolutely beautiful. Its gentleman like you that started me down the road. I had no idea what it meant to be passionate about something other than a person until i found the feeling of hammer on steel. The peace, purpose, and drive it has given me has been a revolutionary force in my life. Ive never studied harder, worked harder, or failed as often. I've loved every minute of it. Thank you.
Awesome ,look forward to new lessons from my favorite black smithing teacher . :) love the way it's decorated with that wave kind of like an old English Kent axe head .
Super nice! It is hard to find a good new usa-made anvil. I was able to pick one up locally from Nimba anvils. I got a lil titan, for an old lady hobbiest. It will outlast me.
Nothing quite like being served up a bit of anvil envy with my cup of coffee this morning. Great video as usual John and congratulations on the new Anvil, an heirloom of the future - it’s kinda nice to think that the next gen’ of blacksmiths might be using the name Fontanini in the same sentence as Reflinghaus, PeteWright, Hay Budden etc
Congrats on the new Anvil. What a beautiful Anvil she is. I've had my eyes set on a double horn for a couple of years now. One day the time will come where I connect with one. I look forward to seeing you get lots of use out of it in the future
She is a beauty! When I was anvil shopping a few years ago I looked for months for a used one semi-locally with no luck. Decided to buy new. Fontanini was seriously considered but ended up buying a 325# Jymm Hoffman, double horn with a shelf. I love having a quality American made tool in my shop that will last way beyond me. Looking forward to many Black Bear forgings on the new anvil.
Prices and contact information for Fonanini Anvils can be found here - fontaninianvilandtool.com/
How much did this beauty set you back? Less trade in.
Just put in my request for a 250#, looking forward to it.
Link no longer works, seems sight went down. Hopefully Fontanini is still in business.
@@psychocarney8873 I'm not sure whats going on, but the site was OK the other day. You Might try emailing Steve to check on anvil information sfontani@wyoming.com
I just emailed Steve last weekend, he is stacked up but working through his orders.
I hope they put your old anvil somewhere special. That anvil inspired so many people to get into the craft. To me that anvil is extra special
Same! He really inspired me to start forging!
Hello John,
my name is Stefan my grandfathers were master blacksmiths for many generations. We have records about the Family since about 1650. The forge is now a museum. I am a master toolmaker and unfortunately have not been able to forge with my grandfather. I still use axes and garden tools that my grandfathers forged. That impresses me very much.
I really like your viedeos and they always inspire me in the workshop too. When a new anvil comes into the forge there are blessings for good success in the work on the new anvil.
I hope I can translate the blessing well enough.
THE GOD WHO MADE THE IRON GROW, WAS ALSO MADE THE IRON MEN. THEREFORE MAY ALSO BLESS THE LORD THE ANVIL AND THE HAMMER.
I am afraid this blessing rhymes better in German. I wish you success with all your projects on the new anvil. Thank you for your videos
Did some research and found the brand on your old Hay-Budden anvil, it reads:
A. BALDWIN & CO. LTD.
FULLY WARRANTED
NEW ORLEANS LA
It occurs to me that the side shelf to a large degree replaces the London pattern's heel. They're just about the same shape.
Another perk of the German patterns is that the hardy and pritchel sits closer to the center of mass, rather than far out on the heel.
surely the shelf is for your cup ot tea
People who do t use it don’t understand the qualities of silicone. First of all, it’s long lasting. Most is warranted for 50 years, but will last a lot longer. Secondly, it doesn’t break up. Quite a while ago, I was a partner in a speaker manufacturer. One product was systems for clubs and disco’s. We were testing a design with 15” woofers and three inch thick wood cabinet walls. We silicones the drivers to the walls. It worked well to dampen vibration, sort of the way it worked for this anvil. When it came time to take the test apart, we had to use a hydraulic jack to try to get the drivers off. The wood broke first. Silicone is very good for this purpose. Yes, some people insist that you need to use some older materials and design. But that’s just their not wanting a new process on something they feel should old throughout.
Congratulations John on moving into the 400+lb club ! You're going to love it :-) that anvil is almost as big as Olga # 465... One thing that you will start to notice is with that big surface you will be able to leave a few tools that are in use on one end while working on the other . really find that ability super helpful for efficient work.
I do like having tools right at hand
I've learned more about anvils in 10 minutes here than 10 years of light research. Beautiful anvil!
I bought a 250# anvil from Steve three years ago and it's been an awesome anvil. He threw in a steel anvil stand with it for an extra $150 and it was totally worth it. Steve told me to use silicon to attach it to the stand and the anvil has zero ring to it. BTW, I used the shelf just today as a bridge with the face to help straighten a punched hole; it's a great feature.
Very cool!
What an amazing anvil. We call this type South German Type. Congratulation to this huge size. Best wishes from Germany.
Greedings from South Germany Bavaria
Ive been drooling after a fontanini for ages as my main anvil. I plan to get one as soon as im able but theres really just not a lot of talk on them online. Its got all the features i want and where i want them but im really glad to see this video. I saw it posted and immediately it improved my mood after a couple failed projects and an unsuccessful trip to the hardware store earlier today.
Glad to hear it helped
Old anvils are like gold . They are where you find them
Your are our hero for having an anvil that DOES NOT RING.
Let the anvils ring....to heaven and hell
Let it be heard, we practice our craft well!!
You may complain about a hardie hole that only fits tools in one direction but oh boy you would hate my early 1800s anvil: 2 hardie holes with irregular and irregularly tapered holes that only fit tools in one orientation! it would drive me nuts if it wasn't such a nice piece of history!
Is it a london pattern ?
@@sander7165 sort of... more of a double bicked variant of one. Here in the UK honestly I've never met a smith who describes anvils based on their patterns but hey you can see for yourself when I start uploading videos of my blacksmithing!
I work in a forge and we see anvils come and go from our shop all the time and your now old anvil is still better than most anvils you can find online
That is a gorgeous anvil I'm sad about the old anvil leaving
Hopefully it will go to a good home.
Doood - right?!? I got slightly choked up seeing the old girl hauled away on that flatbed... ;-)
Very nice anvil! I’ve been looking at the 140 lb Holland anvil church window style anvil. Love the look but the cost is a bit much right now
The One the thing that I really liked about your old anvil was that it was so quiet!!! But it looks like you fixed this one as well !!!Great video 👍🇺🇸
Very nice Lieutenant Switzer!
I was taught to have softer hammers (softer than the usual hammers you can buy at stores like home depot). Reason behind that is not only so you don't damage your anvil but also so that you don't damage your tools like the cut off hardy if you manage to hit it. It's much easier and better to grind on your hammer than try to fix your anvil or hardened tools.
Congratulations John!!
I picked up my new southgerman pattern anvil today, just got home from a 600 km drive and I'm now watching your video. What a great way to end this fabulous day😁👌 hope you'll enjoy your new anvil! Great video, enjoy your Sunday
Cheers Andy
Very nice!
That's amazing! I would most likely wait to get the 150 pound anvil
I'm guessing it will be a good anvil at a reasonable price.
@@BlackBearForge I hope so!
I bought a 275lb Refflinghaus over a year ago that is very similar with the side shelf and upsetting block. Why I got that design was it has a smooth transition from the face into the horn which creates a very nice area for drawing material out that is close to the center of mass. The side shelf is great for things like you mentioned. It's also nice to have square inside corners for a lot of shaping needs. I don't regret spending the money one bit.
I don't live too far from you BTW. I'm in Woodland Park.
That is a very nice looking piece of equipment (is is okay to call it equipment, grin?) In my woodworking shop the primary piece of equipment is the table saw and upgrading that piece was a big day for me some years ago. Knowing that the anvil sets in the middle of you shop makes me think it is the center piece to your work so I am sure this was a big day for you.
I have anvil envey, the new one is a work of art in itself, I used a steel anvil stand I made it from 4x4 angle iron and a bed of silicone and a thin sheet of rubber under the 3 legs it killed the ring perfectly.
Mine is coming in about a month! My dream anvil!
Really neat explanation of anvil features and uses. I am excited to see projects made using the new anvil.
Thank you! I just started to make a small anvil out of an approx 30cm long railroad track piece, what has rounded edges on both side. My original plan was to make only 1 horn to keep the surface for hammering big enough, but your video made me realize that i can make another horn too, and i can keep that squared, so the anvil could have almost all functions, except for the Hardy-holes. Thank you for this idea!
I considered the Fontanini but went with Refflinghaus. I would be very proud to own that American made anvil. They sure are beautiful. You finally got the horn pointing in the right direction :).
@@kevinlipka4336 You man have missed my smiley face at the end. Just kidding. If you don't do it like me you are wrong :). The right way is the way that works for you.
@@kevinlipka4336
I agree Kevin, That square horn tapered end is also a great place to start scrolls and such.
Oh my Lord that is a beautiful anvil I'm just now seeing this video for the first time that's like giving your left something to have one😅
I struck for steve last year on one of his anvils for a by western hands project he had going.last summer..they are very nice anvils
very nice, i will miss the old anvil, but things change.
Hey, very very nice! very good choice as well as an awesome addition to your shop. Thank you for sharing have a beautiful day. Jim
I absolutely love my 250. It's my primary anvil sitting next to my 130 Hay Budden.
Enjoy your new anvil!
Farewell to your other anvil we had grown to know so well. Your new anvil is a beautiful piece, and thanks for chasing things on your wish list.
The step between the face and horn is know as the cutting table on London pattern anvils.( or at least it is here in England) Back when they were made of wrought iron forge welded together that spot and the bick didn't have a steel face hence that step, its where the hard steel face ended. So with that patch being soft iron it was great for using as a cutting spot. Though on modern cast steel or drop forged anvils it's the same hardness all over so it's never or very rarely used for cutting anymore because its going to ruin your tools
Wow - that makes so much sense. Never thought of the "don't want to ruin your tools" thing as the reason to cut there on softer wrought iron. Thanks for the history!
Hello John
The Anvil a common tool but i have learned a lot from your Video
Thank you very much
Take care and stay safe
Yours Frank
VERY NICE! WELCOME TO THE NEW ANVIL IN YOUR FORGE ,LOVE YA
Bye bye old anvil 😥 That Fontanini anvil does look really nice and that upsetting block is going to be a big plus for you 👍
in a few short weeks I have found this to be such a nice anvil to work on with very little thought on how to use the new options. They all just come natural in the work flow.
@@BlackBearForge have you noticed any improvements in the amount you can get done in a heat? I'm wondering if having the extra options on the anvil mean less reaching for other tools?
@@Zogg1281 Not exactly. I have noticed I have been taking the same starting point and trying many different details using more of the anvils available shapes.
@@BlackBearForge probably the best and quickest ways to use the new bonus features 😊
I am proud for you and at the same time jealous.
Congratulations on your new anvil. It's a beaut.
Nice new anvil! Glad to see you have finally the horn on the good side for a right-hander! Greeting from France
Nice anvil, and a good weight - my new one I got last year is 200kg, and it made a big difference over the old 90kg one I had. I love the bigger face and longer length. I didn't bother retooling my hardy tools. I have a swage block nearby that has the right size hole for my old tooling, so that is where I do most of my work with Hardy's. I have made a few tools for the new anvil that sit in the hardy, but with a 40mm hardy hole, I tend to weld a bit of 40mm square tube under the tool rather than trying to work steel that size by hand to fit!
They sell silicone mats and they work great it's actual silicone already been poured into a mat or belt you should try that and it's not very expensive
She is a real beauty, l would have to win the lottery to be able to justify something this nice. I currently have a Mouse hole anvil and it's 156 lbs. Congratulations on your new toy
Mouse Hole anvils are nice anvils.
Was watching the Mastermyr spoon auger vid and noticed HEY! That’s a new anvil... Congratulations, amazing new Fontanini.
Hey john lookin sharp buddy i would like to see you moving some metal soon
A good friend of mine in Delta Junction Alaska has one and its his main anvil. He's the go to guy for custom railing here and he's very well regarded in the local blacksmithing group. I almost bought one of these 12 or so years ago but went with a Incandescent Ironworks Rhino anvil. They are no longer made but are very good anvils too if you run across one.
Haha, I remember the quieting your anvil video. Grate video. More permanent than expected aye'
That is a beautiful anvil. Hope you have many years of enjoyment with it. Jealous regards from UK. ;)
That’s a beautiful New Anvil!
I love my Fontanini anvil. I use the side shelf all the time. If doing Damascus steel it doesn't rob the heat as fast and like you said, it is great for scrolling. I highly recommend the 460 pound if you can afford it. Steve also makes a tripod style stand for it that is great, though slightly taller than I have had my anvil in the past (I've gotten used to it).
That is quite an impressive new anvil !
Onwards & upwards! I really like the new anvil! I have 2 anvils. One is a 90lbs Trenton that I take to rendezvous. The other is an Acme, that I got from my Father-in-law. I think it's about the same weight. This way, I don't have to dig out the Trenton from the rendezvous trailer, every time I want to do some blacksmithing. Enjoyed the video! I'm officially jealous!
congrats on the new tool. always fun, one can never have enough tools......It's a beauty
Now that is one hell of a pretty anvil, I feel you about losing the ring. My 130+ year old Peter Wright rang like a bell until I bolted her down.
I just recently saw your video on silencing an anvil and also about dressing the imperfections out of the face of an anvil. That said, I am much surprised to see this video of your parting with that anvil for a replacement. I don't know a thing about blacksmithing,,,,,, (correction, up until recently due to really liking your channel) did I ever know anything so my opinion is one that is an uneducated one. However, after seeing the new anvil and listening to how versatile this one will be and other features I have been sold on it, especially the color and overall look. Thanks for all the lessons and I look forward to seeing many things made on your new prize.
I've been waiting in anticipation for this video.
I have that anvil. It’s great. I’m really looking forward to seeing how you make hold downs for it. It was fun to see the guy who made my anvil briefly as well
Hold downs will be a challenge. The thickness at the pritchel hole is about 5" and that will be tough to get a regular holdfast to work in.
@@BlackBearForge that has been my experience. I was convinced I was making them wrong, but it’s the depth of hole. I ended up making an adjustable spring clamp from two trampoline springs on a chain through the pritchel attached to angle iron. More trouble than it’s worth. Now I m experimenting with heavy roller chain from a hay baler. Considering a foot pedal attachment to the chain to increase holding force with the whole thing being able to flip out of the way..
@@BlackBearForge You could maybe fabricate an adapter that goes in the hardy hole, with a pritchel-size hole in it? That way you could have a shallower "plug-in" pritchel hole.
@@reigninoel the hardy hole is just as deep if not deeper.
@@TonyUrryMakes Yes, but it's wider. Make a square shank that goes say 2-3" deep in the hole, with a pritche hole drilled in the middle of it and you'll effectively have a shallower pritchel hole.
John you’re going to enjoy it and it features
Whew. Thank the lord for silicone.
I’m really interested in seeing the dimensions of the 150# anvil. Sounds like it might close to what I’m looking for.
I suspected it will become his most popular option
@@BlackBearForge I looked at the 250lb one myself tbh. $1800 isn't crazy high considering it's brand new imo. Wouldn't even be my most expensive toy either 🤔
I was over at Steve's shop last weekend, put money down on the 250#er!! Now to wait till its cast...
Thanks! I now know the Anvil I'm getting for my shop once it is finished being built. That 250 pond one is just the right size for my needs.
I've worked with a lot of industrial quieting stuff in my time, and silicone is one of the best and easiest to use methods.
Very nice anvil. joining the double horn dark side ive got a 100lb cast anvil love love love it. Can't wait to see what you'll make on this big behemoth. Happy forging John
19:38 wackin your anvil could give you hairy palms I've heard lol, good videos as always, I really enjoy them
Congratulations on the new anvil. I will miss the old anvil, I have been watching you use it for almost 3 years, but am looking forward to seeing how you make use of the new features. Thank you so much for taking your valuable time to help us new blacksmiths.
Thanks for sharing with us John, fantastic looking anvil you got. I was glad you got rid of the ringing, makes for a better day working on the anvil. Looking forward to seeing you doing some work on the anvil. Fred.👏🏻👏🏻👍👍
Best of luck with your new “toy” John. She’s a beauty
A dream of anvil! Congratulation!
It’s a very nice anvil.
Hallo John it is a nice Anvil hope that you be komfortabel with it! And i'm loking forward to see new Videos with it good luck to your new Toy!👍👍👌👌
Well, a couple of things.
*that anvil is AWESOME.
*If you need to lift it again, use isopropilic alcohol to loosen the silicone.
*magnets also quiet down anvils.
*the square horn is really useful, I don't know how you managed without one that long
*I don't think there's a "correct" orientation of an anvil, but I guess the round horn should be to the side you hold the tongs/workpiece, so it would be more comfortable working around it... Just my two cents
Awesome looks like a great anvil happy for you
That’s a beauty! Very well thought out design! Beat of luck with it and I look forward to seeing it in action...well you in action, the anvil is an inanimate object! Lol!
Oh she's a beauty John! Happy new anvil day! :D
That's a killer new anvil. A++++ BTW leather may work to deaden. Just a thought.
Congratulations, great looking tool for you there!
That's a very sexy anvil! I've never seen on in person, but I've heard nothing but great things about Fontanini and his anvils. Very glad to hear you used my idea regarding the silicone caulk. ;)
Caulk or Construction Adhesive really is a miracle cure for anvil ringing. I don't understand the science behind it, but having used it on several anvils, I can say with certainty that it's a lot easy and more effective than chains, magnets, horse mat, conveyor belt and all the other things people do. And best of all..... it makes stealing the anvil dang near impossible!
With the anvil being front-n-center on your show all the time, I see Fontanini getting a rather nice boost in sales! Congrats to you both. I look forward to seeing the anvil in action!
I had not thought of theft proofing. I would hate to have someone run off with my anvil. So glad it will stay put 😜
@@BlackBearForge Better safe than sorry! :D
Nice! Nothing like trying out a new tool!
That’s a great looking anvil John. The anvil I love to use is a 260# Holland anvil cast from H13 steel. They have a anvils up to 440# and swage blocks. Happy blacksmithing.
Congrats! I love German-style anvils. I have a smaller 77 lb Rigid Peddinghaus, and will probably get a bigger one soon. I do like the portability of the smaller ones, but I often wished the face was bigger. Keep us updated on it.
It's especially a Southern German style, which i really like, but was not able find exactly this type, even then i needed to drive 150 km to get a double horn 75 kg for €500
She is certainly a beauty. And with the silicone setting, really very quiet. Love the upsetting block, side shelf, and double horn. This has got to be a really versatile anvil. I can hardly wait to see all of the uses you find for the new added features you get to "play" around with. Just hoping you don't backhand that horn swing back from the forge while getting used to the new set up. Just remember to use a 'disposable' cutting block with that new softer face and chisels/punches. 😁
Very cool! I can definitely say that I learned something new...... now whether or not I remember it.....
Love the German pattern anvils. After years and years of getting by with ASO's, I got the chance to play on a Refflinghause and wasn't long before getting one myself. I didn't get the side shelf, sometimes I wish I had, but it's really not an issue for me at present. It did come with an upsetting block on the side at the bottom and that's a handy feature.
forge52100
I got the #57 275lb Refflinghaus in 2018 and love it. I had already ordered it and had been waiting for about year before I first saw the Fontanini. If I had seen them first, that is probably what I would have ended up with. Wish I could have both.
@@jackphillips8771 I've got the the #57 330 pounder along with the 275 hornless. Sometimes I wish I'd gotten the 210 pounder, but then other times I'm glad I didn't. I'd have to play/try out the Fontanini, but I think I like the harder anvil better so far. Either one should last a lifetime or three.
Beautiful anvil!!
That's a great looking anvil i can't wait to see you use it and the ways you will find to use the different aspects of your new anvil to complete your projects
My anvil is a hay buden and it’s 144 pounds and i got a smoking deal on it. Half of the face was gone and the guy’s daughter is a welder so he made me a deal and she welded up the face and ground it down made it look all nice and pretty. I paid 400 dollars which later i found out the anvil was worth like 1,000 dollars.
An idea for the walled out hardie hole: You could 'forge to fit' an adapter sleeve from square tubing, with a dot of weld for orientation. One inch tooling to 3/4" tooling. Etc.
He already did that
How much was it John ,and we're are they located on your new anvil. Good job you earned it
Love the new anvil! Absolutely beautiful. Its gentleman like you that started me down the road. I had no idea what it meant to be passionate about something other than a person until i found the feeling of hammer on steel. The peace, purpose, and drive it has given me has been a revolutionary force in my life. Ive never studied harder, worked harder, or failed as often. I've loved every minute of it. Thank you.
Bruce bemish makes a similar anvil from australia.. similar design. I have one and its awsome... I used silicon too, works a treat.
Awesome ,look forward to new lessons from my favorite black smithing teacher . :) love the way it's decorated with that wave kind of like an old English Kent axe head .
Congratulations! That looks like a very fine tool.
Super nice! It is hard to find a good new usa-made anvil. I was able to pick one up locally from Nimba anvils. I got a lil titan, for an old lady hobbiest. It will outlast me.
Nothing quite like being served up a bit of anvil envy with my cup of coffee this morning. Great video as usual John and congratulations on the new Anvil, an heirloom of the future - it’s kinda nice to think that the next gen’ of blacksmiths might be using the name Fontanini in the same sentence as Reflinghaus, PeteWright, Hay Budden etc
There’s no better working clothes than old department job shirts. Didn’t know you were in the fire service LT!
Congrats on the new Anvil. What a beautiful Anvil she is. I've had my eyes set on a double horn for a couple of years now. One day the time will come where I connect with one. I look forward to seeing you get lots of use out of it in the future
She is a beauty! When I was anvil shopping a few years ago I looked for months for a used one semi-locally with no luck. Decided to buy new. Fontanini was seriously considered but ended up buying a 325# Jymm Hoffman, double horn with a shelf. I love having a quality American made tool in my shop that will last way beyond me. Looking forward to many Black Bear forgings on the new anvil.
Getting one and an Ozark pattern one really soon. That sound is so delightful!
You can never have enough anvils.
Congrats on the new anvil!!!
I'm going to have to keep an eye out for when he comes out with that 150 pound anvil.