dothacker, IMHO, not having a "proper" anvil will help you learn more in the long run. As for the noise, is there someway you can fasten/tie/strap down you anvil? I use a very thin sheet of rubber underneath my anvils and also under the holddowns. The stands I made are steel. For my light anvil, I have bolted a couple of lead plates to the leg braces to increase the " weight" of the anvil and it also helps deaden the sound. If you go with the egg crate idea, see if you can get the egg holders from a restaurant. They are bigger than the regular food store ones and you can get them for free.