Anvil questions...

Matthew Gregory

Matthew Gregory

Chief Executive in charge of Entertainment
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Jan 12, 2005
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So that bastid Mace :D showed me some forging at IG's during the Hammer-In, and now I'm scrambling all over the place looking for stuff.

I've got some material coming my way for the forge (an 18" long piece of 12" Sched. 40 STAINLESS with 5/16" walls!!! WOOHOOO!!!), and now I'm jonesin' for an anvil. I stumbled across this Grizzly on Amazon (of all places) and wondered if this is worth anything, or if I should just hold off and find a used one.

Grizzly 100lb. Anvil

Anyone used one of these, or any other suggestions?
 
I would steer clear of that one till a last resort.I looked far and wide for anvil till i got mine off ebay,local pickup only is the way to go just keep hunting.I found a sweet 155 kohlswa anvil at some antique store,this place was a gold mine, top fuller, 5 pairs of good tongs lots of old files,check local scrap yards too.If your patient one will come your way.
 
When I was searching for an anvil I emailed Grizzly about what they have.

In their response they said all of their anvils were cast iron---something to stay away from!

Harbor Freight has a Russian made 110 lb cast steel anvil for $89 that is an ok anvil for the price, far better than cast iron. But remember that you generally get what you pay for.

Just my $.02..............

-Mike-
 
I was going say something, but hell, I been called worse.:cool:

Matt, Get yourself a chunck of train track...(thats what you forged your blade on), or a big chunk of steel for now. Bide your time...an anvil will present itself to you. Bring a ball bearing with you when you look at anvils. Drop it on the face about a foot or so up...the ball should bounce right back into your hand.

By the way...The 1095 showed up today!....Thanks!:D

Mace
 
No sweat, bro... wish it was more!

Just before I crashed out last night, I was IM'd by a buddy of mine. After shootin' the poop with him for a bit, I jokingly asked him if he had an anvil he needed to get rid of... he said he'll ask his grandfather! Looks like a real anvil might be available, but we shall see...

If that falls through, I planned on calling a trainyard and seeing what's available. Blaine's 'track anvil' had huge slabs of steel welded onto it's sides (my guess is to add mass?), is this necessary?
 
MrPurple,
One of the best ways to find an anvil is to put a "wanted to buy" ad in your local paper. You'd be surprised how many people have anvils lying around that they'll be happy to sell for cheap.

Believe me, someone will call you and tell you about grandpa's big old anvil out in the barn... If you're really lucky, you might even have someone tell you, "If you can get that old hunk of metal out of here, you can have it..."

Happy hunting!
 
Matt, I didnt scroll down far enough....I just looked at the pic now. No wonder they never look straight! Was that a reflection in IG's fun house mirror?
Mace
 
I thought about posting it here, but figured I'd better show you first so you don't squash my ass when the next opportunity presents itself!
 
Mace said:
Was that a reflection in IG's fun house mirror?
Mace
Click to expand...
Dude!!!!! What in the hell were you smoking when you were here??????:confused: :confused: :p
PS: The only mirrors that I have is over my bed. That way I don't miss anything.:D :D
 
Hey!!!! Didn't you notice that I had one of those anvils in front of my coal forge when you where here. They suck.:jerkit: :D
 
Hey Matt, I'm running around looking for the same stuff. I have had some experience with Grizzly equipment and I'd stay away from that anvil. The RR track one at IG's worked well so I'm checking that out and I called some local blacksmiths and one had a 100 lb. Fisher for sale that sounds good but a little more than I want to spend. Where did you find the SS Pipe?
Tom
 
I have used a piece of 10" I-beam and railroad rail in the past. I am now using a HF Russian 110# anvil that works pretty good at my level of skill. I wouldn't mind if it was a hundred pounds or so heavier-sometimes I make it bounce a little. It rings like a bell when you hit it.

I also wouldn't mind if the working surface was a little harder. I have put some pretty good dings in it once or twice.
 
blackwaterkw said:
Where did you find the SS Pipe?
Tom
Click to expand...


A bud of mine owns a stainless steel fabricating business and has a few laying around... I'm not sure how many, but if there's more than one I'll chime in here and see if he's willing to sell them, and for how much. At first I thought it was twice as long (Mace said it would have made a great salt pot, and I'd agree), but apparently its only 18 or 19 inches long. Perfect for a forge!Certainly overkill, but it might be cool to be the only kid on the block with a stainless forge!
 
Steve Hayden said:
I have used a piece of 10" I-beam and railroad rail in the past. I am now using a HF Russian 110# anvil that works pretty good at my level of skill. I wouldn't mind if it was a hundred pounds or so heavier-sometimes I make it bounce a little. It rings like a bell when you hit it.
Click to expand...

Seems like as good a time as any to reiterate some important things on anvils and anvil mounting.

- Mount your anvil (however large or small) securely. It not only makes it more safe, but helps avoid the "jumping around" and can also significantly reduce anvil ring.
- If your anvil continues to ring, wear hearing protection. Once your hearing is gone, it's gone.

Just my $.02

-d
 
To bad your not closer....There is a tool sale going on in RI this weekend.
They say they have over 150 anvils!

Thats right! 150 anvils!


I'll be there bright and early!:D
 
Well, you bastid, help a brother out and buy one for me! I know you're a dollar short of God, so spread it around a little bit!:D

...somehow I'm sure I qualify as a tax deductible charity due to my numerous handicaps (dumb as a bag of hammers, inability to interact with others without swearing profusely --gotta be Turett's, I'm Irish, how much more do you need?).
 
deker said:
Seems like as good a time as any to reiterate some important things on anvils and anvil mounting.

- Mount your anvil (however large or small) securely. It not only makes it more safe, but helps avoid the "jumping around" and can also significantly reduce anvil ring.
- If your anvil continues to ring, wear hearing protection. Once your hearing is gone, it's gone.

Just my $.02

-d
Click to expand...

A good part of my hearing went with loud bar bands, gunfire and turbo diesel engines back in the days when just sissies wore hearing protection.

Bouncing is not a big problem, I have the base bracketed with lag bolts. There are no holes in the base to tie it down. The only time it has moved much was when working on 52100 mill balls. They don't move very easy under the hammer, so you gotta whale on 'em.
 
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