I'm brand-spanking-new and know just about nothing about anvils.  Any advice on this one?  Seller says it's 200 pounds.  I notice that it has raised lettering, which seems less than ideal.

Thanks!

 

Location has a lot to do with the price of the anvil.  Shipping can kill a good deal.

What is the asking price?  

How much, and where is it located?

Same time Glenn  

New England, so I'm close enough that I can pick it up, so no shipping (yay!).  $800.

Appears to be a Vulcan. Appears to be in descent shape. Research a rebound test to see if it is structurally sound. Depending on price if you live in an anvil rich area you can probably find a better quality anvil. Here in Alaska it would probably sell pretty quick if reasonably priced as not many anvils pop up for sale.

Probably be able to find a much better anvil at $4/lb in New England.

Sounds overpriced for a Vulcan anvil in my area. It is in good condition. Not finding others?

Just started looking.  Like I said, I know very little.

How big of an anvil will I want for making tools, axes, kitchen knifes...things of that scale?  Eventually pattern welding.

Thanks for quick replies, everyone.

Requisite post on maybe you should wait until you have some experience before spending that much on an anvil. You can make a very good improvised anvil a lot less. Check out this post: https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/52308-a-collection-of-improvised-anvils/

 

Spend your money on some classes, books and other tools you'll need.

1 minute ago, DanL. said:

Spend your money on some classes, books and other tools you'll need.

Planning on doing that, too.  

I'm moving to Colorado soon, and looking around at prices it seems like if I wait until after the move I'll be spending far, far more on an anvil.  Sticking another 200# on the moving truck will be a minor incremental cost.

A 100-200 lb anvil should be able to handle most all of that. 150lb and up for sure. Vulcans are ok anvils. But that price seems way high. 

What DanL said. You can start forging on a chunk of steel until you have better knowledge. Read up here and absorb everything in your interests then you will have a better idea what little you actually need to get started. Then build up from there. Don't waste all your money on a less then prime fancy anvil. Just saying. 

If you would stop by PA I could find you a better deal. 

1 minute ago, Daswulf said:

If you would stop by PA I could find you a better deal. 

I just might have to do that!  

Thanks for all the advice.

I say take the classes before you buy anything big. Learn what you really need and don't need. And definitely stop in PA!

N/p. Anvils can go insane here too at times but atm there is a nice Peter wright anvil 135lb going for $400 and what looks like a mousehole they claim as a pw 125lb for $250 granted it has a broken tail piece on half the hardy hole but the face is really nice. Still less then a sub par Vulcan and better then a chunk of steel. Better deals pop up  patience is the best thing with anvils  look up TPAAAT on here  

 

On vulcan anvils, I own one and it works fine. The rebound isn't legendary but it works fine. They do have a cast iron body however, which means they're far more quiet than steel ringing anvils.  

If you want to get started working on your skills really all you need is a sledgehammer head as your anvil, or a piece of railroad track. I agree with the others tho, a book or better yet a class would really be best to get a feel for it. 

If you can afford to spend that much on an anvil then you should either wait until you move and buy a good anvil like a rhino anvil for just a little more or search for one when you get to CO. 

Personally I'd suggest as others have said, make really sure you are going to stay in the blacksmithing field by  before dropping a bunch of bucks on a lower grade anvil like a vulcan. 

I own a 150# Vulcan and would not pay that much for one.

That is approaching new anvil price. 

Seriously, you can set up a whole smithy for under $200. It may not have a London pattern anvil, but you could be forging in a week. 

Thanks for all the input.  I'm going to pass on it and keep looking.  Not planning to buy anything unless I hear from those who know more that it's a great deal.

(I have taken one multi-day class and loved it.  I also know from my experience as a furniture maker that good tools == less frustration == more enjoyable experience.)

Have you read "The Complete Modern Blacksmith" by Weygers?  He did a lot of working with wood and making tools for it.

I'm not a fan of folks wanting high grade prices for lower grade anvils.  Do they not know? Or are they trying to Gouge?

 

You can purchase a BRAND NEW 100 pound double horn anvil for just over what you would pay for the anvil you found. Contact Jymm Hoffman on this site and check your PM

Join the blacksmithing group in your area as they know where the anvils are located there. New England Blacksmiths Assoc.,  New York State Designer Blacksmith Artists come to mind.

Oh, sweet.  My next question was going to be "if I were to buy a new one, other than Refflinghaus what would you recommend?"  Thanks!

I'd recommend you read the thread here on improvised anvils!

One company that has a bunch of different brands of anvils is Anvil Brand, and they have good prices. I have a 125# JHM and it is a nice anvil. 

The Vulcan is a good anvil for urban smiths because it is one of the quiet anvils due to the cast iron body, but not at the price. My 260# Fisher is also quiet and that is why it is my main anvil. 

But like others have suggested, a scrounged anvil can be just as good as a factory one. Hit up scrap yards, heavy equipment repair shops, tractor shops, rental yards, etc and look for forklift forks (4000 series steels), large shafts (usually a medium carbon steel), hydraulic breaker points (made to take a pounding), etc... with scrap being in the gutter value wise some shops will give it to you just to get it out of the shop. A yard may charge, but you will be talking 20 cents a pound instead of $4.00+ a pound for a "vintage" anvil. 

6 minutes ago, BIGGUNDOCTOR said:

One company that has a bunch of different brands of anvils is Anvil Brand, and they have good prices. I have a 125# JHM and it is a nice anvil. 

The Vulcan is a good anvil for urban smiths because it is one of the quiet anvils due to the cast iron body, but not at the price. My 260# Fisher is also quiet and that is why it is my main anvil. 

But like others have suggested, a scrounged anvil can be just as good as a factory one. Hit up scrap yards, heavy equipment repair shops, tractor shops, rental yards, etc and look for forklift forks (4000 series steels), large shafts (usually a medium carbon steel), hydraulic breaker points (made to take a pounding), etc... with scrap being in the gutter value wise some shops will give it to you just to get it out of the shop. A yard may charge, but you will be talking 20 cents a pound instead of $4.00+ a pound for a "vintage" anvil. 

Hunting around also sounds like fun.  And save my $$ so that my second anvil can be Refflinghaus, right?

Any advice where to look for a piece of rail?  MBTA would probably be annoyed if I cut a piece out of their track.

Machine/ fabrication shops often can have larger drops of steel. Stop by a couple and ask nicely. Never know. They have other forg able stock as well. 

Yes a solid chunk of steel is better than RR rail!