I'm new, so new I don't even have an anvil yet. There are 2 in my price range that I'm considering, a Vevor 110# and an Acciaio 132#. But here's the deal, the 132# costs an extra $100+ for 22 pounds, is it worth it? I don't plan for this to be my livelihood, what will I notice for my extra 22 pounds and $100? Thanks!

Welcome from the Ozark mountains

I have been blacksmithing for 40 + years and the heaviest anvil I have in all those years is a 110 pound Vulcan, my favorite. It has done everything I have needed it to do, so I doubt the extra 22 pounds would be worth it. We have 5 anvils in the shop and my wife loves her 106 pound Hay Budden.

I can’t control the wind. All I can do is adjust my sails. ~Semper Paratus~ USCG 1964-1970

 

Thank you Irondragon!

You're welcome, I'm sure others will chime in with other opinions. There is an old saying if you ask 4 blacksmith's a question you are sure to get 10 answers and all of them would be correct.

I can’t control the wind. All I can do is adjust my sails. ~Semper Paratus~ USCG 1964-1970

Irondragon, it's the same everywhere, except in the other fields, not everybody's right!

When it's that close, it's not so much the weight as the quality. Stay away from the Vevor cast iron, although I believe Vevor sells cast steel too, which should be fine.

Regular cast iron does not hold up under use at all and tends to break. Many "cast iron" anvils are now made from ductile iron, a special form of cast iron that doesn't break under impact easily but doesn't tend to have a lot of rebound either. I started on one of those about 20 years ago and almost broke my nose on the return from a missed hammer strike the first time I used a "real" anvil.

Not having bought one in forever, I don't know which of the current cheapies are ductile, and which are cast iron, but you're still better off with steel. Acciaio's are supposed to hold up okay, and have okayish rebound, but the finish is supposed to be kind of funky and it may need dressing (shaping and cleaning up).

An alternative if you really want to do it on the cheap is either go with a old used anvil (all of mine), or even to find something to serve as an anvil that's not an anvil. A big hunk of scrap steel with one flat surface usually will work well - seriously, just a big flat hunk, if it's mounted properly. Horns and tails and hardy holes are all nice to have, but not remotely essential for 4/5ths of what you'll do, especially if it's got at least one somewhat straight edge that you can put a mild radius on. Make sure that it's steel, and not a cast iron tractor weight or something like.

I would also consider joining a blacksmithing group; they will often help give you tips or advice, and may be able to help you acquire tools. Best of luck and look forward to seeing what you make.

Vevor does sell some cast steel anvils. I bought the 132lb blue "pig" anvil for my wife. Actually is a pretty serviceable anvil. It's not quite as hard as my Trenton, about 70% rebound vs about 90%, but it works well. Especially for a beginner because it won't throw the hammer back at your face quite as violently if you miss a strike while learning. 

Once you in the hundred pound range, you can do quality work efficiently. The extra weight helps if you’re using a big hammer on larger items (like forging hammers from 1-1/2” ~2” stock) and especially if you’re working with a striker. The key thing is to mount it very securely! That way when you work out on the horn or bending over the edge you don’t need the extra mass just to keep it from dancing around. 

My main shop anvil is 150”, but at demos I either using a 100lb or a 127” anvil. Honestly, I don’t notice much difference when I’m doing demos. (My next demo will be on a 8lb stake anvil with a 5lb stake bick. I’ll let everyone know how that goes. I’m sure it’s going to be “interesting”.

Keep it fun?

David

Hello,

 

I bought a VEVOR Single Horn Anvil, 116lbs Cast Steel Anvil for about 200 dollars. I was pleasantly surprised by its quality. It was purchased for the high school in which I teach and has been used by the students and myself for about 2 months. I dressed it, mounted it and put it into service. It has been a very good anvil. No dents in the face or chips on the edges, and as you know students just learning the craft do not always have great hammer control. I am very pleased with it. I have a 400 pound Trenton, a 150ish pound trenton, a 120 pound Volcan, and a cast steel anvil that is around 100 pounds with USA stamped in the side. Out of all these anvils, the Vevor has been very impressive as a newly made relatively inexpensive option. I would recommend it.  

Hope this help,

W

I have a smaller Acciaio anvil, 66lbs and it's suiting my needs fine. 

Of course, I got it before there were the Vevor and Doyle and other budget options available, so I didn't have the choices you have. Vevor is just other brands renamed/rebranded under their own umbrella, so it's likely the Vevor and Acciaio are the same thing with just a rebrand. I don't think close to $5/lb difference is really the best option, so my vote would be the 110. 

Keep in mind too that the Vevor is likely to have a more traditional placement of the pritchel hole, whereas the Acciaio has it between the face and the horn which the only use I get out of mine is holding my punch between heats. 

Thank you all for your insite and wisdom. I went with the 132#. I don't want to get down the road and cry because I wished I had gone bigger.

I think you will be happy with it. A very wise blacksmith told me once. "You can forge small things on a large anvil, but can't forge large things on a small anvil.

I can’t control the wind. All I can do is adjust my sails. ~Semper Paratus~ USCG 1964-1970