Requesting recommendations on anvils.....

[Steelhog]

Hey all, Could I please get some recommendations on decent anvils around the $500 price point? I had been looking into the atlas (65lbs)/graham (142lbs) anvil (Somewhat local to me and love my atlas forge) and the Blackrobin (93lbs) anvil but open to suggestions and recommendations beyond this small list. I think around the 100lbs mark would be ideal to stay around but open to thoughts and suggestions.

I know in an ideal world I could find an quality old one but FB marketplace and craigslist seems to be filled with expensive garbage.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

You will not regret getting the 142# Atlas.

 

[Steelhog]

You will not regret getting the 142# Atlas.

I think you are prob right in use. The only thing is that I don't have a great placement for my anvil in my shop and would need to move it when I wanted to use it. I am cool with moving the a 100lbs + stand regularly but the 150ish range is starting to be a bit cumbersome. Around 100lbs seems to be a good medium between use and able to move it frequently. The smaller atlas seems great but may be a bit small for regular use. Not sure.....

 

[Hubert S.]

I have an Atlas Graham and it is not difficult to move. IIRC, the one I have is around 115lbs, though. Maybe the new ones are heavier? I made a stand for mine out of square tubing and was planning to add wheels to it to move it around, but did not really find that necessary. If all you need to do is move it a few feet so it's not in the middle of the way, I don't think it will be a big deal.

 

[dwaterfield]

I think you are prob right in use. The only thing is that I don't have a great placement for my anvil in my shop and would need to move it when I wanted to use it. I am cool with moving the a 100lbs + stand regularly but the 150ish range is starting to be a bit cumbersome. Around 100lbs seems to be a good medium between use and able to move it frequently. The smaller atlas seems great but may be a bit small for regular use. Not sure.....

I had the same reservations about the Atlas, especially because I use a horn pretty frequently. I went with the Atlas Alec, which is in between the Atlas and the Graham in size but otherwise is a lot like the Graham. I've been very happy with the purchase. Unfortunately it looks like they're not offering the Alec right now, so if it were me I'd go with the Graham.

I understand the concern about moving it. I built a stand out of 2x4s and filled it with over 100lbs of sand. I added some plywood risers to the bottom on two sides, which left a slot down the middle. I have a small dolly that fits in the slot and lets me move it around when I need to. I've thought about adding wheels but I don't move it often enough to really need them.