Adamz Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 HI all i just got an american wroght 145# anvil. I noticed a few cracks. I am wondering if this is a problem. It has a gret bounce. Sound does not sound bad. Any ideas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BartW Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 If the rebound is good, and it sounds good (no sudden differences in tone tapping horn to horn); then it isn't much of a problem. Wrought iron bodied anvils usually have visible weld seams; and it wasn't uncommon to break one and weld it back together ... If you can use; than it's OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adamz Posted March 13, 2021 Author Share Posted March 13, 2021 what is a good price for this anvil in you opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deimos Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 That kind of depends on your location, anvils go for different rates all over the world and we have no idea where you live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 More pictures will also be needed to try and determine condition. American wrought anvils were made by Hay Budden for Montgomery Ward. There may be a serial number on the front foot under the horn. The 137 should be the weight in US pounds, so there seems to be some discrepancy in the weight you stated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adamz Posted March 13, 2021 Author Share Posted March 13, 2021 you are correct it is 135 pounds i live in Kansas Sorry. I thought you could read my mind lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 Instead of such close up pictures a shot of the full anvil both sides, the full top and the underside of the base is what's needed. Also results of the ring & rebound test to tell if it's been in a shop fire and where in the world you are located, hence the suggestion to edit your profile to show general location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adamz Posted March 13, 2021 Author Share Posted March 13, 2021 Sorry i am somewhat new to this. I got this at a local shop. Not sure where he got it. I dont know how to do the rebound test or the ring test. I will look it up and figure it out. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deimos Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 How deep are the cracks? I tend to only read my wife's mind, just to freak her out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adamz Posted March 13, 2021 Author Share Posted March 13, 2021 i cant really tell. I don't see light lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 If you take a small hammer and tap the steel hardened face all over to see it it rings clear, that will tell if the forge welded on steel face is intact. If the ring sound changes a lot from front to back or you hear any buzzing sound, that means the face has become de-laminated and the anvil is probably only worth scrap prices, not an anvil that will be good to forge on. The rebound is checked with a steel ball bearing about a half inch diameter. Drop it with a ruler to use as a gauge from the 10 inch mark and see how far the ball returns. that will give a percentage of rebound 8 inches will be excellent 80% anything below 6-7 inches will be poor and indicate the face plate has been heated and lost it's hardness most likely due to a fire. The anvil looks to be in very good condition and in your area good anvils go anywhere from $2.00 or $3.00 per pound maybe more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stash Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 I dunno- that crack really concerns me. That anvil is a 2 part construction- base and body welded at the waist, with the steel top added on. The waist as well as the face plate weld look good to me. The crack we're seeing seems to be a major delamination of the wrought iron body. Should be fixable with electric welding and a deep 'v' groove, but that is above my pay scale. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 Ring test will tell how bad it is structurally; may have another 100 years work left in it before needing a fix---but a good negotiating point! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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