Junk Yard Run

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I just came back from the scrap yard. The owner had called me and said he had a small ASO made from a piece of light gauge rail. Not very large, maybe 10-15 pounds, but cute. He said I could have it it I thought it would be of any use. I said I would come over and pick it up ( Yeah, like I really need an excuse to go to the scrap yard!).

When I got there the little anvil was sitting on the huge anvil they keep at the yard. I have tried to get them to sell it for years, but it is not for sale. It is a 400+ pound Peter Wright. Someday...maybe ....he will let it go.

Anyway, I looked around for any things I needed, and noticed a two foot section of heavy gauge rail track. The 3" wide top was heavily work hardened. It was a cut off from the tracks the shipyard cranes move on. The piece weighed 115 pounds, and the cost was $34.50. It is a perfect sword anvil as is. I think I might mount it on two 100 pound sections of 7" round stock and make a three hundred pound bridge anvil from it.

I also picked up an unused aluminum drive wheel for $1/pound. It is machined from solid aluminum and is 3" wide and 6" diameter. The center is keyed for a 3/4" shaft. This has serious possibilities for a future grinder project.

While chit chatting about things, I jokingly tried to get him to sell the old anvil. He said it wasn't for sale, but if I wanted a couple of hundred pounders, he had a friend with two he wanted to sell. The weights were 110# and 115#. I have the man's name and will cal him first thing Monday morning.

Stacy

 

[J.Marsillo]

I wish the scrap yards around me worked like that...inbound metal only and dont stop to look through the pile :grumpy:

 

[Phil Dwyer]

I know of a situation somewhat like that too. An old Japanese fella is in the steel fabrication business with his brother. He collects anvils, doesn't use them, just collects them. I was directed to him a couple years back in my ever ongoing search. I stopped by his impressive shop a couple of times when I was on the correct side of the right island. I was astounded to see anvil after anvil weighing hundreds of pounds each. He absolutely will not budge. As he said, "I buy them. I don't sell them."

 

[Kingdom]

I want an anvil! 100lb+. An anvil made from my "H" beam would work but a real steel anvil would make my year.

 

[Frank Niro]

That alumimium drive wheel could be very handy. The diameter and shaft size are very usual for a gringer. Frank

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Jonah,
If the price is right, one may be for you. I'll let you know.
Stacy