Nailsmith Posted March 29, 2020 Share Posted March 29, 2020 Hello, everyone. My name is John and I'm from Chattanooga. I'm currently a full-time Electrical Engineer (so make sure to speak slowly and use small words for me haha). My username is a play on my german surname. I have been thinking about getting into blacksmithing for a while. I currently have no equipment, but came across a listing on craigslist. It is for a 127lb Hay-Budden anvil (claims from 1894), a post vise with a 5" jaw, a homemade forge, and a little bit of coal with miscellaneous tools. He is asking $600, and I just want to make sure I wasn't overpaying. After some research, it looks like Hay-Budden are good anvils, and ones in good condition good for a hefty price. I'm not looking into doing anything professionally, just wanted another hobby (even though the wife thinks I already have too many). Here are some pictures of the main items from the listing. Anvil: Vise: Forge: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goods Posted March 29, 2020 Share Posted March 29, 2020 John, that’s a good deal if the HB has good ring and bearing tests. Is the blacksmith getting out of it, or just culling the heard? You may want to ask if he has any tooling available. Misc tongs, hardy tools, punches, etc. will come in handy. Do you have any other metal working equipment (files, grinders, hammers, etc.) available? Don’t fret, once you have some basics you can build up skills making what you need. That’s half the fun! David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nailsmith Posted March 29, 2020 Author Share Posted March 29, 2020 He is getting out so he was selling everything. We were talking this morning and I was waiting to hear back on a time to meet. I just got a call from him a few minutes ago saying it's all sold. Oh well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goods Posted March 29, 2020 Share Posted March 29, 2020 Sorry to hear that. It’s hard to substitute anything for a post vise, but check out the JABOD thread and improvised anvil thread. Could get you up and running quickly! David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 One problem is that in today's environment a good deal on an anvil often has a half life of hours. If you have to ask about it it generally will be GONE by the time you get an answer and get back. So you either have to make expensive guesses; or learn the basics on how to judge if an anvil is a good one; or look for anvils not on the "open market" aka TPAAAT; or go with an improvised anvil. https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/52308-a-collection-of-improvised-anvils/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nailsmith Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 Thanks for the info. I might have found a guy ~1hr out that has some equipment for sale. Still trying to schedule a time. I'm also keeping an eye out for some rail track. Haven't spotted any yet. On another note, this is only about 45 minutes away. This guy claims it's a 100lb Peter Wright. I'm not opposed to buying a more expensive anvil even though I'm just now getting into it. However, I want to make sure if I get it, and decide to get out of the hobby, I can still make most of my money back. What are some of y'alls thoughts on this one? I don't think it's a good deal, but it's been posted for 2+ months so he probably is willing to haggle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 What is his asking price? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nailsmith Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 $800 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 0 3 16 stamped weight is 100 pounds, which makes it $8.00 per pound. You may want to read this link before you decide. You can get a brand new anvil for $6.00 to $8.00 per pound The new standard for anvils Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nailsmith Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 53 minutes ago, Nailsmith said: I don't think it's a good deal, but it's been posted for 2+ months so he probably is willing to haggle. I was thinking of offering $500. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 For $800 you could buy a new anvil with a warranty. I think five hundred is still steep. 300-400 in KY. is about top dollar. It's in great condition. I'd maybe go up a little past 4 but 500 is still pushing it. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nailsmith Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 Thanks for the advice. I won't rush into this one then. With it being posted for over 2 months, it seems like it's not a good deal. I'll keep my eye on this one while searching for others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 I used to live in Clarksville. There's a blacksmithing group that meets around there. I'm sure there's probably one in whatever part of the state you're in. You might find a better deal talking to some blacksmiths. A lot of smiths like helping out new folks. I see you live in Chattanooga. I'm not sure about any groups nearby but I would definitely look into it if I was you. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmall Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 Hoffmann and other manufacturers have new anvils at that price. Do some homework and have patience and you'll get a good one at a decent price. Remember TPAAT. I recently got a nice 90 pound Fisher for my daughter for $350 because I kept asking everybody about anvils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nailsmith Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 I found another guy getting out of it and selling his lot. He already sold his post vise, but has everything else (tools, small forge, coal, steel, anvil, etc.). Going by in a few hours, will update. I also found another guy selling a 250lb Peter wright. Asking $1,650 for this one. These guys sure are proud of their anvils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Way too much for the anvil. $6.60 per pound is high. Just because they're asking that much doesn't mean they'll get it but there's probably someone out there that doesn't know better who will pay for it. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nailsmith Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 I think it's kind of ridiculous. It's probably a person who just came upon it somehow, and looked at prices on eBay when deciding how much to sell it for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goods Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 With that TV show, price in the “open” market are pretty high. You really need to find the people out there that just want the tools put to good work and are willing to help someone get into blacksmithing. Maybe a bit hard with the current circumstances... David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 How are you finding these? If you are using a method that selects for the more expensive ones you will find them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nailsmith Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 I was just searching craigslist for any posting containing anvil. Just picked up an anvil, stand, 5 hammers, ~10 tongs, a gas forge, a homemade coal forge, some 1080 steel, (4) 5 gal buckets of coal, a small blower with foot control, and some various other things. This guy was 4 hours away. He also threw in a decent dolly that I gave to my brother in law. The anvil is a 97 lb Columbian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Pictures or it didn't happen. Columbian anvils are right up there with the best, provided they pass the ring & rebound test and haven't been beat to death. If you got a decent deal then I'd say ya done good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallchangerain Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 On 4/2/2020 at 10:46 AM, Goods said: You really need to find the people out there that just want the tools put to good work and are willing to help someone get into blacksmithing. Maybe a bit hard with the current circumstances... You are describing to a "T" the gentleman who sold me my anvil. I drove out to meet him, brought the cash with me and we chatted for a bit. He was asking $600 CAD for a 150 lbs J.B. after I handed him the cash, he counted out a hundred and gave it back to me. He told me that he was sick of dealing with antique dealers who were haggling only to turn around and resell it, and once he realized I actually want to learn on the thing he decided to help me out a bit. I looked for close to a year before I found an anvil that wasn't in dire need of repair or way beyond my price range. Hope I can be in the position to pay it forward one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nailsmith Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 Here's the equipment. The anvil. The gas forge can be seen in the top right of the photo. It's not very big, but should be big enough for whatever I need to do. It also came with a regulator. The anvil edges are more rounded over on this side than the other side. But the heel still has good edges. The other side of the anvil. This has decent edges except near the pritchel hole and the table. It rings like crazy. For now, I put a small magnet under the heel and one under the horn (as can be seen in the first photo) and that dampened about 90% of the ring. When I need to use the horn I will just remove the magnet. My original plan was to make some tongs. Even though it came with some I still want to make my own just for practice. Plus some of these could use a little more work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Practical Blacksmithing;Volume 1, published in 1889; page 110: "For my own part I am satisfied not only that the sharp edges are useless, but that they are also destructive of good work. I cannot account for their existence except as a relic of a time when the principles of forging were but little understood. I want both edges of my anvil rounded, not simply for a part of their length, but for their whole length." Does that make you feel any better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Sharp edges do nothing for me but help me forge cold shuts. Even shouldering down a section works better for me with a slightly radiused edge. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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