Are all anvils the same?

All anvils are not the same. Some are cast iron, like the one you referenced. They are commonly referred to as ASO's, anvil shaped objects. Not useful for much of anything related to forging. The metal is too soft. Others are hardened steel or have a hardened steel plate welded on top. Watch craigs list, and good luck.
 
jkf96a said:
All anvils are not the same. Some are cast iron, like the one you referenced. They are commonly referred to as ASO's, anvil shaped objects. Not useful for much of anything related to forging. The metal is too soft. Others are hardened steel or have a hardened steel plate welded on top. Watch craigs list, and good luck.
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I'm glad I asked. I can't find anything on craigslist right now but am watching. I'll have to keep looking. Just look for hardened steel in the description?
 
It won't say hardened steel. Look for names like trenton, peter wright, haybuden etc... Most of the time the seller won't even know the name of the anvil. You have to go by the pic's and determine if the anvil is in good condition.
 
I agree. All those listed above are good anvils. Emerson's also aren't bad and are a decent price brand new. They're made in Eastern Texas or in Louisiana, I believe.

I bought a near-century old 148 pound Hay Budden off of ebay after watching for quite a while and finding a "buy-it-now" anvil at a good price. It was from a tool re-seller who picked it up in an estate sale, and I jumped on it. The auctions can get higher than I want to pay at times. It's pricey to ship, but still came out at a decent price. Expect to pay around $2-4 a pound for a good used anvil. New anvils can run $7-8 or more a pound. My anvil came out to $2.61 a pound shipped.

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Look for at least some areas of clean edge without too much chipping, though that can be worked around with top tool. Avoid an anvil to too much sway, though some sway is expected in quality older wrought iron anvil. An anvil of around 100+ pounds is great for steady blade smithing, though you may be able to get by with a 75 pounder for hobby work if you mount it well.

--nathan
 
I recently bought almost the same anvil on ebay (144# Hay Budden). When I got mine it was the first time that I had ever noticed the square hole in the throat of an anvil and I see that yours has the same. Maybe it was just too inconspicuous of a location to notice. Anyone ever heard what the reason is for it?

BTW: Mine was a little over $3 delivered.

Gary
 
Agree with what others previously have said. If you are willing to do a little work to restore the anvil it will save you money as well. A little over a week ago I got a 168 pound Hay-Budden for $250. Needed some work but after about 6 hours of grinding and polishing she was a thing of beauty. I was looking for around 3 months before landing this deal. Don't give up!

Eric
 

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Gary Mulkey said:
I recently bought almost the same anvil on ebay (144# Hay Budden). When I got mine it was the first time that I had ever noticed the square hole in the throat of an anvil and I see that yours has the same. Maybe it was just too inconspicuous of a location to notice. Anyone ever heard what the reason is for it?

BTW: Mine was a little over $3 delivered.

Gary
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I believe those are handling holes used during manufacture.

To the original poster, tell everyone you know you are looking for an anvil and you will be suprised at what comes up. I started looking around and asking a ton of people and ended up with 3 peter wrights and 1 Henry Wright. Keep the word out and it will happen eventually.

-Mike
 
M.Griffin said:
I believe those are handling holes used during manufacture.

To the original poster, tell everyone you know you are looking for an anvil and you will be suprised at what comes up. I started looking around and asking a ton of people and ended up with 3 peter wrights and 1 Henry Wright. Keep the word out and it will happen eventually.

-Mike
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Nice score, 3 Peter Wrights and a Henry Wright!! Were they in good condition? I picked up a 197 pound Peter Wright at a garage sale in good condition for $25.oo and a swedge block for $20.00 that was a great day I smiled all day long.
 
Mike Quesenberry said:
Nice score, 3 Peter Wrights and a Henry Wright!! Were they in good condition? I picked up a 197 pound Peter Wright at a garage sale in good condition for $25.oo and a swedge block for $20.00 that was a great day I smiled all day long.
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My first was a #190 Peter Wright that cost me a grand total of $0. It is pretty hammered, but still has a great rebound and served well as a learning anvil. I didn't have to worry about putting a hammer mark in the face as it already has plenty. I just made the guy who gave it to me a knife and he was happy.
I got a #160 P.W. at an antique store for $225. It was sitting next to a big piece of crap (probably around #225) anvil that looked new but had no rebound that they wanted $600 for. Needless to say I took the P.W. as it is in very good shape.
The other P.W. is a #125 with one edge built up by a welder.
The Henry Wright is a #113 and is in good shape. Came from a farm auction with a swedge block and a couple pairs of tongs and a hardy tool. I think that was also around $225.

The deals are out there, the hardest part is having the patience to wait for the right one. Good luck in your search johnnyKnives.

-Mike
 
As people have said, ask about. I got a 112lb brooks for £70 that was pretty much brand new, no marks on the edges and only one very small ding on the face.

Asking around is your best bet. Try scrap metal dealers, junk shops, farms, agricultural auctions, blacksmiths, farriers and anywhere that has big old tools for sale. You may get a bargain.

Jamie
 
Do not get the Harbour freight 55lb anvil. I had one when I started and all it was good for was to give me encouragement to build my own.

Dad and I built a 400lb anvil and it works Great!!! It only cost $300.00.

I'll post some pictures of it late tonight.
 
Kyle Royer said:
Do not get the Harbour freight 55lb anvil. I had one when I started and all it was good for was to give me encouragement to build my own.

Dad and I built a 400lb anvil and it works Great!!! It only cost $300.00.

I'll post some pictures of it late tonight.
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Please do Kyle!
 
Here are two pictures of the anvil my dad and I built.

We made it from a counterweight off of a fork truck with a forty foot reach.

It is A36 mild steel with a surface coating of high carbon that I welded on and surface ground flat. I spent about a month fill welding where the torch cut out more than we wanted and grinding. It is 400lbs and works great!!! The reason it only cost me $300 at the time was because we were friends with the person who owned the scrap yard where we found it and he basically gave it away. Even if I had paid top price for it as scrap steel at the time it would have paid for itself already.

Anyway, this is my anvil.

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