I have come across a poor abused anvil, it was all that I could afford. I purchased it for $30 dollars, it wieghs 100 pounds. It was very weathered and worn from being left out in the open. I ground the top surface hopping to obtain a workable top plate. I only noticed that the top steel plate was very thin, badly pittied and in need of serious help. As it is ,it is unuseable. I have aquired hard facing rod to build up the surface(stoody 1105). Also 7018 rod to do the outside perimeter (to hide the hard facing weld). I am looking for some tubing to weld over the hardy holes, Square& round, so as to not weld into these areas making it hard to use once hardfaced.
How would you go about this repair? What would you do? In the info I have about repairing an anvil they recommend burring it in vermiculite. Do you know of any supplier of this material?
If you have done this before any or all descriptions or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank You