buddha Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 found a fisher anvil, guy is asking 450, but going to try for 350-400... what do you think? its a 100# pictures are not the best, but the face doesn't look that bad.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Yates Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 350 round here tis a small one $1.00 a pound is normal but can get most anvils for less due to being a b-smith . Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 The 152# Mousehole for $450 in the Albuquerque Craigslist is a better deal. What is the weight on that one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Wouldn't touch it for that price. The edges aren't great, not by any means, and the anvil's a bit light for my tastes. Those two factors mean it isn't valued at $3/lb. That's a rather high price in my book and it's reserved for anvils that really match my wants and needs. That usually means either larger than 150# or in pristine condition, or both. I'd try to talk him down to less than $2/lb because of the size and condition, or walk away. While the face looks nice and flat, and you could do a lot of general work on an anvil of that size, the price is just too much for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddha Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 ya, but being the south, only a few hundred miles from mexico.... worst thing its an hour plus away.....but not too many options here, dont want a farrier anvil... ill see if he can do 200 for it, if not just wait...i see TFS has a b-smith anvil for 550ish...thats only a little more than what i already have, would have to drive 180 miles or pay the shipping, might be the same in gas..... just saw a TFS certifier for 400, but its a Farrier Anvil....:( http://austin.craigslist.org/tls/3063328050.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Yates Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 not Farrier anviles round here , Tennessee good qualite and not trash , old school anvils that the ol timers like to see young folks useing and doing something with their life other than drugs . as most families know each other round here Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Don't feel too bad, hoss. If anvils are scarce you have to do what you have to do. I don't like farrier anvils for a lot of different reasons and would spend $3/lb for a Fisher in a skinny minute if it was the only thing available. The anvil pictured is in very good condition, and it's a very good brand of anvil. It's also a great size anvil for 99% of the general tinkering you'll probably do. Nice thing about the Fisher when compared to those farrier anvils is that the Fisher won't ring like a church bell. They are very quiet anvils because they utilize a cast iron base. Talk to the seller and see if he won't come down a bit. Make up a sad story, high gas prices... whatever. And realize that as soon as you buy that Fisher you'll run across a bigger better one for cheaper. Seems to happen like that all the time! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddha Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 ya, i guess 300 would be a fair price, sucks that just about half what i would need for the TFS anvil i want... http://www.texasfarriersupply.com/proddetail.php?prod=anvdhblacksmith100 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dablacksmith Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 ya if ya ant got a anvil its not bad but... last 100 lbr i had i sold for 200 and it was nicer than that... i use a fisher in my main shop and like it but the edges are a little soft... at 450 ide be tempted to save a bit more and get a new one of the various brands available... check around with neibors and friends you would be suprised what people have layin around.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddha Posted June 8, 2012 Author Share Posted June 8, 2012 ya, ill be saving, he would go any lower then 400, i just don't think i can spend that much for a cast iron/steel plate anvil. i rather just save another 200 or so and get a new one.... thanks all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 The price was way too high for an anvil of that size and condition. $3/lb would have been reasonable considering the lack of anvils in the region, but $4/lb is silly. That double-horn anvil from TFS does look good, but I've never worked with them. At 100lb, it's a good size and brand new..... What type of work are you looking to do with it? Can you make do with a stump anvil or post anvil for the time being? I would think Austin would be ripe with old oilfield parts like drill rod that might be turned into an very stout anvil... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Drill sub's are often quite a nice chunk of steel, I've often wondered why more don't show up as anvils for treadle hammers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddha Posted June 12, 2012 Author Share Posted June 12, 2012 well i liquidated my Marco Lens, got me $400, and now the question is should i try for an old Anvil or get a new one? the ones i have seen are all over an hour's worth of a drive, and all over 400. as you seen the Fisher, he will not let it go for anything lower than 400 see a 94-97# Peter Wright (0 3 22), think this is too small for 400 and then a 200# Trenton Anvil for 600ish, this one would be nice..... all of these i will have to travel over 100 miles.... or just order a farrier anvil form Centaur Forge, almost looking at the NC Calvary 112 lbs... or just save it for the 200 lb'er? its burning a hole in my pocket...... thanks all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 You know with out information on what you want to do with it it's kind of hard to make suggestions... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddha Posted June 12, 2012 Author Share Posted June 12, 2012 Main thing I do or will be doing is blades, maybe some small decorative items, but for the most part blades.. Will need an anvil that will handle small sword/large knifes. I know some folks don't like to hear that, but my Viking heritage wants it, lol :) Thx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 So you don't really need a london pattern anvil at all---why spend the $$$$$ on one? I suggest you look at what traditional swordmakers in Japan use and go find something like that. There is a good example in National Geographic's "Living Treasures of Japan" that you may be able to request from your local public library if you don't find it online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddha Posted June 12, 2012 Author Share Posted June 12, 2012 I've seen the Japanese style anvils, but finding a solid chunk of steel that sized is a problem here in Austin, Tx. No real industrial areas around here and for any Oil related finds, that all would be more North Texas. As for getting a real anvil, i would like a "solid" piece of steel, that's heavier that the 2" inch block i have, would be nice to have a hardie hole and pritchel to aid in my one manned adventures... figure it would help me chisel/cut, fuller and such things i can not do without an extra pair of hands...but never the less... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
journey333 Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 You might give this guy a call, see if he is willing to work on price with you. http://waco.craigslist.org/atq/3066440089.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 http://www.sm-w.com/ Scientific Machining and Welding says they deal with thick metals; what did they tell you when you talked with them about a possible drop or where they source their thick materials? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddha Posted June 12, 2012 Author Share Posted June 12, 2012 You might give this guy a call, see if he is willing to work on price with you. http://waco.craigslist.org/atq/3066440089.html This is one of the ones I was looking at, be an hour or so away, but I believe that's worth it. Did some more diving, the 0 3 22, is. 106 lb'er Is this Peter Wright math correct? (found it on another thread, changed it to match this anvil)... 0 * 112 = 0 3 * 28 = 84 22 * 1 = 22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddha Posted June 12, 2012 Author Share Posted June 12, 2012 Ya, just read Thomas' note below the Peter Wright/English anvil math...It's a 106 lb'er, same guy that has the 200 lb'er Trenton ... Too much... http://waco.craigslist.org/atq/3002460857.html It states it's "soild wrought", that doesn't mean that it doesn't have a steel plate on top? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 No; the solid wrought anvils did have a steel plate on top, the bases were the solid wrought part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Well, if it's blade work you're looking to do, a london-pattern anvil is just about useless for the majority of the work. Yea, a hardy or pritchel comes in handy every now and then, but a vise does the job and a whole lot better, too. Look around the scrap yards for anything that's big and use that for a stump anvil. Heavy equipment (bulldozer, grader, crane, train) all have very large chunks of steel in their makeup that will do wonders for an anvil, and most of them are better than a london-pattern because they concentrate the weight under the hammer's face. Buddy of mine works for Caterpillar and sells big equipment for the forest industry. He's trying to get me a "stump" from one of their harvesters. It's a 300lb hunk of steel that the giant sawblade bolts to at the end of the arm! That will make me the greatest bladesmithing anvil of all time!!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Get another for a treadle hammer or DIY powerhammer anvil! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddha Posted June 13, 2012 Author Share Posted June 13, 2012 well, been thinking about VaughnT and Thomas said, not needing a full sized anvil for what i need... got me thinking, called the place Thomas found, they weren't too nice, "we might do something like that for our neighbors" "that's something they wont want to make" so screw them.... took a look at the 4x4 4140 steel block from OldWorldAnvils (ive heard they are willing to cut it bigger than 4" long)http://www.oldworldanvils.com/anvils/4x4.html you got a new question, if all a bladesmith is a small chunk of steel, would not a farrier anvil do, i hear a lot of talk about Blacksmiths not working on them due to where the weight is at, a farrier anvil should be ok for a bladesmith.... Thomas you got me thinking.... :| Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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