Caukman Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Hey new here and what not. I aquired the anvil yesterday and upon further inspection found that the plate was beginning to seprate from the base. Due to its size i was curious if itd still be okay to work on with the crack and Also if it is worth it to repair? It Starts near the front of the anvil and runs about 6 inches down the side. The crack doesnt even come close to the plate until the last inch or so. on the opposite side there is a corresponding crack 5 inches lower the the other one. The face is dead above the crack but fortunately enough theres plenty of room to work around it. I can post photos later when im home but if anyone can shed some light on this id be eternally grateful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Welcome to IFI, Caukman. If you haven't yet, please READ THIS FIRST!!! As for you question, can you give us some photos, so that we can see the crack itself? Much easier to diagnose when you can actually see the patient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 The problem on working on an anvil with the face delaminating is that it tends to propagate the crack. I certainly hope the price you paid reflected this MASSIVE ISSUE! (Like buying a used car without checking that the engine and transmission works) My first chance at a large anvil had a similar issue: Drove an hour+ to get to the auction, found the anvil and tested the face and heard the terrible terrible "BUZZ" instead of TING--(not a Fisher which will be more of a thwap when in good shape), turned around and drove home... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caukman Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 Its just in a small area. the rest of the face is has fantastic rebound. Including the heel and the horn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Second picture down, the crack, is a major issue to me. It looks to be in the sweet spot too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Ooh, that does not look good. Funky stand, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caukman Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 well any advice? is it worthless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Now as to repairing. Fishers are made with a cast iron base with a tool steel top plate on the body and horn. Cast iron is a LOT harder to repair CORRECTLY, and even then it can still have issues. If you have to farm out the repairs they will be very expensive. You have a hardy hole, horn, and some real este left. Use it as is and try to avoid the damaged area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Keeping in mind that the vibrations from any hammering you do (even on the good sections) may make things worse. I don't know what you paid for it, but you might want to consider selling it for what you can get and buying a smaller anvil in better shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caukman Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 How much do you think it might be worth as is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Another option I would consider would be to drill through the top plate in a couple of places, tap the holes and bolt the section down with some flatheads. How much are you into it for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Value is subjective and entirely dependent on what someone wants to pay and why. I'm not actively in the market for an anvil, so I don't know what prices are like these days, especially in your area. You might ask IFI member njanvilman for his thoughts on what it might be worth to a collector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caukman Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 16. I saw the drilling and tapping idea. Is that a longterm solution? I cant find any anvils in that weight to gauge a price. Most that are are 200 to 300 go from 1200 to 2500. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Probably be cheaper to buy another anvil than to repair that one correctly. I would either use that one to destruction or sell it to someone who wants a large display anvil and not a using anvil. The gap in picture 1 didn't bother me as much as the crack in picture 2 that looks like it has propagated. If someone sold it to you as being in good condition I might try to get your money back as it isn't. Probably worth a couple hundred dollars as a display piece---think of it as a large advertising piece out front of a smithy! You could get more if you try to defraud someone who doesn't know anything about anvils...and I'd rather not associate with you if you go that route. If someone defrauded you I would go to small claims court! Having known a friend who tried to mill an ASO flat and drill and tap a face to it; I can say it never worked well compared to an anvil in decent shape. How much did you pay for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 16?? It could be , depends on how it is done and how it gets used. I would drill and tap on either side of the crack ends across the face, and use 3/8" at a minimum bolts. The idea is to stop the crack from extending any further by stopping the movement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caukman Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 1600 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 2 minutes ago, Caukman said: 1600 Ouch. That's unconscionable. Definitely worth trying to get your money back or taking them to small claims. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 The price for anvils without catastrophic damage has NOTHING to do with the price of anvils that have such damage. Like looking at the price of mint condition used cars to determine the price of a totaled wreck that has been crushed into a cube... I am sorry; but if you paid US$1600 for it you have had a very intense learning experience in not buying something without a through inspection by someone who knows something about them. (I always take used cars to a mechanic for inspection before buying as I am not an expert on cars and I have been driving them for 45 years). If that was represented to you as being in good condition and not "what you see is what you get": try to get the seller to take it back and if not: Small Claims Court! I am not familiar with VA law on the requirements of goods being usable for the purpose sold though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 As others have stated that is far more than it is worth. Was it through an online ad? If so get a screenshot if the ad has not been removed yet. If it was Craig's list search the surrounding communities. Sometimes an item is listed in several areas and they forget to delete all of them. If you have any texts of the conversation, save them. If you have anything from the seller saying it is in great condition , save it. Then you run into will the seller just play dumb and say they know nothing about anvils, and just priced it for the going rate in the area? This could be a difficult one to fight, but we are talking about a significant amount of money paid for an item not in good condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 I've run into a bunch of folks claiming that they are not required to stand behind misrepresentations of items they are selling. They seem not to realize the difference between "not saying something" and "saying something that is not true" in an ad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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