Joey smith Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 I purchased this I hill anvil and wondering if anyone has advice on derusting and should i do any restoration on it . I will be using it hopefully by early spring in New England. I’ve seen many opinions on this wonderful site about cleaning and restoration not sure which would best suit me. I have access to many advanced machines and people with experience not in anvils but machining.Thank you in advance for any advice. I will post more closeups of face when i can. He sold it as a 110 i think its 1.2.10 which if I’m correct is 178. I’ll be weighing it tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the iron dwarf Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 dont do any machining on it, the b est way to clean it is to use it it is in great shape we have 2 D HILL 5th foot anvils at my place, one of them is a sawmakers which I believe is rare as a 5th foot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey smith Posted January 21, 2018 Author Share Posted January 21, 2018 Thank you ID! The rebound with ball bearing seems a little short but no buzzing and nice ring all around. 65% ish rebound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 Get to know the anvil by using it for a year (2000 hours) before making any decisions. Hot metal will shine up the working face and area of the horn like nothing else. A little ATF (auto transmission fluid) on the body to retard any further rusting is all that is needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 I'm wondering if that pritchel hole was drilled and so a retrofit of an earlier style anvil. Is there a bulge on the base which would be indicative of a punched hole? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the iron dwarf Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 the slight surface rust will make the rebound low, with use it will get better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 Joey: That's a beautiful old lady of an anvil. The only clean up that's really appropriate is a wire brush, a cup brush in a right angle grinder is the smart way Be careful! Powered wire brushes are one of THE most dangerous power tools around. The rusty dusty surface is what stole so much rebound, try it again after she's been cleaned up. Hot steel and a hammer will but a good shine on her face. NO grinding!!! If you think the little bit of mushrooming on the edge looks like chipping please take a couple good closeups, top and sides with oblique light and show us. There are situations when a person SHOULD take a grinder to an anvil but most often not and it takes some knowledge and experience to evaluate the situation. Make sense? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey smith Posted January 21, 2018 Author Share Posted January 21, 2018 Thank you i will get some closer pics tomorrow and post asap . I appreciate all the feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey smith Posted January 22, 2018 Author Share Posted January 22, 2018 The pritchel looks original although im not an expert. The top I wire brushed and it looks like a chisel smith and a welder owned it at some point tips on removing the weld would be great and if i should do any other work. Also I weighed it its 174.7 so it is 1.2.10. Nice edges though. I also ran a file on it it skates right off is this a good cheap Rockwell test? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Chisel smith would not put chisel marks on the face; that is done by a Non-smithing user---probably cutting chain links. Chisel marks on the side can be left by a chisel smith to show off the hardness of their chisels. (sort of a misrepresentation as the sides of anvils are usually very soft indeed!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the iron dwarf Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 those marks will smooth out a bit with work it was made by Isaac Hill, a friend of mine could give you a bit more of the history of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey smith Posted January 22, 2018 Author Share Posted January 22, 2018 Would you recommend doing something about the weld?i filed a chunk a little bit and bought a cup brush for rust removal. Thank you I.D I would appreciate a schooling on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the iron dwarf Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 heat from the weld may have affected the area it is on, just work around it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey smith Posted January 22, 2018 Author Share Posted January 22, 2018 Ok thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Hammer Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Joey - nice first anvil. If it's 178 lbs, you'll like that weight. Mine is 179 pounds and its just small enough to move around but heavy enough to be a good shop anvil. Like others have said, use the wire brush on an angle grinder to clean it up. Then wash it with soap & water, dry it, then oil it with either boiled linseed oil, or new motor oil. I used new 5w-30 motor oil on mine and it worked just fine. I give it a light oiling after every use and she's not rusted at all since cleaning. The wire brush mounted on an angle grinder preserves that nice rich patina yet removes all the rust. Yes, please use safety glasses while doing this. Those little wire bristles fly off and hurt like heck when they connect with bare skin or say your eyeball. The chisel marks are an issue, but I agree with others. Use that anvil for a year before you make any decisions about machining it. I personally never would machine the face of an anvil. You lose all that hard steel and it's gone forever. My anvil has some sway in the sweet spot and some edge nicks / chips - all from honest use by smiths who fed their family by using it. My face has polished up a great deal just from forging on it. Rebound has increased as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey smith Posted January 23, 2018 Author Share Posted January 23, 2018 thank you.I will do as told. I fight with my inner know it all who’s not so bright. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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