wanting anvil

[Anonymous-0]

I am looking for a 100lb anvil or more for max of $150 if anyone knows of one near troy missouri thanks

 

[souNdguy]

Harbor freight sells them.. got one of those nearby?

Soundguy

 

[Mark - IN.]

To a metal craftsman, which I'm not, gotta be careful with anvils. Supposed to be able to drop a good hammer from x-heighth onto it, and it should bounce back real well, and exactly how well I'm not sure, but one of the metal guys here would know. I've heard that good anvils go $1+ per pound. I've looked at them, and from what I've seen, I'm guessing that it would be fair to pay that for a good 100lb anvil, which you'll probably find at farm auction, going out of business or machine shop auction, or something of the sort. I've seen new anvils easily topping $1.50 per pound, but being new would be surprised if many or most aren't made in China junk for unsuspecting buyers.

Spend yor money wisely, and see what a metal craftsman, which I'll openly admit that I'm not, has to say. Those guys are experts and use them for a living.

I can say for instance that pound for pound the best log chains I've ever bought are big old ones from some old barn and some old farmer that are still in good shape and he can't use them anymore, for a fraction of the cost of what new cold rolled made in China junk ones cost, are more durable and much safer. You might be able to do the same with an anvil. Good luck.

 

[cb in wisc]

farm auctions and flea markets are about the best I"ve seen for picking up a anvil. Otherwise
you can try Centaur Forge in Burlington Wisconsin. They have all kinds of new anvils, maybe they have some used ones in that will go
a little cheaper. Expect a dollar a pound and up
depending on the condition and quality of the anvil. I am a blacksmith and have two. Got both of them from trading and at auctions. Good luck.

 

[KEB]

I'm not sure I'd trust a Harbor Freight anvil - the quality of their stuff varies all over the place, and I'd be concerned about it spalling if you hit it wrong. Don't remember if it was on YT or somewhere else, but I saw a reference to the stuff available today as "ASO", meaning "anvil shaped object".

Craigslist is alway a good place to look for old tools.

Keith

 

[Oldmax]

a lot of people use a short piece of R/R rail & sharpen one end . Around here you will pay up to two $ a pound for a good Anvil . The one I have was my Great-grandfathers Will neaver be for sale.
I use it all the time .

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have one of those HF anvils, about 55 lbs. It appears to be cast iron, with large grain size and quite porous and I suspect very brittle. I would not ever consider hitting it directly with a hammer, since it might even shatter and would probably chip off.

On the other hand, it was cheap, about $25 on sale, and I have occasionally used it to help shape heated metal or for setting rivets in a sickle. It is certainly better than no anvil at all.

I would love to have a real old-time blacksmith anvil. I have worked with my Grandfather's anvil in his old shop in Montana, along with some of his blacksmith tools. Good high quality stuff that is nearly 100 years old! But my cousins, who now own the farm were not even interested in talking about selling me those tools. Apparently they use them once in awhile. But I told them that if they ever decide to retire and/or sell the farm, I would like first bid on the blacksmith tools. My Grandfather had a nice forge, a power hacksaw and even a trip hammer he built himself as well as the anvil, the tools and probably 50 pairs of various tongs he may will have made himself. I wish he hadn't died when I was 3--I think we would have had a good time together.

Occasionally a good anvil comes up for sale at farm auctions or garage sales. The ones I have bid on at auctions went higher than I could justify, but I just missed on one at an estate sale for $100. I helped the guy who bought it load it into his car trunk. It was at least 150lbs and in excellent shape.

The anvil from HF is better than nothing, but there are good anvils out there, if you look for them. I also like the idea of using a piece of railroad track, especially if you could find a chunk from old high speed mainline--that was pretty tall and thick. Good luck!

 

[souNdguy]

Better than nothing though.

Soundguy

 

[souNdguy]

In most cases.. that ASO will be better than nothing.. etc.

Soundguy

 

[Anonymous-0]

If you are the REAL Hal/Wa, how can you prove it? The other Hal/Wa gave me evidence that he was actually the person I used to know. Does he have an evil twin brother?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Searcher,
Just catch your post during lunch hour today. Brother in law is a Blacksmith by trade here in De Soto. Not a bad drive south of you. He gets 100# anvils in his shop often. Reconditions them and usually has a few to sell or trade. He is a part of Missouri Blacksmith Association (MBA), which is another good source for anvils.
Good luck search'n
mark