I really appreciate everyones input, and a lot of very reasonable advise as well. So, let me pose another question of you fine people's. What, in your opinions, would be a good all around anvil, for say under 700? I will probably never get into large projects, mostly just small to medium blacksmithing items, and knives, maybe a sword some day. Theres so many designs out there, and I am really only starting to learn anything. Any assistence would be greatly appreciated.

Under 700 pounds or under 700 US$?

2 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said:

Under 700 pounds or under 700 US$?

$700, I dont think I would even have a way to move an anvil that size.

Or a 700 lb. anvil for $700... that would be the deal of the century. Provided you could move it 

Rollers! Levers! Minions!

Come-a-longs, tow trucks, cherry pickers, tractors with hydraulics, backhoes, chained to a trailer hitch and drug around the yard,...

My 469# Fisher was once moved by 4 not so bright friends using pieces of pipe through it's two hardy holes so everyone could get a good grip. (Not so bright as they lifted it *before* I unlocked the shop's side door and eeled my way through it to open the main doors so they could bring it in...Now part of my beginners class is telling folks *not* to pick up an anvil till you have a place to set it down!)

Tow trucks are often a cheap method compared to renting a crane.  I saw a 250# LG, (6000 pounds), get moved with a semi-wrecker  for a trivial amount of money.  I recently paid under US$150 to get a powerhammer loaded, hauled and unloaded at my shop by a tow truck.  Also learned that the tow truck driver had a LG powerhammer but was using it...

Hee hee very sound advice! We were discussing how to move a pump jack last night. We are buying a piece of property and he has a non functional pump jack with a marquis sign mounted to the top. He used to have a little cafe and he probably used it for advertising. He said it goes with the property and we are going to use it to advertise "eggs for sale" the farm etc. But it needs to sit closer to the main road to be seen better. Egyptian lever system entered the equation as well as the tractor, or all the pickups... all the pickups AND the tractor... we'll get 'er done somehow. 

Eric Grubb, I have a 105 lb. Emerson traditional. With the tax and shipping, it was a bit over $800. But there are brands that range in the same size or little heavier for less. I chose mine because it was cast steel. But if your budget is $700, and you don't need a real heavy anvil, there are good candidates in your price range. 

Skids; my large screwpress was lifted off my truck using a come-a-long from a large tree and lowered onto 4x4"'s with the ends cut at an angle and bolted in place.  Then it was chained to the back bumper of my pickup and drug to just in front of the doors to the shop. Unchained and then I put down 2x12's to use rollers on and using levers pushed it into the shop.  Funny thing, about 20 years later it is still bolted to those skids even though it's 1500 miles from it's starting location now.

Eric, here is a list I have been putting together. From my (beginner!) research, these all seem to be quality anvils. I am certain there are more. These are all blacksmithing anvils - not farrier patterns.

Most recommendations I have read have been 150-200 pounds for a single smith as a more than adequate size for most work.  I currently work on a 65 pound anvil and it does fine for me right now provided it is well secured.

Manufacturer	Weight	Cost
Holland	125	$925
Holland	100	$700
Holland	440	$2,600
Holland	260	$1,850
Holland	140	$950
Holland	85	$650
Old World	118	$850
Old World	167	$1,125
Old World	260	$1,625
Old World	115	$800
Old World	176	$1,200
Old World	220	$1,508
Old World	585	$3,750
Old World	70	$475
Old World	110	$775
Old World	205	$1,250
Hoffman	325	$2,250
Hoffman	115	$845
Hoffman	105	$825
Nimba	450	$2,576
Nimba	260	$1,805
Nimba	120	$975
Ridgid	165	$1,193
Kanca	165	$925

The new price standard for anvils

Knowing what new costs puts the used prices into perspective.

Thomas, that sounds like a good plan. Thanks

CGL;

How large a pump jack?  I have seen them range in size from cute little ones not much higher than you knee to ones the size of a largish building.  I have moved large slabs of rock using corral poles cut to 2-3' long as rollers and a lever to get the slab up onto the rollers.  Just don't try to go too fast and make sure that you that you have enough help to move the rollers from the back to the front in a smooth, timely manner.  Once something heavy is moving it has a lot of inertia and won't stop quickly because someone has dropped a roller.

"By hammer and hand all arts do stand." 

Glenn suggested I reorganize the list by Manufacturer and weight (rather than randomly by weight...) and add $/lb. 

The price for the Ridgid is from a website with a 10% discount applied for new customers - it also includes shipping.
 

Manufacturer	Weight (lb)	Cost w/o Shipping	$/lb
Hoffman	105	$825	$7.86
Hoffman	115	$845	$7.35
Hoffman	325	$2,250	$6.92
Holland	85	$650	$7.65
Holland	100	$700	$7.00
Holland	125	$925	$7.40
Holland	140	$950	$6.79
Holland	260	$1,850	$7.12
Holland	440	$2,600	$5.91
Kanca	165	$925	$5.61
Nimba	120	$975	$8.13
Nimba	260	$1,805	$6.94
Nimba	450	$2,576	$5.72
Old World	70	$475	$6.79
Old World	110	$775	$7.05
Old World	115	$800	$6.96
Old World	118	$850	$7.20
Old World	167	$1,125	$6.74
Old World	176	$1,200	$6.82
Old World	205	$1,250	$6.10
Old World	220	$1,508	$6.85
Old World	260	$1,625	$6.25
Old World	585	$3,750	$6.41
Ridgid	165	$1,193	$7.23

 

Check out this page as well: 

 

 

Centaur has a 110# kanca for $635, that's 5.77/# if my math is correct. That might be what I go for when I have the money too.

Edited August 7, 20205 yr by Mod34
Excessive quoting

George N.M., hmm... if I could think of something to compare it to, it would be about the size of a super crew cab pick up truck? Maybe a bit bigger. I have only seen it up close a couple of times so it's not hard wired in my mind to know exactly. I see this size dotted all over the place usually with several others in the surrounding area. Of course, in Texas, it's hard to go very far without seeing one. I've seen little bitty ones too. Thank you for the advice. I appreciate it

Chellie;  From my oil patch days I'd guess that you are looking at about 2000+ pounds of steel in a pump jack that size.  Thomas' suggestion of a wrecker sounds like a good one to me..  The wrecker operator could winch it up on to his flat bed, transport it to where you want it and then tilt and slide it off.  Bada bing, bada boom.  the cost should be fairly reasonable compared to the effort, time, and risk involved with trying to do it yourself unless it is just a 100 yards or less that you need to move it.

"By hammer and hand all arts do stand."

Thank you. I'll try to get a picture for scale next time I'm there. It won't need to move far. There is a private road up to the house that it sits beside. Just needs to be closer to the county road to be seen better

6 hours ago, CrazyGoatLady said:

Thomas, that sounds like a good plan. Thanks

Bear in mind Chellie it took Thomas 20 years to lever it 1500 miles. Are you THAT committed or should you be? 

Frosty The Lucky.

Er, no. I am definitely not THAT committed. Thomas must be one tough hombre 

With that kind of money stored up, I'd be picky and wait out a great deal.  I find people get into the most trouble with anvils when they are in a huge hurry to get one.  They quit listening to that little voice inside their head that's telling them the things that are wrong with it.  If you look carefully, $700 should buy you an anvil and a decent post vise.  I have about $550 into my first anvil and post vise, and my second anvil and post vise cost me $100 total!  $50 each for the anvil and post vise.  Using the Thomas's applied method works very well, it's just not always an instant thing.  My second anvil and post vise were as a result of applying Thomas's method the first time around.  Word gets around.  Be patient and avoid internet auctions, antique stores, and any situation where there's a huge amount of sentimental value attached to it.  

My second anvil was bought from a family member.  He'd abused it some and it quite possibly went through a garage fire, but he couldn't remember.  He said he'd give it to me so long as he could have it back if he ever decided he wanted it or that is son could use it at my shop if he wanted to.  I told him that I'd rather pay him what he felt was fair and explained to him that the temper could have been ruined on it if it went through a fire.  He said $50 and I agreed that I'd take a chance on it.  Turns out it's got a 75% rebound and was quite usable.  

 

Dern hold yer horses Frosty; I'll have it lever'd up to your shop  sometime right soon---in geologic time...I'm hoping for a good uplift so most of the way will be downhill---unfortunately I'm currently in a rift valley.   Nice paddle board you made for your 50# LG, take it down to the beach much?

Bummer, aren't you on the wrong side of the orogenous zone? I'm surrounded by mountains, young and active to a fault. 

Nah, Bobbie doesn't like deep water, it's a skim board and works nicely. I named my LG after my Mother, it was paid for by a gift from her. I found out after she passed her favorite nick name was Babs but everybody I know called her Bobbie and I cringe at the name Babs. So the LG is Bobbie.

Frosty The Lucky.

I picked up a used 125# JHM Journeyman anvil from a retired farrier, it is a nice anvil, and still looks like new. It also doesn't have the horn heavy shape many farrier anvils have. The turning cams in the heel come in handy too for bending items.  The company Anvil Brand sells them as well as other makes. I believe they run around $700ish last time I looked.