Anvil from a ship dock cleat?

T

The Gopher

Joined
Mar 4, 2011
Messages
176
I came a across a posting for a DIY anvil made from a large ship dock cleat. The posting says ~100lbs. I'm assuming this is cast steel? I've asked for pictures, just wondering if anyone has come across this before? thanks,
 
Here is a picture I received, supposedly it came from a blacksmith who used it as an anvil? I can't tell how deep the lettering is, perhaps it can be milled flat.

 
The ones I have seen were solid.

Make a 24" high base from a oak log to mount it on. Grind the top flat and use it as a post anvil.
 
Am I the only one who thinks it looks cool and would keep it as is, just to look at?
It would make a cool drinks table out on the deck.
 
I can't imagine it got used much with those letters on the top. But it looks like there is a weld bead at the bottom, perhaps there's a flat plate there and it was used upside down?
 
So for a guy without any anvil to speak of, do you think it's worth 75 bucks?

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
Mark, I agree. I would keep it as is because it is so cool. Then I would dream about having a water craft large enough to use it on my dock. Larry
 
I completely agree that it would be a cool yard or deck accent. The OP asked if it would work as a DIY anvil, and I answered yes.
 
The Gopher said:
So for a guy without any anvil to speak of, do you think it's worth 75 bucks?

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Not a terrible price. You won't ever find an actual anvil for that price, or even a piece of 4140 or similar that would be suitable for a post anvil at that price.

Heck, stick it in one of those boutique hipster stores and you could probably get 3 or 4 times the price for it. :D
 
I would most definitely buy it for $75.

Get it home, test it to see if it's cast iron. If it's cast iron, do like mentioned and sell it to a hipster type interior decorator for 5x the price you paid. Industrial stuff is very very hot right now and I'm sure folks would snap it up in a heartbeat if you advertised it in the right places.
 
Nice and anything is better than nothing . But if it does not work and you have to look for another option tack the final cost of that on to the price of your anvil . repurposing things is cool .. But if you go to old world anvils they sell pieces of steel that are made to be used for the budget smith . Do what Stacy says and mount it to a solid base and you got a anvil ! Then you can start a savings account for the anvil of your dreams !
 
I ran a demo job on some US Govt docks before and we had several such items to dispose of, we did some checking and they were solid, and these particular ones were steel, we ended up selling all of the ones we recovered for $50 a piece--that was in 95-96, so that price seems on track, I'd do what others suggested check it an if it's steel, use it as an anvil like Stacy suggested, if it isn't sell it to a local interior design spot for $150!!
 
I ended up buying it, I don't think it weighs anywhere near 100 lbs as it isn't solid. The bottom has a plate welded on so I can't see inside of it. I'd say it's more like 50 to 60 lbs, and a spark test did show that it is steel. The lettering is raised, before I thought it was inset, this will be easier to grind flat.

Do you think it's worth grinding the plate off the bottom and filling in the core with something?



Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
forgot to mention the size, it is larger than it looks. across the top it is about 10", the column is about 8" wide and the whole thing is about 10" tall.

if it were solid it would be close to 150 lbs.
 
AS discused before, it is a pretty cool item as-is.

If you are set on making an ASO out of it, just drill a 2" hole in the base with a hole saw and fill it with concrete.
 
Anyone want to drop by for a night mission?.... bring a big wrench... and maybe a forklift.

Btw... it is clean as a whistle on top... no markings. And there is about a dozen or so.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top