Taking into account your location, a HT'd 30 pound piece of steel didn't cost you out the wazzoo.... Oops! Wrong again; A 37 pound and a 100 pound HT'd piece of steel. 137 pounds of steel total... Only thing I'm scratching my head about is you're not factoring this cost the equation?
Last time I checked tool steel isn't free, and it's most definitely not cheap by any stretch of the imagination.
You likely paid money for the H-13 tool steel that you had heat treated, no?
Considering my deep pockets and endless cash flow, I get remnant drops of tool steel from my local distributor for $1.80/lb., I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and go with that as a legitimate cost estimate for your 137 pounds of H13 tool steel.
(#37 ($1.80/lb.=$66.60) + (HT'd @ $54.02) + $28 (S&H)= $148.62
(#100 (1.80/lb.=$180) + (HT'd @ $146) + $60 (S&H)= $386.00
Total= $534.62
"Cost" in my realm of logic centers itself around practicality, time, effort, initial research, contemplating end results, etc. ; overall the accumulated time/ money/ labor it takes to "pull the trigger" and actually accomplish a result...
Considering the many threads you've created on this topic, leading up to this very thread, I can safely assume that you were in search of an anvil as an "end result". You now have two pieces of hardened H13 tool steel, one weighing #37, the other #100 that you dished out $534.62... That's $3.90/lb. which in all reality sits on the high end of the spectrum of what people would be willing to pay for a "legitimate anvil" in *pristine condition*.
I would not see this as a bargain, nor would I consider it to be practical by any stretch of the imagination. I will consider my inaccuracies when replying from here on out...
Hi,
The price I paid is 1.00 per pound , when i bought 3 pieces of h 13 , round and square. Shipping was 30 -50 ups ground.
My logic may not be as advance as yours, and being a beginner , I am reading and asking questions.
They may not be all the best , but I find it very helpful.
I do not have the ability to travel and go to hammerins or blacksmith meetings, I wish I did.
I am not looking to buy an anvil just yet. I am having fun experimenting with different steel alloys and tool steels , that will be hardened.
The cost is irrelevant to me, because i am learning how to create some 100-150 lb post anvils, to test forging on them.
When I can forge better, without hitting the bare anvil too often, and I have found the steel I like the best, I will go and buy an anvil.
It is too soon for me to get an anvil, I would not want to use it until I do more forging.
I like to forge better than grinding on my new grinder , for making a knife.
I love to research, and experiment, and compare results. If that is wrong, oh well, I am not hurting anyone.
You have always given me great info, I do not know why my asking questions demands such a responce.
I hope I explained why I am buying these pieces of steel and not just buying one big anvil.
Like I said, the cost is not relevant to me. When I am ready, i will spend maybe 2000. On a refflinghaus or a peddinghaus.
Maybe even a jymm hoffman anvil out of h13 at 110 lbs for a small anvil, and a 220 or 265 lb larger anvil.
Fun, I like it. Research. Fun again. Why so serious?
Jon
) that you should try and make some knives by stock removal before forging. I'm still in the stock removal phase myself, and as much as I want to forge a knife, I continue to practice my stock removal skills.
