May 22, 201610 yr Im looking into buying my first anvil and have no idea what to look for in terms of quality or condition. I have a chance to buy this 170# trenton anvil for 350 obo. Can anyone tell me what its worth and what shape its in? I have not seen it in person and this is the only photo availible.
May 22, 201610 yr Based on what I can see for condition, and even though we have no idea where in the world your are from, at that price it is well worth the risk that it might be soft.
May 22, 201610 yr Author Sorry for lack of info. Im in Maine and there arent a whole lot of anvils for sale around here. When you say soft what do you mean? Im a disabled vet looking to take up blacksmithing as a hobby for something to do. I have zero experience or knowledge of blacksmithing or the tools that go along with it so any info and advice is greatly appreciated.
May 22, 201610 yr It looks good for the price. I've used a 250# Trenton for 35 years, and I like it. Trenton was one of the trusted manufacturers of anvils in the U.S. Doug Wilson is a smith in Little Deer Isle and the New England School of Metalwork is in Maine. They'd probably tell you the same as I did.
May 22, 201610 yr Anvils that have been in a fire can be "soft" as they can loose their heat treatment. You can do a rebound test on the anvil in question to tell you a lot about that particular anvil. Myself, I've always liked the lines of Trenton anvils and I'd happily pay that if it is in good condition.
May 22, 201610 yr Author Thanks for the responses, what would be the best way to test for rebound and when i go look at it in person what would i be looking at/for to tell me what kind of condition its in?
May 22, 201610 yr Look up the ball bearing test though a lot of loose rust on the face could throw it off a bit. Tapping it with a ball peen hammer will work it should bounce the hammer back up at you rather than a thud. Trenton's are ringing anvils and that one sitting loose should TING with a hammer tap. For that area a good price and may disappear FAST unless you have a solid deal on it NOW!
May 23, 201610 yr Get it before its gone. I have a hundered pound Trenton and love it! Littleblacksmith
May 23, 201610 yr Author Patten is a hell of a drive from where i live.. what do you have and what are you asking?
May 23, 201610 yr Author Well i went to look at the anvil today but i didnt have a ball bearing or ball peen hammer. I used a framing hammer and i could hear a ring all over but the tone was lighter in the middle on the face and on the side of the anvil. There was alot of surface rust and pitting. He said he would take 300 and hold on to it for me while i did more research on it. Also he believes its a trenton but not sure, he found it burried in his back yard.
May 23, 201610 yr Main, usable condition, under $2 a pound---as long as it had some bounce it's a user as mentioned elsewhere forging hot steel on the face will smooth out and polish out rust pitting. You can see the thickness of the hardened face on the side and so see WHY you don't want to grind or mill on it.
May 23, 201610 yr Yes the location of the serial number and the caplet indentation on the bottom and the conformation will pretty much nail it down. I'd have to double check it in AinA when I get home from work as my copy is in a different country right now...
May 23, 201610 yr Get buying it. That isa good price for a good anvil. Get it before someone else does.
May 23, 201610 yr Trenton anvil, but please take a close-up pic of the side horn facing to the right. If there's any faint remains of the Trenton logo that's where they would be.
May 23, 201610 yr For that price I'd be all over it like hot sauce on a burrito. Hope it is in your shop now. Looks good from what I see. It's a steal. Steve
May 23, 201610 yr Confucious, said that a man who hesitates before taking a step is condemned to spend life on one foot. Just saying. SLAG.
May 23, 201610 yr Author I just went and bought it.. whats the best way to clean it up? Wire wheel for a grinder?
May 23, 201610 yr I'd use a twisted cup wheel on my LARGE angle grinder and wear a face shield to protect my eyes and face mask to protect my lungs and hearing protectors to protect my ears. Keep everyone else away whilst cleaning it. Forgot to mention a leather apron to deflect thrown wires too! If you have a friend with a sand blaster that would work too.
May 23, 201610 yr Author I will get it cleaned up and post some more pictures. I didnt notice any markings on or near the horn location but maybe after i clean it up something will show... the guy did say he found it burried in his yard so maybe it rusted off??
May 23, 201610 yr l.Wire brushing is a good way to remove rust . But heavy grinding can ruin the tool. After wire brushing consider an electrolysis bath to remove the residual rust or help loosen the crud. There are some excellent threads on electrolysis on this site, I know because I have spent a good deal of time studying them. Best of luck and success. SLAG. Edited May 23, 201610 yr by SLAG clarification
May 23, 201610 yr Take a picture of it with the horn pointing to the right. in the center of the side should be a diamond shape and the word Trenton or Trexton
May 24, 201610 yr 16 hours ago, Michael Gendron said: I just went and bought it.. whats the best way to clean it up? Wire wheel for a grinder? Wire brush; yes Grinder: no way.
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