I picked up this sears 5162, 100 lb anvil yesterday, and I am having trouble finding any information about it online.  Does anyone know the age and quality of these anvils?  The old guy I got it off of said he bought it in 1981 or 82, but didn't know anything else about it.

 

Thanks

What's the rebound on it? Does it ring or thud when tapped with a hammer? 

I am completely new to all this, but it seems to thud more than ring.  The rebound seems to be good going off my limited knowledge of it.

Rebound can be measured in a percentage by dropping a ball bearing from 10" up and seeing how far it bounces back up. 

 

Ok, I'll have to find me a ball bearing. I was doing a test with the weight of a hammer bounce.

I dunno- looks to be a cast iron ASO. Not like the Acme, made by Trenton they used to sell.

Steve

I hope you didn't give much for it, I'm pretty sure it's cast iron junk. I believe I can see hammer marks in the face even from here. Sears hasn't provided much of anything of quality since it started going down hill a some years ago. It's sad, Sears used to mean affordable quality now it's an available mostly empty parking lot for car poolers. They no longer have a service department and have subbed their brand to the lowest bidders. Craftsman is no longer the lifetime quality purchase, even the guarantee isn't much. 

Don't despair it's not a total loss, it has a hardy hole and some weight so it can serve for that. I wouldn't start using it as a cutting plate till I ran out of uses.

Keep hunting Brother. 

Frosty The Lucky.

Can't comment about the anvil except it's better than nothing, but I purchased a Sears bench vise marked 5162 just like that anvil and it was Chinese junk that broke within a year, Made it into a boat anchor.

Ok, I only gave $150 for it. I am just starting, so hopefully it will be good enough to learn on, and then I can upgrade. Anything that I should not attempt with it? 

Thanks for the info. 

Only hit hot metal on it and no sledge hammers. Dont be upset if it gets marked up by missed blows. The good thing is you didn’t pay a premium price!

Maybe an Aso, maybe not so much. I dont know because I haven't checked it. Get it?.... well with more knowledge you will see whats what. 

Use it as stated above with Hot steel. Limit miss strikes and once you have made enough using it you can afford a better one.

We all start somewhere and improve from there. 

 

Thanks everyone for the info. My grandmother has located her dad's anvil at one of her nephews house. He said it was a number 5 anvil? Not sure what that is, but it should be old. Hopefully it will be what I need. 

On 9/16/2018 at 3:32 PM, Stash said:

I dunno- looks to be a cast iron ASO. Not like the Acme, made by Trenton they used to sell.

Steve

There was no company named Trenton that made anvils.  Columbus Forge and Iron made anvils marked with "Trenton" as their house brand.  They also made them that were marked ACME, AJAX, and others.  Hay-Budden also made anvils marked ACME.

I stand corrected (and not for the first time, either). Thanks for the info. I really need to get my own copy of AIA.

Steve

And that was made way past the close down of both companies! The old man probably bought it new from the store.

I have a Sears anvil just like yours. I have been using it for 2 years now, along with a smaller Fisher anvil. 

I love the Fisher, but the Sears anvil has it’s uses. It has much better edges for when I need to isolate material.

I wouldn’t fret, you have a usable anvil. However, like others have stated, keep the missed hits to a minimum, be careful when cutting, and definitely work your matieral hot. 

I also got a Sears Anvil. #5161 I believe a 50 pounder. Was thinking it was old. But not so sure anymore. And I can only make money on the deal. It was giving to me.

I purchased the same 100 lb. anvil from Sears in 1982 from their catalog store for 89.oo + tax.. I've made knives on it for 40 years.. It is a cast iron anvil with a 1 inch Hardy hole and half inch pritchel hole. Mine has nearly no rebound.. I'm not sure where or whom built it for Sears but they were contracted... I've since replaced it with a hardened forged steel 132 lb anvil... Just remember nearly all anvils made up until around the first World War were cast iron and the entire west was settled using them..During Sherman's march to the sea the Union army used sledge hammers to break the horns off anvils making them harder to use . The blacksmiths just developed a bickard as a replacement..Just don't hit the anvil face with a hammer or it will dent... Hot metal is a cushion...

Welcome aboard Silver Rose, glad to have you. If you put your general location in the header you'll have a much better chance of meeting up with members living within visiting distance.

You're replying to a post that's most recent date is more than 5 years old.

"breaking" horns off anvils is in much dispute as most anvils at the time were forged wrought iron with steel faces. In large part they were shipped north, a few hundred to the RR car. The story about "bow tying" RR rail to cut the south's rail lines is questionable as well, Sherman made heavy use of the RR to supply his army and freight loot north. 

Frosty The Lucky.