FredlyFX Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 Hi everyone. I too have an anvil question. I bought another anvil yesterday. It's a big one, easilly over 200lb, but I havn't weighed it yet. I was hoping that some of you could take a look at it and help me identify it. I have put up a page on my web site with a bunch of pics and dimensions. It's at: FredlyFX.com anvil page All of the pictures are clickable links to ful size pictures. I think it is a cast steel anvil that was a factory reject. What do you guys think? If it is, should I smoth out the face and use it as is, or should I try to weld on a tool steel face? I'm leaning towards flaten and use it as is. Any help you can offer is greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 If this is cast steel you may be able to weld a face on it. I have a friend that welded a piece of grader blade on his wore out Hay Budden and it is a great anvil now. Not real sure how he did it tho....:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 As I reported over across the street, I think that this is a recent casting from Mexico as the mold line goes right through the face and horn. I don't know what alloy(s) they may be using but am interested in it's usability as they come by regularly at the local auction here in NM. Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredlyFX Posted August 28, 2006 Author Share Posted August 28, 2006 I think I'm going to grind the face flat and try to use it as is for a while to see what happens. I'll let you know how workable it is Thomas. I don't think I want to weld a face on it just yet. If it turns out it is way too soft then I may try that later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Hey Thomas, did you said Mexico? Can you tell me more about that? Please, please please. I don´t find a decent anvil factory in Mexico in many years. Thank you, and Sorry, FredlyFX, for abuse your post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 I don't know about a factory; it just looks to me like they are from a small foundry that pours them out of what's left in the pot after their main runs---why I wonder about alloys used---may vary from run to run As to being from Mexico the density of their appearence at fleamarkets and junk stores and auctions increases the closer you get to the border. Folks at such places are usually pretty close with their sources but I will ask as I see them---will probably be a while though. I was wondering about some of the foundries right across from El Paso myself... BTW they are doing small swage blocks too! Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 For some moment, ilusion came to me. What the he.. Thank you Thomas.!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredlyFX Posted August 29, 2006 Author Share Posted August 29, 2006 Now that you mention it Thomas, the guy did say that he has a friend in AZ who gathers most of his old blacksmithing stock and brings it with during visits. So, it is very likely this came from AZ too, which would them make it also possible that it had come up from Mexico. I will be talking to the guy Thursday, and will ask more about the history of the anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 I does appear to be a casting, given the parting lines. If its good steel and it works, use it, is my philosophy. Works for my anvil cut from mild steel plate :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clang Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Fredly; You did the right thing by not welding on it. Way too many usable anvils have been ruined that way........Clang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 fx,far be it for me to say, new though,so??? but if any of them need a loving home i'll make room,let us know how the trial runs go.good luck,jimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Victor, if they do do a leftover pour of a good alloy then the anvil will be decent with some clean up work. If you can find the foundry and talk with them and get them to alert you when that happens....I'll keep my eyes/ears open... Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredlyFX Posted September 2, 2006 Author Share Posted September 2, 2006 I talked with the guy I bought the anvil from and all he knows is that it came from AZ. He has a retired guy that drives around all the western states pulling a heavy trailor. My guy will buy anything blacksmithing from him to sell in his flea market/antuiqe store. Having looked at what he had available in his small new location near me, I think it may warrant a drive to his full size main location to have a look see. The same time I picked up this anvil I also got a large Pexto stake plate and a stake for $25 from him, so he has some good stuff, and is not looking for ebay prices for it. I talked with a machinest friend on Wednesday, and we will be machining the face flat probably next weekend in exchange for me helping him build a small gantry crane over his mill so he can get larger items into it. I'll be doing the base myself with brinders and belt sanders, but he will do the face. I am hoping it will be usable once that is done, and will report back once I have it done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wim Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 I have a Peter Wright 450 lbs with badly worn edge on the back of the face. There is no edge left the first six inches from the horn, and toward the heel a large radius. I need a sharp edge on that side. What do you recommend? I understand the value of my anvil (hystorically) and don't want to ruin it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredlyFX Posted September 6, 2006 Author Share Posted September 6, 2006 I would reccomend getting a second anvil with good edges. If all you are looking for is a good sharp edge, then you don't need a real anvil. Check out the local scrap yard for a large solid cutoff you can set down on end. Make some type of stand to hold it upright and you will be set. If it were say 4 or 6 inches square, you could actually grind 4 different radi on it and have a nice set up for those operations that require the edge. Or, just learn to work around what you have. Even if you were not concerned about historical value of your anvil, repairs can be iffy. Some work great, and others fail misurably. It's kind of a crap shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Make a hardy tool with the edge you need---with a little planning you could make it with *4* edges of different crispnesses and just rotate as needed. or as Fredly suggests: something like a nice chunk of 2" plate in a heavy postvise has possibilities How about a fork lift time? They can be quite heavy, made from good steel heat treated *tough*, and will have good edges. I've scrounged several over the years for free---talk with a forklift service plcae about getting a broken one---explain what you are doing so they are not woried about you trying to re-use it on a forklift... Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wim Posted September 8, 2006 Share Posted September 8, 2006 Thanks Fredly, Thomas, I have my smithy in the back of a friend's workshop who fixes forklifts, very good idea. I like the idea of making a hardy tool with different edges that i can rotate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clang Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 Wim; I think you will find the large radiuses on the far side of your anvil are very useful indeed. I use mine with a cross peen for drawing all the time. clang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wim Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 Clang, thank you, really exciting to be communicating with you, way over in the Pacific. I will keep that in mind. Wim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.