Mike89

20 minutes ago, Frosty said:

Mike: You don't need to harden the 4140 plate to make a good anvil it might not be successful and cost quite a bit. On edge it'll give you a lot of depth of rebound making it really effective moving metal. Laying it flat is a mistake there isn't anything you're going to need that much area for. Honest a large face is attractive but you'll only really use an area just a little larger than the hammer face. If it comes to truing up a long piece you can do it easily on a vertical face. Honest, been there done it. 

Use the plate while you're plying the TPAAAT, selling products, those things you think of as practice projects. Well they are but while you're polishing your skills and BANKING product sales you're shopping for an anvil that'll put a smile on your face. Don't get in a hurry and don't turn your back on a new anvil, brand new tools are a nice thing.

Frosty The Lucky.

I was planning on setting it on its side, and using the 4 x 9-1/2" as my striking face. but thank you for letting me know about not needing hardened.

Well I was not fast enough, I did however manage to find a nice chunk of 4140 tool steel, its 12-1/2 x 9-1/2 x 4". weighs in at 118lbs and I have access to a heat treat guy who can harden it. Ive been looking at Emerson anvils and found they use 4140 and heat treat to 48-50Rc, so I figure if I can get this chunk to that hardness I should have a anvil that will do exactly what I need it to do.

I will update my profile now, but for sake of this post, Im in St. Louis MO. From my research I cannot find many anvils for sale in my area, there is a 215lb 23" long one for sale thats around $800 and thats it.

Im new here (First post). I have been blacksmithing blades for about 4 months and my rail section is not cutting it for me anymore, I found a local guy selling a heybudden 120lb anvil for $475. I know Hay-Budden's are good but is that price too much?

Mod note: Link to sales site removed.