Who is our resident Anvil expert? I have an opportunity to buy this anvil the face is approximately 7"×17" it is 27" long total. It weighs 225lbs the guy wants $300 no name on it that he can find. I want to try my hand at doing some forging, but if I needed to sell it or decided to do something different don't want to get too deep.
Anvil Advice
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Abbynormal
Member
Make sure it rings when hit with a hammer. If it doesn't it has a crack.
Old Arkansawyer
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Not an expert, in anything, but I have been forging, not checks, for 30+
years. A 225 lb anvil around here would bring 2 to 3 dollars/pound.
If you have a ball bearing do a drop test and see how high it rebounds,
just drop from about 18 inches. If it rebounds 70% or more it is probably
a good anvil.
Use a carpenters level or square to check the flatness of the work surface
(face), check length wise as well as side to side. You don't want to much
sway back, a little won't hurt.
As far as the anvil ringing, some will some will not. A cheap cast iron
anvil will ring like a bell but the first time you hit it with a 3 pound hammer it will probably crack or chip.
From what I can see on your pics it has some chipping on the edges,
but, not something that can't be worked around.
Final opinion, buy it. Then go to a used book store and buy a couple
books on blacksmithing. What kind of forge are you thinking?
years. A 225 lb anvil around here would bring 2 to 3 dollars/pound.
If you have a ball bearing do a drop test and see how high it rebounds,
just drop from about 18 inches. If it rebounds 70% or more it is probably
a good anvil.
Use a carpenters level or square to check the flatness of the work surface
(face), check length wise as well as side to side. You don't want to much
sway back, a little won't hurt.
As far as the anvil ringing, some will some will not. A cheap cast iron
anvil will ring like a bell but the first time you hit it with a 3 pound hammer it will probably crack or chip.
From what I can see on your pics it has some chipping on the edges,
but, not something that can't be worked around.
Final opinion, buy it. Then go to a used book store and buy a couple
books on blacksmithing. What kind of forge are you thinking?
Personally, I wouldn't pay more than $1 per pound for a well used anvil. For a no-name anvil with a few minor condition issues, such as that example, I would offer no more than $200 tops if I was in need of one...
As a side note, I've had to physically evict three tenants over the course of 30 years of owning rental properties. In two of those cases, they left behind nice vintage anvils. [emoji106]
Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk
As a side note, I've had to physically evict three tenants over the course of 30 years of owning rental properties. In two of those cases, they left behind nice vintage anvils. [emoji106]
Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk
truckerdave397
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$2-3 a pound is usually the going price around me also.
I know nothing about anvils. However, by accident, I did find some interesting videos about them on youtube and how to refinish them.
OP
Thinking propane as finding coal in my area seems to be a problem.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Looks like the same one that came from the Acme Company and caused so many troubles for Wile E. Coyote.
cowboy4evr
Member
You might want to consider just spending a few dollars and get a thick piece of steel from a steel yard to begin with . It will suffice , do what you need for an anvil and give you a good start . I don't recommend spending a lot of $$ on a start in forging until you know if it's a good fit for you . Regards, Paul
Lol...surprised it got all the way to post# 8 before someone made a roadrunner reference
K-22
Member
The Devil
Do not forget, if you strike an anvil without hot iron upon it, you will release the Devil.
Do not forget, if you strike an anvil without hot iron upon it, you will release the Devil.
OP
Given how 2020 has been I think we are too late someone already has...Do not forget, if you strike an anvil without hot iron upon it, you will release the Devil.
REM 3200
US Veteran
Wonder how high you can shoot it with a charge of black-powder?
I buy, sell, and collect a few anvils. $300 for 225lbs. is cheap as long as it's got good rebound. You won't get hurt on that deal. I've sold anvils at $5.00 a pound but they were Peter Wright, Kohlswa, etc.
StrawHat
Member
Interesting. An anvil collector! Is there an anvil collectors forum? I am looking for a small anvil for my work to straighten knife tips and such.
Kevin
Wonder how high you can shoot it with a charge of black-powder?
What was the old tale of putting a handful of black powder into a hollow under an anvil then hammering down with a sledge?
I guess the pressure produced a pretty good boom.
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I've often thought about buying a real Anvil but just can't justify the few times a year my good old railroad tie won't get the task done. For those times I usually go to a friends shop and use his. My Railroad Tie section bails me out for all the small repair and fabricating jobs I do.
misswired
Absent Comrade
You may can locate a small section of rail from a railroad. Living close to one many years, if a repair cutaway was left laying around too long.....
ETA: pics of a three and ten foot sections lining a planter bed.
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You may can locate a small section of rail from a railroad. Living close to one many years, if a repair cutaway was left laying around too long.....
ETA: pics of a three and ten foot sections they were lining a planter bed.
This just brought back the memory of my mother using a piece of railroad rail to crack nuts on in front of the fireplace. Mom passed in 1991 and Pop passed on in 2015 so now I have the piece of rail.
Regarding an Anvil Shoot:
Since the 11th of November 1918 the city of Hamilton, Texas has had an anvil shoot. The story is that when the telegram announcing the armistice arrived (5a.m Texas time) they used an anvil shoot to notify/celebrate everyone.
Since then, the local American Legion Post has had an anvil shoot each Veteran's Day at 5 a.m.
They use two anvils with a black powder charge on top of one and the second anvil placed on top. Using a long rod heated red hot in a fire, they touch off the charge. Over the years it has become a treasured tradition and an opportunity for a fund-raising breakfast. Trust me, there are weirder "festivals" celebrated in Texas than this charming tradition.
Since the 11th of November 1918 the city of Hamilton, Texas has had an anvil shoot. The story is that when the telegram announcing the armistice arrived (5a.m Texas time) they used an anvil shoot to notify/celebrate everyone.
Since then, the local American Legion Post has had an anvil shoot each Veteran's Day at 5 a.m.
They use two anvils with a black powder charge on top of one and the second anvil placed on top. Using a long rod heated red hot in a fire, they touch off the charge. Over the years it has become a treasured tradition and an opportunity for a fund-raising breakfast. Trust me, there are weirder "festivals" celebrated in Texas than this charming tradition.
