gplott Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Is this thing worth $150? There are no markings other than the "100" on it and some red lines on the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backwoods Blacksmith Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 It looks like a cast iron anvil with a top plate. It could be a good steel casting. How does it ring? how is the bounce? Does it weigh 100lbs? Does the top plate seem to be harder than the body? All these determine the price. Any good anvil is worth at least $2.00 per lb. I have't had to buy an anvil in a while. Back in the 1990's there were a bunch of cast iron anvils out of Mexico that looked real good but were not so good in quality. No hardened top plate and the horn would break off. Use a file on one of the feet to check for cast iron or steel. Do this first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gplott Posted April 26, 2012 Author Share Posted April 26, 2012 I saw this on craigslist so I don't have access to it yet. I'll have to call the guy to check it out. I'm a complete newbie just looking to get started so let me ask some question of your questions. How does it ring? -- So I whack it with a hammer and listen for? I'm guessing a "pa-ting" or a thud. how is the bounce? -- I whack it again and see if the hammer bounces off a lot or a little? Does it weigh 100lbs? -- This one I can figure out on my own :-) Does the top plate seem to be harder than the body? -- I think I can figure this out to. Use a file on one of the feet to check for cast iron or steel. Do this first. -- Complete newb, how do I tell the difference? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewayforge Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 I saw this too, looks a little off from the pictures. Let us know if its a good one or not. If its a good anvil, then that's a fair price, see if you can talk him down. Also, put your location in your profile. It could help locate some helpful smiths nearby! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 If you add your location we can direct you to a blacksmithing group near your. They should have anvils for sale or know where they can be located. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gplott Posted April 26, 2012 Author Share Posted April 26, 2012 Hey Backwoods Blacksmith, Glenn with two n's, they're aren't too many of us around, and Ridgewayforge, I live in Camp Hill Pennyslvania. I updated my profile. Thanks for the quick responses. I thought too from the pictures that this anvil looks a little off. What's with the color? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewayforge Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Ah! Camp Hill! That's right near Harrisburg, right? My brother lives in Harrisburg and works there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backwoods Blacksmith Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Cast iron, when filed will have grainy dull looking fileings. Steel will be bright and slivery. The feel is different also. Try it at home. The top should ring distintly. Not all will sound like a bell but it won't thud either. When you hit the anvil lightly it should bounce back. Hold the hammer handle lightly. Better yet a 1in ball bearing dropped from a 2 foot height should bounce back pretty well. Metal rusts but the motteled look reminds me of cast iron. Plus the top looks to be cast with the body. The join looks to have a formed radius. Hard to say from the pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Looks a bit off to me too. There were some Chinese cast iron anvil about twenty years ago that kinda looked like this one, phony as all get out, but a whole bunch of them were sold. Check it out in person and see if it's any good. If it is a Chinese anvil it may be worth $25 to $30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backwoods Blacksmith Posted April 28, 2012 Share Posted April 28, 2012 If it is cast iron it is yard art. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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