Hello everyone! I've been smithing for several months now. I took a metallurgy class as a college elective and fell in love with it! I've been using a large piece of railroad track for a while now. Finally decided it was time to get a real anvil! I found this one close to me on craigslist. Looks like an excellent anvil and priced reasonable for the area. What are your thoughts?

 

http://muncie.craigslist.org/tls/3719189904.html

Greetings Nor,

 

Sure looks like its not hurt...  Price is right ..  Only suggestion is take a straight edge for the face and a ball bearing to test rebound..  

 

Good luck   Jim

I know someone who has a mousehole and he says the rebound is superb. Although, That may not be the case with this particular specimen, it is worth taking into account.

Bring a good straight edge with you, Something like a steel ruler or level. Place the straight edge on the top and see how much of a dip is in the face. If there is some dip try and talk the person down to a lower price.

 

Some dip "sway" in the face does not destroy the anvil. Many people make nice work with anvils that have some. Some people even say " they prefer some sway". using the sway to help straighten bars. I try to only use flat anvils when I can. I would try and lower the price if there is a dip. Anvils were made flat, and they were never as good as the first day they were made. 

 

I am sure how ever that this anvil will be much more useful for general hand forging then train track. It looks nice.

I would buy it in a second. I was really hoping to find a mousehole in my area...

I've seen mousehole anvils with great rebound and a few that were worse than cast iron. Do a test on it for sure before you buy it. Other than that advise it looks far better than a 

piece of rail.

Thanks a lot guys! I knew about the straight edge and bearing test. After what I've heard, I am fairly certain I will pull the trigger on this. Really seems too good to pass up on! 

Pull the trigger and walk away happy!  That's a might fine anvil and is just the right size to be both portable/movable and workable for any size project.  While I'm a weight snob and want the biggest, heaviest anvil I can find, I realize that smaller examples are often better to work on for some projects.

 

Less than $2/lb?  Assuming the rebound is good, I wouldn't even think about hesitating on that purchase.  Truly good stuff.

Welcome aboard, glad to have you. If you put your general location in your header you might be surprised to find out how many IFI guys live within visiting distance.

 

Take a look at it in person, I find dings, nicks and such are far more significant than a little swale in an anvil's face. This one looks to be reasonably clean so rebound would be my #1 test on this one.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

I decided to buy it. It has a little sway, but nothing bad. The rebound is still great on it and edges are still very crisp! I'm going to pick it up Friday. I'll clean it up and post pictures of it all mounted up! Really excited to be getting my first real anvil!!

Are you going to the IBA conference in June? (Indiana Blacksmiths Association)  some great folks there; neat stuff to buy; good times and keeps you warmed up for the SOFA Quad-State conference in western Ohio in September!

You know, I may just have to! Seems like a great wealth of knowledge! The more I get into this, the more i realize how large of a community there is all eager to help and share what they know with people just starting out.