Nimba question

[matto]

to all who have used the nimba anvils, i do alot of decoritve iron work, railings banisters, and fireplace pieces. i am looking at a centurion or a gladiator.  is it worth going to the gladiator or will the centurion work.   i know most older smiths like Frances W. never used an anvil over 150#.  just wanting thoughts from guys who have used both sizes.

[Johnny Woolsey]

Gladiator doubles as a workbench ....I could probably get by with smaller though...

[matto]

Thanks Johnny i am thinking that the gladiator is masseve.  

[matei campan]

If not a question of money, I would go for the Gladiator. on the double horn anvils you have the variable width feature given by the pyramidal horn, a feature missing on the London pattern, on which you would need a narrower face from time to time, especially for ornamental working. on that Gladiator you have also the advantage of very wide face (Nimbas are in fact Italian pattern anvils). from the moment I've got a double horn anvil, I don't use the rectangular faced single horn anvils too often.

anyway, the Centurion is big enough (surface, weight)

[matto]

Thanks matei if I go with the gladiator it will just be a couple more months of saving money for it.  Either way well worth the wait of saving for.

[beammeupscotty]

In my opinion the optimal anvil size is not so much based upon the type of work you do as it is the size of work you do.  For anything up to, for instance, 3/4" square stock, the Centurion should be perfectly fine.  If you sometimes work stock larger than that, the larger anvil might be nice.