✔ DiResta Anvil Restoration 

I made the mistake of calling this restoration a hack job some months ago. That was before I watched all your videos, all the hammered, and all the Dirty Money episodes. And I'm absolutely willing to admit that I made a mistake and spoke to soon! Now some time later I understand better the way you work, and what you do! And you are truly an inspiration! A true artist! I'm sorry!

Watching you work took me back to watching my grandfather work in his shop. He started out working as a helper to a wainwright and then apprenticed as a blacksmith when he was 15 years old in 1914. At the age of 20, he opened his own blacksmith shop outside of Hagersville, Ontario Canada. He built his own shop and raised a family . During WWII, he dis-assembled military vehicles to ship overseas for the war effort. When the war was over he got a job as a truck mechanic in a garage until he retired at the age of 65. He then started a autobody/paint shop after retirement and was one of the last bodymen to use lead as filler. He knew a lot about many things and I enjoyed many an hour watching him use his talents. Thanks for bringing back those great memories, watching your videos was like having my grandfather with me once more.

I'd call that a good repair. Since you stated in the description it will be used for brass only, it's more than adequate for brass.

I am a part-time blacksmith so i guess that makes me an anvil nerd. Glad to see that you brought back to life a useful tool. I am enjoying watching your projects on youtube.

I love how you respect the "unusable" and give it a new purpose. It's a real inspiration. Thank you Jimmy

Love your builds and editing/sound effects.little helpful hint for hand stamping figures is turn the workpiece 90 degrees to you then smack em in lining it up like pool. Straight numbers everytime

Love seeing old tool getting a new lease on life. This was a great one. Much respect Jimmy.

I've read the description and you made it work for what you want to do. Kudos for that! Also you preheated it which is a good thing. It looks like that was a cast iron anvil. If you do one again though, after you mill and grind it just as you did, instead of plating it, hardface it. After each bead pound along the bead and that will work harden it to a degree. Keep padding it and building it up until you get enough to carve it down to a nice deck. Afterwards, if you work steel, you don't want the deck perfectly flat or it will shock your hand. Think of holding a baseball bat the wrong way and you connect with the ball and your hand gets jolted. To avoid that you'll want to put a crown on the anvil of about .020". Just barely rounded. This also helps you to draw out metal depending on how you lay it across the deck. Please don't think I'm knocking you at all. You took something useless and made it work again. If it works it's perfect. I never knew an anvil could get so bad. I've seen horns busted off, but never a deck so terribly destroyed. Also, on any anvil in general, don't pound on the horn. You probably already know all this. Maybe it's just a way for me to feel like I know something ;)

I've 4 old anvils that are crying out for an edge restoration... I've been holding off because I want to do them "just right." The blacksmithing books talk about pressure welding a hardened tool steel plate on for the top surface, in such a way that the entire surface is welded down onto the top of the anvil body. (I've not done it yet, so it's just info from old books.) Thank you for showing us that making it better than it was is often good enough Mr Diresta.

Thankfully there are still people in this world who possess the quality of ' Vision ' ! Beautiful work Jimmy !

I know it's an old video but your channel is the perfect place to come for a bit of maker inspiration. Cheers Jimmy.

I love the fact people are criticizing you. Obviously a man with three t.v. shows, that teaches at a college and that has almost 100k subscribers doesn't know what he's doing. Thanks for posting your projects and sharing your skills. I learn a lot from them.

Watching this for the second time a couple years later. As inspiring as ever. I'm about to start a project outside of my comfort zone, but it's needed and long overdue. Thank you, Jimmy! I'm a New Yorker that's recently moved to Minneapolis, and am bringing the NY "CAN DO!" Diresta spirit with me to the maker space this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed.

Anytime someone takes a big boat anchor and makes it useful again is worth the effort. I woulda passed that anvil if they'd paid me and loaded it. LOL. That tool deserved the new life you gave it and generations anew will enjoy it too. Thanks for sharing and don't let the haters discourage you from great videos like this.

What make this man different from other metal workers are, they all have only workshop but this man has a workshop and a Camera .

Ultimate three way tool dudes... DIResta, Ave and essential craftsman. Don’t judge me...

why are people so negative. .you bought the right tools for the jobs you do.so use them and continue to post great videos. .thanks for all the cool videos..

Beautiful bridgeport. I bought one right before I moved international for work. Can't wait to get home and try her out.

Way to go JD ! Always warms my heart to see something salvaged and given new life ! Just like your talent...the sky's the limit and in your case the sky just get'in in the way !

Good to see you using your mill machine and will be nice to use it as part of your future projects.the anvil came up good.

As a machinist, that is a sound you never want to hear. Feed, speed, depth of cut wooooooo!

First guy I see repair an anvil. Great job man.

Jimmy your channel is by far one of my favorites! Thanks for taking the time to share your various pursuits. I learn a little something from each and every video and enjoy them very much.

BTW anyone wanting a hardy hole can mill a suitable hole then file (files can move a lot of steel) to suit before welding the top plate. That stainless rod is rightly popular for repairs. No point in chasing some ideal anvil when facing works fine and can be repaired as easily as it was laid down. All tools are consumable including anvils and metal is easy to replace when you have the equipment. Like the original cheap anvil (Vulcans are not impressive but plenty useful as a utility anvil) it will be good for decades.

11/29/23 I remember this very well the preheat for welding and the post heat to relax everything back. The good old fashioned way.

The anvil was dead and useless prior to the project and it will work just fine for lighter work with a hammer. Such a small anvil was never meant for any real bashing, hence why it possibly was so badly damaged. Welding cast iron is tricky but far from impossible, and with a descent pre-heat, and the right sticks, it will work unless you beat the crap out of it. The only thing holding you back from doing things that's not supposed to work is you and your imagination! I have welded cast iron several times and sometimes it works and sometimes it just crumbles, and the only way to find out is to do it!

everytime i see a video update from Jimmy DiResta i feel like a part of my day is complete... cheers!

Nice job! Great to see a "lawn ornament" brought back to life.

Bridgeport, like a boss! Wow that machine is a beast...

no harm no foul on doing what ya did to it, the face was all chewed off to start with anyhow, so ya put it back in service and its in better shape than it was to start with. great job! i use my 200 pound anvil for stuff on a daily basis, might have to pick up a small one like that someday, probably comes in really handy. being easy to move around and all :)

Wow. You've given me a lot of faith in myself that I can get this anvil I found restored. I don't have a lot of those tools, but now I know it's possible. Lol

did you temper it? looks like was just annealed with a mild steel top. correct me if I'm wrong but by the way the vid was edited. that thing should dent like a bar of butter?

I dunno why, but, I love that you have the hatchet near by (you know, just in case) while stamping your brand near the end. Oh and, love the Bridgeport!

The Master at it again. Thanks Jimmy.

Man this guy must be in love with his last name... it's everywhere!

Extremely cool. Nothing better than bringing a real tool back to life!

Thank you Teatcher 👍

i get excited every time i see a new diresta project unfold, keep it man i think it's awesome.

Excellent work.... to see an old anvil or any tools/related objects go to waste is a crying shame. It could have ended up as a door stop or even worse, on the scrap pile, now it has a new lease of life!

Tx for cluing me on the evolution steel cutting blade!

Great job on the restore, if I may, in the event you need to fill in cracks, build up rounded surfaces to resquare them, there's a tool you can use that's attached to your oxy-aceteylene cutting torch, this attachment has a place for an iron powder cannister to screw on, then heat the piece to cherry red just like your going to cut it, depress the oxygen jet handle , this allows the iron powder to shoot through the cutting tip, it melts in the torches flame and adheres to the heated surface. It's great, I've done it before and it works perfect.

I don't even make things but I enjoy watching your videos.

Sure wish I could do this to one of those Anvil Shaped Objects available in a local shop--every shop should have a little anvil like this!

I've been a subscriber for awhile and I just wanted to say Thanks for all your videos. I loved that you saved this anvil.

Wow!! Cute anvil! Nice handy size.

Отличное видео! Отличная работа! Отличная реанимация изделия!

Hmm, I've replated a few anvils in my time for proper forge use. Don't know why the plate's overhanging or not welded right round. The anvil should be cast steel, not cast iron so welding shouldn't be a problem. The plate should be EN8 or better. You made a good effort and it looks pretty enough, despite the crap weld. If it's good enough for your job then you've achieved your aim , but it wouldn't last long in a proper blacksmiths shop. Regards, Ian.

Yes en même temps avec du talent a la DiResta..& un outillage très performant ,il sait tout faire de ses mains.. Et bien respecter les étapes de restauration. Bravo.

The only problem with a Diresta video is that I now have to wait another week for one. Please get this man back on TV, preferably on PBS and showcasing up-cycling , repurposing and generally making cool creative stuff!! People, kids, need to see this kind of creativity/making as opposed to the current forms of sleepy-time how to shows out there. Jimmy, please tell us about who has inspired you and your craft? Who's your Jimmy Diresta?

With the limited knowledge I have regarding anvil restoration, it is obvious this anvil is now practically useless for its original intended purposes, however, seeing that its purpose is to be a stable punch platform I think it is perfectly fine. Thanks for the video!

Anvil nerd here, looks pretty sweet man. Can't wait to see some brass projects.

Just found your videos! Great job repurposing the ASO (anvil shaped object)! Sparks on the mill tend to spook me! Impressive! Glad I found you! Now head back to the shop.....

Interesting project and nice Bridgeport... something else I'd like to learn if I live long enough.

i dont know why but i found it really funny when he throws the anvil into the coals at 4:20

Nice resto there for a benchtop anvil, perfect for small tapping projects like stamping, peening etc. Sure you can't forge big lumps of steel but an anvil that size isn't for that kind of work, if it were me I would keep it flattened and polished/ground for delicate projects like jewellery.

Jimmy could build his house, the furniture in it and the tools to make the furniture.

With his tools I'd use the blast cabinet a lot more often on many of his metal/blacksmith projects

That's a great little project/repair. I need to find me one for my leather work.

nice work Jimmy! love seeing old stuff being made useful... and now I want a Bridgeport even more. good work with the SMAW, looked like the years away didn't harm your skills. thanks for the inspiration man.

Also a handy boat anchor! (Comment 301. I had to break that nice round number up.)

I do believe this one turned out good. Done right. Should last another 50 years without fail.

Love your work I watched your tools and toys and I learned a bit from it but I know that you have a bunch of tooling that tool you use for the horn of the anvil is mad so that you can accurately final bore holes on a mill keep up the good work

Should be a good anvil in your shop! I noticed that you were using a rag on the Bridgeport handle (which don't rotate). I picked up a new 8" cast iron wheel, with rotating handle, from an eBay seller for something like $18.00. He even bored and broached a keyway in it for just another $6.00. I have them on my x axis ends, and originally put one on the y, but my vise handle seemed to interfere too much for it there. I love them!

i have a idea for you. next time your stamping metal with those letters have a little wooden guide box. what i mean is make a box to fit "diresta" so the dyes align perfectly straight and you just need to tap on the letters no need to align and hope it comes out straight.Then you could use it for other stamping with those dyes aswell.Then you can match spacing height and alingment.You could even take it one step further and put that box under a press so the pressure is also same.I have seen you stamps and sorry to say but they are a little crooked :D GJ on the anvil tho.

Мужик,ты просто настояший специолист.Пабольше бы таких!!!

Nice way to take a piece scrap and make it usable. I wouldn't go past brazing cast until I saw ChuckE2009 use stick to do it.

You should build some shoji screen panels with the overlapping weave pattern finger joints. It would show some cool technics

I had thought about mentioning it was missing it's Hardie Hole that was originally in it, but I suppose if you do not use it, it won't make any difference. It might affect any brass hammering you'll be doing. Great job placing a new Face on that anvil.

What a boss. Working on an anvil while wearing a rolex.

i love your work. DiResta,,,,,,,, you are. master of oll works

Another fantastic video, Jimmy. Beautiful restoration (and I like the term "anvil nerds").

Awesome work and video Jimmy

Amazing job! That poor anvil, what it went through. You did a good job on the restor. I would have replated the face also.

I've got the same project at hand on a larger anvil, just what I was looking for, great vid. thanks

Nice video Jimmy, pretty cool idea.

your videos make me happy

Dang, the high-speed close-up on the horn looks like a laser taking metal off, minus the smoke that is!

Say you haven't stick welded in 20 years, but not to bad for a hardened steel plate to a cast iron base. Good way to pre-heat it in the fire pit, I'll have to remember that for welding cast instead of throwing stuff on the gas grill to heat lol

Awesome project and what a great find that is such a cool logo

Might I suggest a rectangular jig for the letter punches. That way, the letters will be punched in one straight line.

Waitaminnit... a circular saw blade that goes through half inch steel like butter? OH MY GAWD!!!

How did I know what name you were punching out BEFORE you did it? Now if I was doing the restoration.....I would have completely stuffed it up! Great Job Jimmy.

Always good stuff love the old Bridgeport, things awsome, we'll look out for the next video.

What about hardening and tempering? What about the hardie hole, what about pritchel hole?

Wow, I wonder what evils the anvil did in its previous life to deserve being left in a state like that. Good on you to bring it back to life!

Fantastic as always.

Would have been nice to fill out those welds more and then blend the new plate to the old material so that it looks seamless as well as add a few plug welds on top but how much effort is really worth it?

Did you find that anvil on the streets of new york?

Jimmy this was a hell of a save. Great job. Man this was a great video.

Well, that's one way to pre-heat.

I have to say. that was badass. Keep being awesome.

Really cool!! Thanks for sharing it with us! Bruno from Argentina!

What a beautiful video,

awesome project.... love how you had the axe in shot at the end to ward off the trolls ;-)

high carbon content in the anvil steel judging from the sparks.. some of those chunks could turn out nice tool material.

Great look at this resto! Nice video

you have alot of great tools.

Cool Bridgeport mill Jimmy and nice job with the pre/post heat a nice big bonfire will do the trick for sure.

Well done Sir. Great anvil.

this is the second time I've watched the video, probably watch it again, good stuff!!