January 13, 201016 yr Hi everybody, this is my first post here. Ive been lookin around tryin to find some railroad track or an anvil but with no avail. However i am part of the school stage crew and there are 50 pound stage counterwights. they are rectangular, about 6 inch by 12 inch by 2 inch and weigh 50 pounds. Has anyone ever heard of one of these being used as an anvil? do you think it would work? any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks much!
January 13, 201016 yr If they are the vaguely H shaped ones cut out of steel plate then they will make a starter anvil, if they are cast iron---not so good.
January 13, 201016 yr Even if CI they will do a fair job, better than a rock at least. Get metal hot and have fun. Phil
January 13, 201016 yr Author Should be OK; can you get one legit? yeah. weve got a ton of extras well never use on the stage, and since ive worked on sstage crew im pretty sure theyll give me one.
January 13, 201016 yr Should work for awhile. Hit it and if a dead thud sound most likely cast iron and if a slight ring or sharp clang sound most likely mild steel. Like said better than a rock. Have fun.
January 13, 201016 yr Author Should work for awhile. Hit it and if a dead thud sound most likely cast iron and if a slight ring or sharp clang sound most likely mild steel. Like said better than a rock. Have fun. Okay, thanks. ill also do a spark test ive heard people talk about.
January 14, 201016 yr Being that they are often flame cut steel or cast - cast iron... they will work fine, just a little grinding to take off sharp edges and the cut slag... at 50# you must work in an old school counter weight house.. most modern weights are 18 or 36 lbs.. have fun with your brick, Cliff.. starting my 11th year in the entertainment biz.. 6 th as a rigger..
January 14, 201016 yr Author Being that they are often flame cut steel or cast - cast iron... they will work fine, just a little grinding to take off sharp edges and the cut slag... at 50# you must work in an old school counter weight house.. most modern weights are 18 or 36 lbs.. have fun with your brick, Cliff.. starting my 11th year in the entertainment biz.. 6 th as a rigger.. The stage is fairly new, built about 6 years ago. we have 25 and 50 pounders. once i got one of these and do the grinding should i weld it to like an i beam?
January 14, 201016 yr Had a moment.. forget they come in a bunch of sizes.. different parts of the US and world have different weights.. I worked a place where they still had lead weights... you have choices.. an I beam will be loud and heavy ... a tree stump or trunk would do fine, ... depends on you portability factor.. if you have access to a welder.. a couple angle iron ears for bolting to a tree trunk or 12 by 12 ... or whatever POST PICS!! Cliff
January 14, 201016 yr Author i do have access to a welder. i think ill go with the i beam because i do need to be able to move it, not sure exactly when ill be gettinit as i am still workin on building my first forge but pics will def. be posted.
January 14, 201016 yr If you add your location to your profile, we may be better able to find you an anvil. As it is knowing an anvil is for sale in Australia may be of little use if your located in Romania, Italy or USA.
January 14, 201016 yr Try it on edge, I think you'll be much happier. I know the edge seems too narrow, but it only needs to be as wide as your hammer face. It will be much more effective.
January 14, 201016 yr Author Try it on edge, I think you'll be much happier. I know the edge seems too narrow, but it only needs to be as wide as your hammer face. It will be much more effective. Ill try that, thanks. Illtry it both ways before i permanantly weld it to a beam or anything.
January 14, 201016 yr You won't be welding it if it turns out to be cast. Bolting would be a good option.
January 15, 201016 yr Author Unfortunately i cannot have one of the counterweights . The search for an anvil or ASO resumes.
January 15, 201016 yr Author http://rochester.craigslist.org/tls/1552580426.html does this look good? Is 150 a good price for it?
January 15, 201016 yr Hard to see the face condition. Looks to be a fisher. Anvil is probably about 125 lbs. Stump around 70 lbs. If its close enough I would go look at it. Ken
January 15, 201016 yr Author Hard to see the face condition. Looks to be a fisher. Anvil is probably about 125 lbs. Stump around 70 lbs. If its close enough I would go look at it. Ken i just sent the guy an email asking obout the face. im pretty broke tho so idk if i can afford it. its about an hour away
January 15, 201016 yr A Fisher is a good anvil, and quiet compared to a forged steel anvil. I have one that my Dad had bought, it is a 260# Fisher made in 1907. Even if the top is rough you can still do a lot of work on it. I would cruise on over there, and look it over really good for damage. You can always offer less, say $100 and see what he says. An anvil for around $1 a pound isn't too bad nowadays. One thing though, if you make an offer make sure that you have the money on you. A crisp new Benjamin Franklin can do wonders sometimes ;)
January 15, 201016 yr I'd say it looks good. Fishers are great anvils. That one has had some use but still has a lot of life and the price is good, plus a stand.
January 15, 201016 yr Author I'd say it looks good. Fishers are great anvils. That one has had some use but still has a lot of life and the price is good, plus a stand. Yeah i think ill go look at it this weekend. thanks everybody for your ressponses.
January 21, 201016 yr Yeah i think ill go look at it this weekend. thanks everybody for your ressponses. OK, you posted this last Friday and no update from your weekend trip to visit the anvil. :unsure:
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