RossA Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 I have been wanting to find a used anvil to get started with. I have always been a fan of flea markets, garage sales, etc., and I cannot remember ever seeing an anvil for sale anywhere in my life. Maybe it's because I'm in the big city (Houston) instead of a rural area. Maybe I'm just the guy who got there too late. Anyway, I appreciate any tips on searching for a decent used anvil for a beginner. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Tip #1: search this forum for TPAAAT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossA Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 Searching now. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 trashed Forklift tines...Remember that old cities had more anvils than rural areas! All the factories and repair places back in the day had anvils. Now cities that filled up after the old days are thinner as they had to get moved in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossA Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 I never thought of forklift tines. I wonder if that kind of steel would also be decent to start out trying to forge simple knives, machetes, etc? I know a lot of guys use old leaf springs for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Use new leaf springs rather than old damaged ones. Find a place that does lifts and lowers and have them save a spring for you when they get a new vehicle in. I suggest coil springs for starting out. Cut down opposing sides for a dozen + ")" pieces all the same alloy to practice on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossA Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 Never thought about coil springs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Ling Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 have you been checking craigslist?? just recently, there was an anvil on there, that im pretty sure was in Houston. it was being advertised as a Columbian anvil that weight more that 100 pounds. but wait, it gets better, the price was 200 dollars! there have been many other anvils, forges, and blacksmithing tools on craigslist that were in the Houston area. also be on the lookout at the scrap yard, for railroad track large chunks of steel or if your real lucky a "real" anvil. this has been said many times before, but ill say it again, the London pattern anvil has only been around for a couple hundred years, and before that smiths used blocks of steel, or what ever they could find. don't give up, eventually you'll find one. Littleblacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossA Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share Posted March 24, 2016 Never thought of Craigslist for stuff like this. I'll give it a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 Craigslist has generally been terribly overpriced on anvils out here---like US$7 a pound for a horribly abused anvil. But about once a year I see a decent anvil for a decent price; talking with people has been faster and cheaper in my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossA Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share Posted March 24, 2016 Darn, just found 6 anvils within an hour of me on Craigslist. Most seem pretty expensive, at least $5.00/lb., even for one marked "CHINA". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 Remember that when you find anvils on Craigslist you are getting ones where people are trying to make money selling them and are at least internet savvy enough to find out the ridiculous prices some folks are asking (but may NOT be getting.... I've seen people asking top HB prices for a Vulcan!) Finding the ones not on the market can be more cost effective but you do need to step away from the monitor and do the legwork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossA Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share Posted March 24, 2016 Oh, well, I always like shopping garage sales and flea markets anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Ling Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 or knock on farmers doors, you never know. do a little pick'en. Even if they don have one they might know of someone who does. Littleblacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 You are still trying to find anvils people are hoping to make money from. You want to find the anvils that are NOT on the open market. I have found several anvils just talking to people after church. Bringing up that I am a smith in "idle" conversation and telling them I'm looking for an anvil. Please review the TPAAAT for more examples... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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