Anvil evaluation

[Jason Fry]

Seller claims 65 pounds and no markings. Looks like a wrought or cast iron body with a steel top? Comes with the tongs and some soft fire bricks. What do you think?

 

[David Loukides]

IMOP it is on the light side on weight.

 

[Ed Caffrey]

It looks too much like a cheap cast anvil for my taste. The 65lb weight is another red flag. It looks very much like the el-cheapo anvils that Harbor Freight sells. I would take a 1/2" or larger ball bearing and drop it on the face from about 12". A quality anvil will rebound the ball bearing to, or very near to the height you dropped it from. If the ball bounces only slightly (as if you dropped it on a concrete floor) walk away, because it's either a cast iron anvil, or otherwise just junk as a an anvil.

 

[A C Richards]

Though 65 lb anvil might be better than a piece of RR track it won't be much better. I personally would rather hold out for a larger anvil. At a min I would recommend a 100lber. If you have to get a heavy piece of steel and either work harden the face or use some hardfacing. This will make a nice Japanese style anvil and work quite well. If you have a scrap yard near you you might be able to find a piece for less than .50 a pound. Much cheaper than an anvil on average. I paid a little over $100 for a 250lb 5x9" face chunk of steel. Works great for what I need.

 

[Danbo]

Too small and like already mentioned, probably one of the cheapo cast iron anvils sold by Harbor Freight. Hold out for a bigger one.