My first anvil... Did I pick up a useable one?

[AustinGH]

I was on a working vacation when I happened apon an anvil at a garage sale. For the past few months I have been considering doing a little blacksmithing as a bit of a hobby but was having a extremely difficult time getting ahold of a anvil. The guy that sold it to me said that his father used to use it all the time, but as he got older he just couldn't do it anymore. We haggled on a price for a bit and agreed on $225. It looks to be in a bit of a rough shape but I think it's still useable. The Hardie hole is a bit rounded at the top but square the rest of the way through. The table is almost completely gone. The horn has a area that has seen solid use. The sides are well rounded and one area looks like it might have had a crack chip away at it. Any opinions on the anvil and if you think it needs any sort of restoration would be greatly appreciated. (I know restoration is greatly frowned upon because it may do more damage than good, just thought I would ask anyway)

Basic anvil information: Weight 167.5lbs.   manufacturer: Peter Wright.   Good ring and bounce

[Lou L]

That anvil appears to be in excellent shape and I think you got an amazing deal.  The edges are good, the weld looks great on the top, the size is just about perfect for a daily use shop anvil.  It looks to me like the rounding on the hardy hole was done on purpose by a previous smith.  Some anvils come with that design from the factory but I’ve never seen an old English anvil born that way...but who knows?  The brick was quite likely shaped that way for a specific purpose by a previous smith.  You will, no doubt, discover your own uses for it.  By the looks of it I’d guess it is a late model Peter Wright.  It has the more modern look to the waist and feet....this is just my subjective “feel”, I’m willing to be wrong on its age.

Either way, you scored a great anvil for a greater price.  Don’t touch it with a grinder!

[Kevin Olson]

1.34$ a pound for a peter wright!! . Im going to faint with anvil envy :-)

[ThomasPowers]

I think the horn wore that way from many a year of doing a lot of a particular job just there.  Think of it as calluses on your hands; proud proof that it's been used!

You need to do the ball bearing test; but the anvil looks in great using shape!  Whatever you do do not grind or weld on it!  (I've seen far too many anvils seriously damaged by folks trying to put sharp edges on them---when a 125 year old blacksmithing book says essentially "I can only think that people who want sharp edges on their anvil know NOTHING about blacksmithing as sharp edges are bad for the work!") 

[Irondragon Forge ClayWorks]

The only thing your anvil needs is a little cleaning, wipe down with oil and hot steel beat on it. Good find for sure.

BTW: Welcome to IFI, you might want to edit your profile to show your location because many answers depend upon where in the world you are located.

Might also read through this thread to get the best out of the forum.

https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/53873-read-this-first/

 

[AustinGH]

Thanks to all of you for commenting. I'm glad to hear that the anvil appears to be in good shape ( even if by sight only). I will be cleaning it up after work and I hope to be using it relatively soon. 

[MC Hammer]

Clean it using a wire brush attached to an angle grinder.  This cleans the rust, paint, and gunk off it but preserves that rich dark brown patina on it.  Let the wire brush do the work and don't press down too hard on it.  Oh and use safety glasses because those little wires fly off and stick in things.  Last time I used one I had a wire stick right into my forehead.  After cleaned up with the wire brush, wash it with soap & water then oil it.  I used new 5w30, but any clean oil or boiled linseed oil will work.  After it's all cleaned up, get yourself a ball bearing and drop it from 10 inches.  You are hoping for anything over 70% which is a 7 inch return off a 10 inch drop.  Don't clean the edges up or try to grind the horn so it looks "good" or "even".  Work hot steel on it for a good long while before doing anything to the edges.  Once you grind away good hard steel it's gone forever. 

You are just the current caretaker of this anvil, so think of the smiths that will come after you and the ones that came before you and used the anvil like it is to feed their families.  You got a smoking deal on it so long as the face is hard and the ball bearing test shows it.  Show us pictures after the clean-up and let us know how the ball bearing test went. 

[Zrognak]

Wow, that was a good deal man, I paid around 200usd for a 200pound bofors anvil which was a good deal as well. Happy for you, this anvil should serve you well for years to come

[Stash]

Yo Austin- welcome to the site. I have your anvil's slightly bigger brother. You will be very happy with it. Looks like I might be 20 minutes or so NW of you in Q Town. If you want to see my setup, PM me. I'm full of advice. My wife says I'm full of something else, but we won't go there right now.

Steve

[AustinGH]

Got the anvil all cleaned up and she is looking beautiful. All that junk and buildup took some work, but it was no match for some elbow grease and a electric wire brush. I did the drop test and got a rebound of a bit over 8 inches ( a bit under 8.25)

[Lou L]

Absolutely beautiful anvil.  Start using it and it will show you what it can do.  What an amazing deal you got...I’m still envious.

[MC Hammer]

Great job on the clean-up.  Now oil it and it won't get rusty on you.  That's a great rebound.  I suspect it's got higher rebound and after you use it for a while it will polish up some and you can try it again.  I bet you get 9's then, maybe not but 8's are still very good.  You got a smoking deal.  

[George Geist]

I believe the hardy holes were made tapered on the bigger anvils. Over a certain weight on old British. AIA talks about it if my memory serves me right.

George