Private Entrance Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 I found this today on my 110#ish HB anvil. I would like to know how bad this is. I am pretty sure it can be classified as 'other than good.' The crack runs from the hardy hole towards the heel. I felt it when I reached under the anvil to move it out of the bright sunlight and into the shade again. I hope this isn't in a catastrophic failure. It is certainly beyond my personal capability to repair. Thanks in advance for any help/advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramsberg Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Two tips, well three really. Firstly, try to shine a bright light into the crack and to see if you can determine how old the rust is inside the crack. If the rust and deep part of the crack looks old, then it has proved it can take it. Second, rub a bit of chalk around the hardy hole to see if there are any more cracks. Also rub the chalk around the crack as far as the crack goes to see if it is longer then it apears to be. Thirdly, your picture is a bit out of focus, one that is in focus would really help in the diagnosis. Caleb Ramsby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 How long is the crack and how deep? Is the crack only in the steel face or does it extend into the body of the anvil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Appears to be on the underside of the anvil and most likely was there from birth. I wouldn't worry about it, been there that long with no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Is your HB a "solid wrought"? If it is it may be a weld showing since you say this is the underside of the heel. Does the heel still sound right? I agree with Thomas. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOblacksmith0530 Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 looks like typical forge crack, I seem to remember one on my 148lb peter Wrifht in the same area but maybe smaller. I will try and remember to look at it when I get home and maybe post a pic if it is as I remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Entrance Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 It is under the heel. The heel still sounds good - rings about the same as the front end of the table and the horn, just in a slightly different key. Total length of the crack is about 3/4", looks to be at least 1/4" deep, maybe a bit deeper, and there is a patina in there. Not quite the same as the underside of the heel, but it does look to have been there awhile and I just haven't noticed it. I looked for a 'solid wrought' marking on the anvil, and couldn't find any such thing anywhere, and the serial #, if there is one, is under the strapping holding it down. Here is what I hope to be a better pic. It is comforting to hear that the initial opinion is that this might not be a catastropic failure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 I wouldn't worry about it too much. I WOULD mark it (just with paint) and you now have a couple good pictures so you can check it in 6 months or a year if it changes any. It is a pretty wide crack to have just happened. I would probably not do any more heavy upsetting in the hardy hole, if you have in the past. I would not make any other changes how I used it unless something changes. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 I sure wouldn't go trying to "fix" it, it could make things a whole lot worse than they appear to be from your photos of the crack now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob S Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 I wouldn't worry about it too much. Phil I wouldn't worry about it either. But would you discount the value of this anvil if you were buying it? Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 I wouldn't worry about it either. But would you discount the value of this anvil if you were buying it? Bob I would probably try talking the price down some on this defect. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 Heck, I will always try to talk down price on an anvil, but not so much to insult them. The worst they will say is no. But then that's just me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Entrance Posted March 26, 2012 Author Share Posted March 26, 2012 Sweet. Thank you all for the help and advice. I will keep an eye on it going forward, and will not do any heavy upsetting in the hardy hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 maybe drill a hole at the end so it dosen't crack any longer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ten Hammers Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 " is you HB a solid wrought ? " Wasn't aware there were any other kind but I do miss things. I myself would pass on the anvil unless it was CHEAP. To each his own. Let's be perfectly clear though. I HAVE anvils. Were this my first I might haggle for it yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Entrance Posted March 26, 2012 Author Share Posted March 26, 2012 Drilling a hole to stop the crack isn't something I had thought of. I will consider it, but shan't act rashly. If I had seen the crack before I bought it, I might not have. This is my first and only anvil, so I'm happy with it for now. I'm saving my pennies for an upgrade one of these days, but we'll burn that bridge when we cross it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 If you find you need to make hardy tools, and need to upset them, it is pretty easy (time consuming perhaps) to make a bolster plate. Measure your existing hole carefully, then layout on a heavy piece of steel the dimensions (typically a standard sized square, but often not) If your hardy is particularly off shape/size you may want to make the bolster regular to the larger dimension, and grind/or file to fit your anvil. Drill a hole to remove most of the metal, or drill 4 smaller holes. use a cold chisel ground to cut one side, and a diamond point chisel to clean out the hole, then file. In 1 inch mild steel plate this will take about an hour, probably more for your first one. There is a Mark Aspery video on youtube showing this. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Entrance Posted March 27, 2012 Author Share Posted March 27, 2012 That's a brilliant idea. Never crossed my mind to set something like that up. I will keep an eye out for materials for one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 I wouldn't drill a stop unless the crack grows. Mark it and check every once in a while. Covering it with a layer of enamel paint is a good way to tell if a crack is growing or one develops as paint has no flex and will flake if a crack develops or grows. Use a paint that dries HARD. Use a mirror to check it so you don't have to turn it over for a good look. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 I'd think that the inherent vibration in an anvil would tend to crack paint over a crack like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Entrance Posted March 27, 2012 Author Share Posted March 27, 2012 I like that option better than drilling holes, and you are probably right about the paint cracking, too. But I'd rather put a bit on my anvil than a drill to her, if I can help it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcusb Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 the 125 pound HB i have has one, except it is facing towards the base, anvil has seen hard use, and you can tell by patina it is as old as the anvil, Im guessing it happend when the punched the hole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Entrance Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 More good news, when taken as part of the whole. Mine's seen some hard use as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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