MEMBER ITEMS FOR SALE
Custom Knives | Other Knives | General Items
-------------------------------------------
New Posts | New PhotosAll Photos



Go Back   The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Custom Knife Discussion Boards > Knife Making Discussions > The Newbies Arena

The Newbies Arena Are you new to knife making? Here is all the help you will need.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-28-2013, 07:27 AM
miketheknife's Avatar
miketheknife miketheknife is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: High Point, NC
Posts: 196
Anvil Question

I was wondering if there is anyone here has bought or used an NC tool anvil? Since they are so close to me I was thinking about picking one up. I have been to their store and they also sell them as seconds which have cosmetic issues only. Here is the one I have been looking at. I just wanted to get some experienced opinions. I can get this one as a second for about $100 less than the price quoted on the website.

http://www.nctoolco.com/Cavalry_Anvil.html

Thanks, Mike
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-28-2013, 08:29 AM
Gary Mulkey's Avatar
Gary Mulkey Gary Mulkey is offline
Guru
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Branson, Mo
Posts: 1,129
Mike,

I haven't used one so I have no first hand experience but from the design & size it appears to be smaller than what I would want for bladesmithing. This is a ferrier's type anvil and doesn't have a very large face. Were it me, I would try to find a blacksmith type anvil of 140 lbs or larger. In the long run you'll be glad that you did.

In any case ALWAYS check the ring & rebound of any before purchasing.

Gary


__________________
Gary
ABS,CKCA, ABKA,KGA
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-28-2013, 08:56 AM
miketheknife's Avatar
miketheknife miketheknife is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: High Point, NC
Posts: 196
Thanks for the reply Gary. The problem I have is finding a used anvil for a good price. Everyone around here wants $4-$8 a pound for them. I will keep looking.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-28-2013, 08:56 AM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
I agree with Gary, hold out for a blacksmith's pattern anvil. That one might get you by but only just barely. The rule of thumb for anvil weight is 40 times the weight of your heaviest hammer as a minimum so at 110 pounds that one is very marginal. Too much horn, not enough face as you might like, and too many gee gaws you don't need ...


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-28-2013, 11:22 AM
Doug Lester Doug Lester is offline
Hall of Famer
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Decatur, IL
Posts: 2,612
Don't be convinced that you need an English pattern anvil. My favorite anvil is a 8X7X4" block of steel that I go from a distributor on Ebay. I had to keep looking for a while but one finally came up. Most of it's mass is under the work and even though it only weighs around 87 lbs it can really move steel.

Doug


__________________
If you're not making mistakes then you're not trying hard enough
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-28-2013, 11:44 AM
miketheknife's Avatar
miketheknife miketheknife is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: High Point, NC
Posts: 196
Thanks for all the advice guys!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-28-2013, 03:05 PM
Gary Mulkey's Avatar
Gary Mulkey Gary Mulkey is offline
Guru
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Branson, Mo
Posts: 1,129
Mike,

Unfortunately the word is out on what a good used anvil is worth. Keep an eye out on Craig's list. Also, notify your local auctioneers that you are in the market for one and they will be glad to notify you if they have one come up for sale.

Gary


__________________
Gary
ABS,CKCA, ABKA,KGA
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-29-2013, 06:41 AM
Crex's Avatar
Crex Crex is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Acworth, GA and/or Hanging Dog, NC
Posts: 3,583
I got to try one of the NC's a short while back at Trackrock and as mentioned above, a bit "skinny" and very loud. Mass under the hammer is important to a bladesmith. Block anvils are great. If you plan to do a lot of reduction work like 1" or thicker stock, you are going to need the greater mass. That size/style anvil will work you to death and waste a lot of energy in the process. If you are just doing smaller blades like bird/trout and small hunter/utilities it would probably work ok for you.

Just keep looking and never fail to mention that you are looking for an anvil in your conversations. The good used ones travel undercover on the darkest nights and in small groups. Sometimes you just look around and you'll be standing in the middle of one of a flock then have to decide real quick before they move on, so always keep some anvil money in your shoe.
The deals are still out there if you are diligent, I've seen several good ones for less than $4/#. I have 8 right now (NFS) and only one cost me over $3/#.....no, I don't hunt anvils for others. I work for my deals like anyone else. It does take some effort. Try you state farm publications on farm equipment sales and auctions. You might be surprised what you can find and what kind of responses you get if you post in the WTB sections.
Bottom line use what's available until a good one pops up. Be patient. Learn to test a used anvil with a small hammer for quality and keep that hammer with you.

You might also avail yourself (if you haven't) of the resource of the NC Knifemakers' Guild. They have a sub forum here on KNF. Good organization and good folks.


__________________
Carl Rechsteiner, Bladesmith
Georgia Custom Knifemakers Guild, Charter Member
Knifemakers Guild, voting member
Registered Master Artist - GA Council for the Arts
C Rex Custom Knives

Blade Show Table 6-H

Last edited by Crex; 10-29-2013 at 06:48 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-29-2013, 06:01 PM
Imakethings Imakethings is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Boone, NC USA
Posts: 293
I'll just throw in my 2 cents since I've used a couple anvils from them before.
In terms of steel and construction, they're solid and well built. They're perfect for their purpose. However, they are garbage for normal blacksmith and knife work, all those extra gee-gaws and doo-dads just get in the way. The face is also too small to do much work with.

Shoot me a PM with your particulars and I'll see if I can rustle up an anvil for you. I've got a couple folks in mind that might have a spare.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-29-2013, 06:43 PM
jmccustomknives jmccustomknives is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Alabama
Posts: 554
I've got one of those cheap cast boat anchors. It was like trying to use a pillow for an anvil. I developed a bad case of tennis elbow, took a couple of years to get over it. Built a RR track anvil and used it for 4 years until I found my Fisher. I still used it until I built a post anvil out of fork lift forks, at 300 lbs it wasn't going anywhere so the 150lb rr track anvil has gotten left out. Still use it for demo's but it really needs a new home, it's just sitting out in my yard.
On a side note, I've still got that cast ASO. I got the wild hair to resurface it with 309SS. Seemed to have worked, but I lost interest in the project and never finished it.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 10-30-2013, 07:09 AM
miketheknife's Avatar
miketheknife miketheknife is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: High Point, NC
Posts: 196
Once again thanks again for all the input. This is the most friendlist site I have ever been on. I guess I will keep using my RR anvil that I made. It weighs over 100lbs and will work until I find the "one".
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
advice, anvil, back, bee, blacksmith, block, demo, design, for sale, forge, forging, hammer, hand, horn, hunter, knife, made, pattern, post, problem, steel, store, throw, what kind


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Anvil question NJStricker The Newbies Arena 14 02-06-2007 10:38 PM
anvil question cedar_fluteman Ed Caffrey's Workshop 1 04-11-2005 10:51 PM
Anvil Question sjaqua Tool Time 4 04-12-2003 05:00 PM
Another anvil question.... MIKE KOLLER Tool Time 4 05-31-2002 03:04 PM
Anvil Question MDHoffmann Ed Caffrey's Workshop 2 06-04-2001 04:38 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:19 AM.




KNIFENETWORK.COM
Copyright © 2000
? CKK Industries, Inc. ? All Rights Reserved
Powered by ...

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
The Knife Network : All Rights Reserved