Anvil? I'm looking

[Tarl_cabot]

Well I am going to take the plunge (since Larry Kemp has lured me over to the "dark side" - Forging...LOL) and start the "Anvil Search", so if anyone has one for sale within resonable driving distance of Chattanooga, TN please let me know...Thanks!

[DiamondG Knives]

Tarl
Check the local papers, look at auction flyers. I got my 80ish pound (trenton I think) at an auction. It was being used as a door stop on the barn full of stuff to be auctioned! I waited until almost everything was sold out, then asked if they were going to sell it, they started bids at $20, I took it to $45 and took it home! The downside here in the Chattanooga area (im here for about another week) is that there are so darn many "antiqueie Folks" they drive the prices WAY up, and the bummer is that most of them want to paint it black and look at it, not use it! Keep your eyes peeled, and check with the guys at the Chatanooga Choo Choo, I belive they are an ABANA chapter. Lots of like minded folks there and everyone Ive met there is A1 !

Good Luck!!

God Bless
Mike

[Will]

I've looked for a decent deal for several years before I figured out that a good one was out of my price range or the face was too battered up for service. I came close to buying a new one but they are expensive and for the bladesmith are not the best design. If you can get a big rectangle of hardnable steel and make a sword style anvil it works better when forging to shape. I looked but around here it's not to be found. I started on a rectangular block of mild steel with a 3/4" hardened draw bar arc welded to it and it worked great except it kept breaking the welds under heavy blows. Finaly got an american made 55lb. cast steel anvil and it worked better but the horn and heel got in the way more than it helped. Also it's a little on the light side.

Finaly called the local(only 1 1/2 hour drive) Harbor Frieght and they had 3 cast steel 110lb. Russian anvils. Got two of them today. Cut the horn off one to use as a finishing anvil and dressed the face on both and the horn on the one I didn't butcher. Rebound isn't what it could be, but better than a cast iron or mild steel. I'll forge with them for a while and if they get beat up I'll refinish and harden them both. They don't list them in there catalog or website any more but they still have a few in stores and warehouses. The anvils are 89$, and with a little work can be made into pretty good anvils. Get a flap wheel for a hand grinder, the milled top is more like a file than an anvil should be.

[Tarl_cabot]

Got my ANVIL! Well almost, it is waiting at the freight depot, picking it up monday!

It is a 140lb Peter Wright, Damaged, but in fair shape (I hope good enough for me), has part of the hardened steel plate broken off, so I am going to have to see if it is a door stop or not!

It was $156 with shipping from Kansas to me , so even if it is a door stop (I hope it is not) it was a bargain!

Mike

[Tarl_cabot]

Woopie!!! got the anvil! It's not a door stop
tapped with a little hammer, ding, ding, ding...NO Klunk!
good rebound, shows some abuse, but I am working with
the LAMA "Anvil Repair Experts" and will be working it
over soon! Hopefully my "baby" will soon be ready for
another 100+ years of service!

I got so inspired I started cleaning the junk out of my shop!

HeHeHe....

Mike