Finally got a good anvil!

V

voodoolord

Joined
Jan 31, 2017
Messages
50
I picked up this 360 pound sawyers anvil for $250 and it is fantastic! I was using a railroad track before this with some decent results but this thing is far and away light years ahead of that track. The hammer springs off the face and because of the sheer size of it it doesn't walk around on the table when I hammer. It actually solidified my table and my forge doesn't dance around. Plus I can put my grinder right on top of it. Came with 3 tongs and a nice ball peen hammer. What do you guys think?

 
Ya I wish I knew how old it is, there are no markings on it. It's 18.5 inches in diameter and 5 inches thick and the face is perfectly flat with some hammer marks in it. I don't know if it was hardened at all but the face is pretty lively.
 
Strength building, cardio, stress relieving, skill & control building, loud noise; it's got it all. Plus, you can make stuff.

It's pretty sweet, man. I totally dig it. Pound that sht. Ha.

How do you move it around?
 
wensynch said:
Strength building, cardio, stress relieving, skill & control building, loud noise; it's got it all. Plus, you can make stuff.

It's pretty sweet, man. I totally dig it. Pound that sht. Ha.

How do you move it around?
Click to expand...

I used my neighbors tractor to put it on the table. The table has wheels so it's kinda like a self contained mobile forge setup.
 
voodoolord said:
Ya I wish I knew how old it is, there are no markings on it. It's 18.5 inches in diameter and 5 inches thick and the face is perfectly flat with some hammer marks in it. I don't know if it was hardened at all but the face is pretty lively.
Click to expand...

I'm a saw filer by trade. That is definitely a roundsaw anvil. We have a bunch of different sized ones here that are used for straightening roundsaw blades. We also have some that we use in conjunction with a 'lazy susan' bearing that allows us to spin the whole setup when retipping with the torch. That's a nice size you've got there, handy for a lot of stuff. My guess is that it is not hardened. The hardened roundsaw anvils, or 'chill-faced' anvils, have a taper to them so that the base is a larger diameter than the working face, whereas yours is straight. Nothing wrong with that, just information to distinguish between the two. Also, a chill face anvil is very hard to mark with a hammer. That setup should serve you well, congrats!

ETA: Just scrolled back up and looked at the face better. Definitely not hardened, but still a nice anvil :thumbup:
 
Hard Knocks said:
I'm a saw filer by trade. That is definitely a roundsaw anvil. We have a bunch of different sized ones here that are used for straightening roundsaw blades. We also have some that we use in conjunction with a 'lazy susan' bearing that allows us to spin the whole setup when retipping with the torch. That's a nice size you've got there, handy for a lot of stuff. My guess is that it is not hardened. The hardened roundsaw anvils, or 'chill-faced' anvils, have a taper to them so that the base is a larger diameter than the working face, whereas yours is straight. Nothing wrong with that, just information to distinguish between the two. Also, a chill face anvil is very hard to mark with a hammer. That setup should serve you well, congrats!

ETA: Just scrolled back up and looked at the face better. Definitely not hardened, but still a nice anvil :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Thank you for that information. I figured out it wasn't hardened pretty quick but it still has nice bounce. Were there a lot of manufacturers that made these anvils or is it pretty specialized? I would love to get some history on it but I can't find any marks. Are these fairly rare or no? Thanks again.
 
I wouldn't say that they're rare, no. But they are definitely a specialized piece of equipment, since they are made to straighten metal. We probably have something like a dozen around here, some straight and some chill face.

If you ever hear of a sawmill auction in your area, those have been the best places to find these. They would be used in the roundsaw filing room, or a section of the bandsaw filing room depending on the mill. I've picked them up for as little as fifty bucks this way, although mill auctions are fewer and farther between now.

As far as I know, I've never seen a mark on one. Some come with handles made on them, others with threaded holes like yours, and still others (the really nice ones) with inset handle grooves. The last kind are usually found on tapered chill face anvils. Those will throw a hammer right back up at you if struck without a work piece, and really focus all of the force into the work piece when used in conjunction with the right hammer. Can I ask, just generally, what part of the country you're in?
 
Here's some we use every day.

S1zQmEo.jpg


These two are 'tipping' anvils. We use them on bearings, so they'll spin, for rebuilding the carbide tips on roundsaws. They act like a giant, flat heat-sink while you're brazing.

H0kMRl5.jpg


These are sitting out back right now, waiting to offload at the shop. The 21" chill face in the center is a dandy :thumbup:

esgCYCt.jpg


Some of the more interesting hammers that are used with them:

bTzyfN5.jpg


My baby, a 4-lb. crossface roundsaw hammer that's like an extension of my arm.

neKIwXP.jpg


If you can run this 8-pounder all day, you're a stud :D

Ymc3JFl.jpg
 
Hard Knocks said:
I wouldn't say that they're rare, no. But they are definitely a specialized piece of equipment, since they are made to straighten metal. We probably have something like a dozen around here, some straight and some chill face.

If you ever hear of a sawmill auction in your area, those have been the best places to find these. They would be used in the roundsaw filing room, or a section of the bandsaw filing room depending on the mill. I've picked them up for as little as fifty bucks this way, although mill auctions are fewer and farther between now.

As far as I know, I've never seen a mark on one. Some come with handles made on them, others with threaded holes like yours, and still others (the really nice ones) with inset handle grooves. The last kind are usually found on tapered chill face anvils. Those will throw a hammer right back up at you if struck without a work piece, and really focus all of the force into the work piece when used in conjunction with the right hammer. Can I ask, just generally, what part of the country you're in?
Click to expand...

I'm in Oregon, probably no surprise considering the anvil I have. Do you have any idea how they hardened the chill face anvils? I'm guessing they used a gantry or something to lower the piece in a quench basin. I'm wondering if it's worth trying to harden the face or just leaving it as is. I kinda like the idea of the face being more lively than it is.
 
Those pictures are awesome! Saw filing has to be somewhat of a rare art now days will all the mill closures and cut backs on forest harvesting. After looking at your examples I'm thinking they probably didn't harden these larger anvils. Those chill face anvils you show are sick. How do I find one without trying to find a mill auction?
 
I thought you might be out west, I am as well, near Ontario Oregon. I'm not sure of the hardening process on these, but if you're near Portland you might try getting ahold of someone at Pacific/Hoe and quizzing them down about it. I believe it's possible to have the faces milled on the unhardened ones as well, which you might want to consider before hardening.

ETA: As far as trying to find one in stock somewhere, try Pac Hoe. There is also a gentleman in Vancouver named Don Sylvester that handles equipment, his company is DB Machine, and he would possibly have a used one or know of its location.
 
Last edited:
Hard Knocks said:
I thought you might be out west, I am as well, near Ontario Oregon. I'm not sure of the hardening process on these, but if you're near Portland you might try getting ahold of someone at Pacific/Hoe and quizzing them down about it. I believe it's possible to have the faces milled on the unhardened ones as well, which you might want to consider before hardening.

ETA: As far as trying to find one in stock somewhere, try Pac Hoe. There is also a gentleman in Vancouver named Don Sylvester that handles equipment, his company is DB Machine, and he would possibly have a used one or know of its location.
Click to expand...

I'm in southern Oregon, Merlin area. I definitely wouldn't drive this thing 300 miles to get it worked on. I might just let it stay as it is. I wonder if work hardening will make it better. More hammer and some sanding.
 
voodoolord said:
I'm in southern Oregon, Merlin area. I definitely wouldn't drive this thing 300 miles to get it worked on. I might just let it stay as it is. I wonder if work hardening will make it better. More hammer and some sanding.
Click to expand...

I would personally let it stay as it is. Now that they're on your radar, you might see a chill face come up that wouldn't cost you any more than the work you're considering. I hope you'll post up some of the work you do with this one, especially since it's so much different than what I would normally accomplish on one. Cheers man.
 
I live in Myrtle Creek Oregon. I heard on the radio the other day Mary's River Sawmill is going out of business and having an auction. They're located outside of Philomath. They specifically mentioned anvils for sale. Hope somebody here I can swing in and pick one up
 
biker bo said:
I live in Myrtle Creek Oregon. I heard on the radio the other day Mary's River Sawmill is going out of business and having an auction. They're located outside of Philomath. They specifically mentioned anvils for sale. Hope somebody here I can swing in and pick one up
Click to expand...

They usually go pretty cheap because nobody wants to move them. If you score one, make a note of the other guys that are buying large equipment. They're going to need a lift, so sometimes you can talk one of them in to letting you tag it onto a pallet or something they're having moved anyway. Good luck.
 
My friend has one of these anvils for sale, in Oregon City. The thing weighs around 700lbs, if you are interested message me for his number.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top