Chris C

Sorry, mtodrisoll, I didn't catch that you'd already tested the rebound. If you've got 80-90%, you are good to go. (where's that danged "envy" emoji?)

I'm sure you are excited about your first anvil, Larry. I know, if I could find one I wanted, I would be as excited. There is a lot of collective knowledge on this forum and typically it's shared in a more civil way than most forums. The only negative comments I've seen here is from people trying to share based on the mistakes they or someone they know has made. And that is only a perceived negativity. It's always considered a serious "no-no" to grind the top surface or edges of an anvil. But if you bought an anvil before learning that....................well, how could you know? Maybe the grinding was just the seller's way of smoothing up a few dings. "Thickness" has little or nothing to do with why grinding is so lowly thought of. The hardened surface can easily be ground away. But there is a way to find out if you have a usable surface. Get yourself a 1" ball bearing. Drop that ball bearing from a height of 12" onto the surface of the anvil. I'm told if it rebounds more than 60% of the height from which it was dropped, you have, at least, a usable anvil. If it's like 30% you'll know why grinding is considered so bad. Hope this helps.............and welcome to the forum.

As I've mentioned previously, I'm just going to sit it out. I've got a serviceable anvil. I put out the 4 Craigslist ads and I'll just sit and wait. I'm too busy trying to get my forge built to be heavily pursuing an anvil.

Couldn't agree more CrazyGoatLady.

Just got a "hit" from my Craigslist ad in Wichita, KS. 100 pound anvil. $200. He's sending pics. That's at least a "two-tank" drive for me. It it turns out to be interesting enough to buy, I could have it shipped I guess. Got a hit yesterday from one in Ft. Smith, AR.................." around 100 lbs. it’s pretty old, but still in good shape". I can't believe people answer an ad and don't bother to say what they are asking or willing to send pics. I've had several like that from the Dallas, Ft.Worth area..............no price. If I'm trying to sell something, I'm posting pics and showing an asking price. Oh well. Sooner or later something will happen. I've got my 50# Vulcan in the mean time.

Well, TheoRockNazz, if you're asking for honest critique............................................... I like the handle with the colored burl a lot. I'm okay with the "unfinished" blade. But the pommel and guard don't seem to compliment the knife at all. All this, of course, is just my humble opinion. And you know what they say about opinions..........................................

Didn't even know there was an antique dealer who had anvils in Guthrie.................but I know enough about Guthrie antique dealers to know not to waste my time goin' up there.

Been using the TPAAAT anvil searching system. Mentioned my search to a friend in the gym this morning and his shoulder immediately slumped. Said he traded off a 100# German anvil less than 6 months ago. Oh well, TPAAAT is "guaranteed" to work, I'm told.

I didn't ask him for HT steel, Frosty............it was all he could find in the size I was asking. Heck, I wouldn't have them cut anything! I'm up front at the "bits and pieces" bin. I just thought I'd ask him to to try and locate a piece of 4140 the size I wanted. When he called today, I told him to forget it.........and forget looking unless he stumbles onto a drop-off that I can afford. (Cheap!) I'll stick with my parsley little 50# anvil and be thankful to have it.

Oh God, so do I, Frosty. Nothing like a loving, faithful dog. "Man's best friend" is not enough credit.

Thanks, Thomas...............dat dere's a good idear!

WHEW! Almost messed up my pants when you posted that! Don't you dare mistreat that beauty.

Dang, that's gonna make a nice anvil for ya. (slobber-slobber)

Well Picker77, I just got a call from Specialty Metals. Talk about sticker shock! 5 x5x12....4140....heat treated.................$845. He quoted me something else that was annealed but after hearing it was $600-something, I lost interest. Heck, I can buy a brand new Black Robin anvil for $460 plus freight. Guess I'll just stick with my 50# Vulcan anvil and wait for my lottery ticket to pay off.

Frosty.............just sent you an e-mail.

Ain't dat what it's all 'bout?

Heck, Thomas, I'd like to even stumble onto one length of sucker rod. Would be a nice piece of "stash" to have behind the shop "just in case". As for your last statement, any time I'm buying for my stash, I've experienced sticker shock. That's why I look for junk people want to toss. "One man's trash is another's treasure!"

(like anyone really cares!) I'm really gettin' excited about this forge build. Been gathering pieces and parts for some time now. Got all my refractories in last week. But still waiting on my K26 bricks and the forge housing. Got my Harbor Freight cart bought and assembled today and set the blower on the lower shelf to start looking at how to anchor it and how many other pieces of pipe I'm going to need. I've got "most" of the pipe pieces in-house, but I need to decide how high off the floor the opening of my forge needs to be so I can get the exact measurements for the "rack" that will support my forge above the cart and remaining pipe I need to purchase. Is there a general consensus as to how high off the floor the floor of the forge should be to be most efficient? Got all of my fuel source line made up with the regulator, 1/4 turn shut-off and needle valve. Still need to weld up the plenum and cast the ribbon burner nozzle. Getting it working correctly is my big concern at the moment. So close..............yet so far. Could be finished in two weeks or two months.................who knows. I guess everyone who has ever built a forge (at least their first one) has felt the same as I do right now.

Believe me, I know the feeling......................now back to The First Knife thread. (I apologize for high-jacking it, Bustapepper!)

Well, I guess that would work. Just wish it were a darker pink shading into red! Worst thing one can do is call someone by someone else's name. At my age it comes naturally. But this morning's error was just plain "not awake yet" stupor!

Oops! I knew that. Not awake yet and haven't had enough coffee. Sorry 'bout dat! (do we have an "embarrassed" imoji?)

That's the "Ace" up his sleeve, Jennifer.

I've got the same supplier lookin' for a piece 5x5x12 out of 4140 or 1050 to make a post anvil. Will just have to wait and see. I'm in no rush..............don't even have a forge put together yet.