newbieforge Posted November 11, 2012 Posted November 11, 2012 I was browsing Kijiji for my area yesterday, and noticed an anvil up for sale. The ad was totally devoid of details, basically saying: "Anvil blacksmith tool for sale. 28.5" long 12" high. Price $450, call Mathieu 705-XXX-YYYY." This afternoon, the ad was still there, so I phoned the guy and asked if I can come see it. I headed over and he had a really nice 220lbs Peter Wright. We shot the breeze for a little bit. He had done some research and knew the $/lb ranges for these anvils. I was happy to pay him $2/lb ($440) for it even though I definitely don't need another anvil. The only real damage is the tip of the horn, which has been squished a little bit. I have seen this on a few other anvils. It seems as though people like to tip them off their stands, nose first onto concrete floors. The story of this anvil is that the seller got it from a friend, when he was helping the friend clean out his garage. The friend gave him the anvil for free, and at first he thought he would take it to a scrap yard and get some money for it. Then he started looking into anvils and how much they are really worth, and quickly realized it's worth more as an anvil. Good thing. Here are some photos after I got it home: All the best Markus Quote
Thomas Dean Posted November 12, 2012 Posted November 12, 2012 Good score! and at a good price. The "squished" tip of the horn is very common, acutally, I've seen fewer anvils with the point intact. If you ever bump into on with a sharp point you will understand the 'why' a whole heck of a lot better! If you want it pointed that is a fairly easy fix as all the metal is still there just displaced a little. heat the tip and forge the point back on. This is wrought iron and will move with little problems. Congrats on a sweet find Quote
macbruce Posted November 12, 2012 Posted November 12, 2012 Nice anvil, a little heat on the tip and a few licks with a hammer like Thomas says and bida bing. It needn't be sharp but loose that mushroom on the end, it will be a problem. Quote
newbieforge Posted November 13, 2012 Author Posted November 13, 2012 Thomas, macbruce, Good advice. I'm now thinking about slapping together a little coffee can gas forge to heat up that tip. It should be able to get it to orange heat pretty quickly. Would the horn tip need any quenching or hardening? Regards Markus Quote
oakwoodironworks Posted November 13, 2012 Posted November 13, 2012 The tip will not need hardening. Just shape it and let it cool. The horn on the anvil should be wrought iron. Quote
ThomasPowers Posted November 13, 2012 Posted November 13, 2012 I can show you the divot in the commercial concrete floor where a couple of students dropped my HB on it's nose. I wiped the dust of the nose---no dammage to the nose even with an extra hard and tough concrete floor. Now lets say you did sharpen up the nose nice and pointy and you manage to turn into it and ram a sensitive part of your anatomy onto the unyielding sharp point---once you got your breath again and could stand up and wipe the tears out of your eyes you might very well pick up a hammer and "un-sharpen" that point! I'd just dress the ridge with an angle grinder and leave it alone---a small forge is NOT going to heat up that tip very fast as it's attached to a massive heatsink. If you think you will need a small pointy horn to work items on---make one for your hardy hole! usually at a better height for delicate work anyway. Quote
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