echosierra3 Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 Looking to buy one and not sure which. Comments, reviews, observations? Probably around 165lbs or so. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 Welcome aboard echo echo echo, glad to have you. If you'll put your general location in the header you might be surprised how many of the gang live within visiting distance. A lot of things like anvil price and value have a strong regional element. Both are high quality anvils being made currently. It'd be a coin toss for me if I had to choose. Rigid bought out Peddinghaus and I haven't heard anything about the quality suffering. The Home Depot is I believe Rigid's distributor so they ship by the container and you get a LITTLE break if you wait for a full load. Were I to buy new I'd probably look into Rhino anvils, located in Eastern Washington, or one of the others made I believe in the mid west. Shipping can be a killer, try living in Alaska for a clear view, so if the quality is there I look as locally as possible. That's just me though. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcusb Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 Nimba is another good anvil and made in the USA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatfudd Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 Do a little research on this website and you'll gather a whole lot of discussion about the two anvils. I would add that the newer Peddinghaus anvils have gotten some negative criticism but you need to do some more research on your own.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 Here is another outlet. I have a 125# JHM Journeyman, and it is a nice anvil. anvilbrand.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc1 Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 On 29/11/2017 at 2:26 AM, echosierra3 said: Looking to buy one and not sure which. Comments, reviews, observations? Probably around 165lbs or so. Thanks! That is a Hobston's choice. It's the Refflinhaus or nothing ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echosierra3 Posted December 10, 2017 Author Share Posted December 10, 2017 Ouch $$$$ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judson Yaggy Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 Rat Hole (Fontanini)! Another made in the USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beef56 Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 This is an old post I am hijacking. I can buy a 165lb Peddinghaus for $1,200 or a 205/210 lb Refflinghaus for $2,350. Is the Refflinghaus actually $1,150 better? I don't mind spending the money if it is justified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 So far you haven't told us if your needs couldn't be covered by a US$35 block of steel from a scrapyard. Remember 1000 hours working on a $100 anvil will make you a much better smith than 100 hours working on a $1000 anvil! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazer Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 Not having used either (Jennifer, jlpservicesinc, has both IIRC) I can't offer any pros/cons for each. From what I gather they are both great anvils. I will say a Refflinghaus No 58 is my dream anvil... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beef56 Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 32 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said: So far you haven't told us if your needs couldn't be covered by a US$35 block of steel from a scrapyard. Remember 1000 hours working on a $100 anvil will make you a much better smith than 100 hours working on a $1000 anvil! I imagine I could use a $35 block of iron but that isn't what I am interested in buying! I am a very novice iron beater. I have been at it about three years and have so much to learn. I have a 125 Hay Budden which the face and the radius are a rough. I doubt I would be forging any material more than 1/2" thick. I definitely don't need a new anvil but at my age I think I want one and was just looking for ideas comparing the two anvil manufacturers. Thanks in advance for any advise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 Compare manufacturing methods, alloys, hardness of face and dollars per pound. Factor in your budget. Have you looked at the NIMBAs and what Holland Anvil is producing here in the USA? (And I said block of steel not block of iron!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beef56 Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 (edited) I knew I has screwed up with the iron comment, lol. I haven't looked at NIMBA and not Holland recently. I did research the Rhino but just don't care for the look of that anvil. I would like to find a nice larger HB but they are hard to find, especially in South Dakota.. It seems the Refflinghaus is priced well above the competition. Edited November 10, 2021 by Mod30 Remove excessive quote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 If the maximum size stock you will be working is 1/2" crossection you don't really need an anvil larger than 150 lbs IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 And larger stock (say, 2-3") can be worked over the sweet spot on such an anvil, even if not so much on its horn or tail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 We blacksmiths suffer terribly from anvil envy; but for a general shop anvil around 150# is considered a good size. IIRC Francis Whitaker, world famous blacksmith, worked his career on a 165# anvil. I recently sold a 248 pound Peter Wright anvil for US$1000 as I didn't need an "intermediate sized anvil". One edge had some damage from being heavily used in the mines here in the west. My 165#'rs see a lot more use than my 400+ pounders. I think I'm getting to be like Honest Bob and may start doing my demos with an improvised anvil! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beef56 Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 I should consider how portable the anvil is. I will need to move it every time I use it. I imagine the 210 anvil would be manageable but the 165 would be easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beef56 Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 (edited) On 11/28/2017 at 10:42 AM, Frosty said: Were I to buy new I'd probably look into Rhino anvils, located in Eastern Washington, or one of the others made I believe in the mid west. Shipping can be a killer, try living in Alaska for a clear view, so if the quality is there I look as locally as possible. That's just me though. Frosty The Lucky. You mention Rhino, do you or anyone else have any experience with this anvil? Thanks Edited November 10, 2021 by Mod30 Trim quote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 I don't know how young your back is; but at going on 65 my 165 pounder I can lift and carry a few feet, the 134# anvil I can carry out of the shop and load into the truck---it's now the heaviest I'll take on the road to teach with (134, 125, 112, 91). If you have to move it every time I sure wouldn't go that heavy! (When I was in my early 30's I had to carry the 91 pound anvil up the rickety stairs out of the basement, across the kitchen and out the back door, across the back porch down the steps and out to the stump under the tree in the back yard---I think I've managed to kill off those dumb and slow brain cells in the intervening years!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatLiner Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 Truth be told most people don't need an anvil over 200lbs. I don't know of anyone still using a gang of strikers to forge. As Thomas said we (more so in the USA) tend to get anvil envy and want the "biggest and best" 400lb beast of an anvil when we truthfully can get by with a block of steel or a 135lb-200lb anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 I believe a couple of the guys here have a Nimba and I've worked on it. Nice effective anvils. I do virtually everything on a 125lb. Soderfors though I have a 206lb. Trenton within a step. I've had two guys striking with 8lb. sledges on the Sorceress and she was happy happy. Of course nobody missed and smacked an edge with a sledge! I used to carry the Trenton and load it in the pickup now I use the engine hoist to load everything and get help loading it back up to come home. I CAN lift the Soderfors but I have tools so I don't have to risk strains or injuries. I'll be 70 in 2 months and feeling it is less fun that might be imagined. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 Your Back *never* forgets and *never* forgives! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 Seems nothing forgets anymore. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beef56 Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 I have the HB 125 chained down to a cast milk separator stand. Maybe not ideal for mass but it is easy to slip an appliance cart under it and roll it into the middle of the shop floor. I will turn 66 shortly so I plan to do something with wheels if I do get another anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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