Hello all, first post here, though I have been browsing the site for a while.
I have been into smithing off and on since I got my first anvil 11 years ago(little 20lb cast steel from harbor freight). I still have that one and use it often, but I've been on the look out for something bigger for a while now.
About a month ago I started building a new forge for the first time in a few years, and started scouring the local craigslist for tools. I got a Champion 400 blower in near perfect condition for only $175, but that was it for craigslist.
Then last week I hit all the little 'antique' junk stores in the area, I got a 6" crank table grinder for $30, and asked the guy if he had any anvils... he said no, but his other shop next town over had 2.
I went there next, they sold the 'big' 100lb one before I got there, but they had a pretty beat up 45 pounder which they wanted $130 for, talked em down to $85 and got it(I still got ripped off for the condition it was in lol).
Size comparison with my old HF 20#
I'm pretty sure it is cast iron with a (whats left of it) steel face. There are no markings anywhere on it, so if someone can ID this by the shape that would be awesome. =p
The only flat face anywhere on this was the squared part of the horn just under the step, side edges were non-existant, there were a few dead spots with no rebound on the face, the hardy hole had an extreme taper around the entire face edge. All in all a bad deal, but I still got it for one reason, to see how hard it would be to repair without expensive equipment or specialty hardfacing rods etc. If I screwed it up I would be paying for a learning experience, which is worth it IMO.
As it happens, I had a 1/4" plate I found a few years ago that fit it perfect, problem was, the plate had a slight curve to it and no amount of heating and pounding with a sledge would get it flat(or even dent it, this is some stubborn steel lol).
So I grabbed the angle grinder and cut it into 3 pieces, no more curve. Also cut out the hardy and pritchel holes.
Very little pre-heat, put it face down on an electric stove burner for about 10 minutes. Built the face up with some 6011 rods(all I had on hand, and I felt there was enough of the steel plate left that it would be okay), but only put a thin layer on the chipped edges, I wanted to be able to weld on the new face from as close to center as possible. Welded on the plates starting with the heel, then the front/step portion, then the center. All in all it came out great, already beat the hell out of it and none of the welds broke. It has okay rebound(about 40-50%), and my heaviest hammers still can't even dent it.
After repairs it weighs in at 56#.
So, what does everybody think, Did this turn out to be a good buy? =p And can anyone ID it from the before shots? Also, sorry for the long post. lol