The Foos manufacturing company of springfield ohio combination anvil and vice, any good?

[bargo]

Hi,

 

This is my first post and only had one go at blacksmithing so far but always wanted to do it so have decided to get into it.

 

I have cobbled together a forge from a gifted blower and old sink and it heats metal to red hot so a good start.

 

I have been offered a combination anvil/vice from my father in law. made by the foos manufacturing company of springfield Ohio and labeled up scientific on the other side.  I have attached what photos i have.

 

As i am just starting out all i am looking to do is small work maybe the odd railroad spike knife (my forge is quite small).

 

I have read the forums and the general concensus is that the combination anvil/vice are cast iron and more for decoration than use.  is this the same with this vice with it being somewhat over 100 years old?

 

It is going to cost me maybe $100 to get it shipped. the same one is for sale on ebay for $650 so my father in law should be able to get $500 and he need the money more than I need a poor quality anvil.  Being in Australia even poor anvils on ebay are going for $400-$500 plus delivery.

 

My question is if i get this combination anvil will I be able to use it or end up destroying it in short order?  any advice from the more experience members is greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

Neil

 

 

[john_zxz]

It is a beautiful tool but IMO it is more for redressring or for little jobs than for forging. Since there is not much mass under the table, it is hollow, your hammer blows will be a lot less efficient than on a full plain anvil.

Plus these combinations are often cast iron. For that price, I think you should wait and get a real anvil, you'll be better served. You only need something with 70-100 lbs or more and you're good. Look on local ads or craiglist, that way you

can save on shipping if its near you. By the way, I like the stamped "scientific" on the vice/anvil.

Just my 2 cents. Good luck!

 

John_zXz

[Jim Coke]

Greetings Bargo,

 

Like all the things we go to buy today that claim that they are universal and will fit everything..  When you get them home they don't fit anything.. As John said it is a very light duty unit..   If I were you I would wait for a leg vise and find a rail road track until you can get an anvil..

 

Jim

[ironwolfforgeca]

its cute ! but Light Duty first one Ive ever seen like that !

thanks for the post 

 

& if only cost $100. to get Idd think about it ??

for light work only !  ,I already have the heavy anvils & post vices to use

[Frosty]

Welcome aboard Neil, glad to have you. Sorry, that isn't a proper anvil, it's suitable for bending or straightening light stock, say bent drawer hinge, nails, etc. in that range. It's probably a useful vise though and probably worth the $100 for the having is not use. It'll make your Father in law happy too and that's worth a century note.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

[bargo]

Thanks for all the feedback. 

 

For the $110 for a courier to get it delivered I think I am going to get it as it is cheap for a vice and I can use it to start bends then go to a RR anvil for the heavy hammering.

 

I got the dimensions of the anvil it is about 50cm (20") x 22cm (~8") x 20cm (~8") and 33kg (about 73lb). so even with the hollow bottom it has a bit of weight.

 

Is there an easy way to tell if it is cast iron or cast steel (i gather that a propper anvil will be cast steel not iron)?  I know with some cast iron (old can seaming machines for the most part) if you file/drill it you send to get very granular almost sand like waste. I have not really encountered any cast steel before.

 

I have seen a small 35kg (77lb) Odwyer #2 farriers anvil farriers anvil on gumtree (aussie version of craigslist) for $370, would that be decent? or would it be a cast iron item too?

 

Thanks

Neil

[windancer]

That anvil is drop dead gorgeous!

 

Dave