darthdave22 Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Hey guys I am new here and I was wondering if anyone could identify this anvil from a pic. It looks well used with a slight slump in the middle you can see it in the photo. Its 220 lbs and the people are asking 250 bucks obo should I risk it? I know its a forging anvil because the mass is in the center and its what I am looking for. I am a beginner and im still tooling up and not forging much because this is the one thing I dont have yet anvils seem to be very very hard to find in Maine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Falcon 72 Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Looks like it's definitely worth the money! If you got it go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danz409 Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 if your just starting out, (depending on budget) there is alternatives could go to Harbor Freight if there is one around your area and buy this HF Anvil or take a trip to your local scrap yard and get a peace of steel to beat on if your unshure if you plan to do much with this craft. i payed $14 for my 31 pund squire chunk and its doing allright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orgtwister Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 i would jump all over it for that price as for harbor freight anvil its not an anvil its anvil shaped object (ASO) boat anchor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragons lair Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 The only HF anvil that was worth anything was the 110 cast steel russian. The normal hardy was preferable to the diagonial one. They do not carry them any more. The 55lb cast iron is a 1/4 step above a rock. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Hard to tell from the photograph, can't see any writing on it. Can't even see the face from that distance, and the hammer is in the way of a good look at it. From what little that I can see, I would probably purchase it if I was in your position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 My first anvil wasn't that big....shoot, my everyday anvil isn't that big!! Buy it if you can....personnally I would offer a little less, just for the fun of it, the worst they can say is no! Just don't insult them with too low of an offer. You might be pleasantly surprised. As for the HF anvil, just send me the $$$, it'll do you just about as much good. PM me for my address! Good luck, hope you can get it. If you will update your profile by giving your location it will help us help you in locating more of the MUCH NEEDED toy...er I mean TOOLS. Just click on "User CP" up in the green bar, yeah, at the top of the page. There are likely smiths in your area I'm sure and we can also let you know of blacksmithing events that may be close to you. Good to have you aboard, enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 You would be hard pressed to do better price wise. Not sure if it is really 220# though. Not that it matters, for that price you can always get your money back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthdave22 Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 Wow I guess I will jump on it and go buy! Thanks for all the advice guys. I will get my info updated right off too. I am really excited about getting good at blacksmithing in general and its good to have help : ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unkle spike Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 I agree, I would get it. The 55lb ASO from HF isn't worth the money, unless you have no other alternative. The 110lb is a better anvil, but they don't sell that one anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithgartner Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Anivls bring different prices in different parts of the world. What part are you in? That said $ 250.00 US sounds fair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaylan veater Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 That would be a good buy in Utah. Some go for more depending on the shape.If I were you I would buy it. You can always resell later if you happen to find a better anvil down the road. Gaylan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Here is my suggestion. Over the many years I have haggled ,and wheeled and dealed some pretty good buys, First tell them that you are an aspiring blacksmith, and that you are on a budget. Politely ask them what their bottom dollar would be on it (they did say OBO correct?) If they come back with $225 go look at it again really good running your hands over it checking for cracks,dings, bad stuff-you are making an important decision with your hard earned money, and for Pete's sake don't grin and look all giddy when you do! Then you can try saying that you had set a budget of $200 for an anvil, which they may accept seeing how you are an aspiring blacksmith, and not a dreaded collector of anvils, or if they have not had many people inquire about it. Whatever transpires have the cash with you. Do they have any other equipment that they could toss in, or make a package deal with? I recently purchased a 170# Hay Budden for $175 we had guessed 175# and $1 a pound. I went for the anvil, and ended up with an anvil, 2 forges with blowers (Buffalo/Champion), a couple barrels of coal , 20+ tongs, 20+hamers/fullers/etc, and a mess of hardies. By making a package deal I got great average prices of $3 hardies, $5 tongs. I also recently bought out a farrier and got a JHM Journeyman anvil, a gas forge, folding anvil stand with spring vise, and hand tools for $250 by making a package deal. It never hurts to ask for a lower price, all they can say is no. If it is out of your budget do not be afraid to walk away. But you are making an informed decision by coming here and asking. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphry Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Hey Dave' I'd say it's a good buy if it isn't delaminated at the work surface. It looks pretty good from the photo. My anvil is only 180#, it'll be all you need for hand work. I picked up my peter wright from Uncle Henry's, but there getting harder to find. Saw two Last week, at Liberty Tool and Elmers barn,"both in Maine". Neither was that cheap or in that good a shape. I'd grab it. Humphry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthdave22 Posted August 31, 2009 Author Share Posted August 31, 2009 I am located in Strong Maine not 20 minutes from New Sharon aint that funny.....I think its a fair price for the area there is a Peter Wright somewhere else in the state for 230 and i think its 119 lbs so a 220 lb anything for 250 sounds good to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OddDuck Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Wow, all kinds of people from Maine on here, might as well chime in. I'd say go for it, at worst you can put it right back up for sale, at best you will have a nice anvil and a good start. I feel your pain with the scarcity of equipment up this neck of the woods, my main hobby is foundry work, my son and I are just getting into smithing. There are NO suppliers north of Lewiston for most things that would be used in a foundry, and shipping from buying online is a killer. I've seen a few anvils around, I haven't checked Liberty tool yet, but I have looked at one of the offshoots, Capn' Tinkhams in Searsport and they didn't really have anything. Right up the road is a junk barn that had three anvils, one small one with the heel broken at the hardie for $125, a Peter Wright for $300, and a large nice one (at least 200 lbs+-) with a really nice working face for $400. This was in the middle of August, tho, so I don't know if they would still be there. I want to get down to Hulls Cove tool Barn one of these days and have a look around. I say go for it, offer $200 with cash in hand, see what they say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithgartner Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 I would buy it, try to get them down some, $ 150.00 is better, especially for resale, but $250.00 is ok if you're gonna use it. Just my opinion! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthdave22 Posted September 4, 2009 Author Share Posted September 4, 2009 So im going to pick it up tomorrow night! It doesnt have any markings but the fellow that has it said it was used by some other guys great grandfather who worked for the Cape cod railroad so I thinks its a nice one. It hsa some face wear but not too bad I will post pics soon..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Lumpkins Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Wish you luck on the Anvil, I think your getting you a good one.. and welcome to I Forge Iron, ..Besure and stop in the chat room and hang out.. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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