Damaged Anvils: When to Buy and When To Pass
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ส.ค. 2024
- Its always hard to find an anvil but even when you do, you may want to hang onto your money. See in this video what can be fixed and what is just too much trouble.
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I like the blacksmithing videos. Am a lifelong welder/fabricator, but my dream has always been to be a custom knife maker. I really enjoy this sort of video. Thanks.
20 people did some hoooorible welding!
Going to look at a 141 peter wright today, after a 12+ month search it's the first local and reasonably priced anvil I've found. I've been researching all week to try and be armed with as much useful information as possible in making a decision. Terrified of making a bad decision.
This video provided the reassurance I needed that as long as the sway ain't blatant, the face looks good, and the rebound is present, I can use my best my judgement - a "pass" will be evident.
Thank you so much for your time and energy into making your videos.
how much wuz it?
@@utoober1008 i honestly don't remember. I recall judging it a bit under 3 dollars per pound, which was decentish for my area.
I bought it. Aside from a small corner chip on the one shoulder and some light surface nicks (which I've certainly contributed to) it was a solid investment.
At the end of the day, you mostly just need something (moderately) heavy to hammer on that won't hurt you if you miss.
@@WezzAndStuffs aight, thanks
Thanks for singing the gospel! I've seen people buying "so-so" anvils for new anvil prices and I don't get it. I finally figured out that people don't realize they can get new anvils still.
WOW! huda thot there was someone on YT who intelligently offers genuine information pertaining only to the subject matter, precise and to the point without droning on and on like a hyped used car salesman for the 1st half of their video begging to be "liked - subscribed" ect ect.
Cheers to you Sir and thank you!
I've been buying anvils for over 25 years and probably own 30 some now. Never paid over $1 a pound and got many for half that or less
You really have to be careful buying a repaired anvil, lots more to repairing an anvil then just welding a plate on the top
I've seen ones that where the plate was just welded around the outside edge...not what you want!
Believe it or not I've seen anvils where Torch cuts were filled in with car bondo and then painted. Really have to look hard at any painted anvils and then look some more because paint can hide a good but.
Doubly true for things like post drills.
Nice to see these high anvil prices, I always told people one day they would go over the moon!
holy poop. and i thought my anvil that's bowed down an inch in the middle was bad. very informative vid btw.
I finally found you. 😢 😭
I remember watching you and specifically chatting with you in comments a decade and a half ago on Spikedhumor
Will you be filming the repairs? I'd love to see that.
MrTarfu same I would like to see that as well
Yep, will have that video up later this week
purgatoryironworks excellent. I have an old Wilkinson (in much better shape than that one) with some pretty nasty chunks out of the corners of the face, which I'm planning to repair when the weather cools off a tad. I look forward to seeing your method.
Can you leave a link? XD
Yea I would love to see a how to repair a anvil on both the good and the bad one!
They cost a fortune now even for poor quality ones.
It's not worth it for a beginner, better off with rail track
There are anvils that do not cost insane money. Emerson has a 100 lb one for blacksmith use. Holland has some at a very reasonable cost. Check out William Barnhart's for a great starter.
I would love to see a video on the repair job. Too bad the antiquers have Ruined the anvil market!
Thanks for the video...
Good video, but I would make one clarification: the Wilkinson would be a pass only for those unable to affect the necessary repairs. Anyone with reasonable welding skills should be able to repair that anvil with no problems, given the correct procedure. It's full day's work if you do it all at once.
Another possibility is to attend an anvil rebuilding workshop. Several associations hold them. NJBA has done at least five of them and we have rebuilt ca. 150+ anvils, some of them in very rough shape. But if you use the right procedure, you can arrive at better-than-new results.
Nowadays, it’s likely better to buy one of the Vevor cast steel anvils. The biggest I’ve seen is 132 lbs. I bought one recently (the black version, a bit harder face) and I’m pretty pleased. It cost me, including shipping from the vendor on eBay, $275. I believe they raised the price to $285 the day after I bought mine. The problem new buyers have is that they really don’t know much, if anything about anvils. As a result, they don’t know what to look for other than a damaged face and horn, which is obvious. But I’ve seen and tested some old anvils where the striking plate was mostly delaminated from the wrought iron body, while overall, the anvil looked fine - a pass.
Well that's a dad-gum shame the damage to that Wilkins. Looks almost like a decent weight boat anchor now. Sure hope you film the repairs for us, I'd love to see that as well.
It is a challenge. I've been keeping an eye out for some time and everything that I would actually be interested in purchasing the seller wants 7-8 dollars a pound. I'm looking for something no less than 110 lbs. I'm probably gonna get the 134lbs accacio from Christ centered iron works link. I already have funds, just wanna make sure I get something that will last me, and last decently long at that. After this upgrade I'm saving for my life anvil. I've been looking, and I'm looking at a rhino, fontanini, peddinghaus, or something epic from anvil planet! One of those insane 900 lbs pig anvils! Lol! Take the proper time to fully restore it (not that anvil planet isn't doing a good job) and make it look like it first did 200 years ago!
Great channel! Thank you and all the older players on TH-cam! Mad props for the help!
In the US prices are crazy. In Europe they are much more affordable. Bought a very decent 70 kg (150 lbs) early 1900s southern German style for 150 euro's.
It would be very cool if you would repair that "not to buy" anvil(if you still have it)...that would be a fantastic video considering the amount of damage it has
I have one chewed up on top like yours I want to fix its super old i remember it at my great grand dads garage in the corner back in the early 80's
The attempted "repair" welding to that Wilkins & Dudley is what my welding instructor at Tech College would have described as "rocking horse shit" It would have gone straight into the recycle pile.
I'm looking at an anvil with the heel and half of the hard face broken off. I just want I to repair it for fun. Might pass on it, the lady is getting me the details today.
My Uncle had an old anvil on his farm.
He told me once that he had gotten it in 1946, to celebrate the end of WWII.
Anyway, the top-plate had split at the Hardy hole, so he decided to pry all of it off!
He ruined several cold chisels and when he was done, not a trace of the top-plate remained.
sigh
Good advice for a novice but if you have "GOOD welding knowledge" and a few weekends you could refurbished ether one but first remove old welding you never know what's under it
Nearly anything can be built up with correct weld filler or fillers. A lesser anvil can be a welding training aid (welding of course requires relentless repetition). Best to visit welding forums for current filler advice as new materials are regularly developed.
the absalute best beginner video produced.
Great video and very helpful. I’ve got an old Acme anvil with some edge damage that I thought could be fixed with hard rod but then heard you run the risk of taking the temper out of the steel and that it might not be worth the effort. I’d love to know the proper way of fixing this if possible and if you might post a video. Thanks
With a Bridgeport Mill or similar vertical mill you should be able to mill off the damaged portion without too much trouble, leaving it a flat surface.
But then the hard surface will be gone. You would have to rebuild, weld and temper a faceplate.
I am not a blacksmith nor am I very mechanical. My brother has always thought of me as being stupid and my father never tried to teach me much. I was recently home for a few days and bought an old farm yard anvil. (125 lb. range) It says Made In England on the side. If nothing else, it is really cool to look at. It sits on top of my picnic table. At night I'll sit there with a cold Bud Platinum and look at it after I have coated it with a thin film of mineral oil. It shines so nicely in the moonlight and I think of the stories it could tell.
Please, try and use it, it’s gonna pay off in the long run.
I got mine at a antique store she's very old and torn also some serious damage but she helps me get the job done and would never dream of taking a torch to her shes the one and only anvil for me. seein that poor "welders" attempt to repair a valuable antique like that just makes me sad
please do a follow up on this video, if you dont have time to show us while doing it least do 1 more video showing the repair done and maybe a brief explanation on what you did to fix them.
Thanks for this video. I am trying to figure out if I should drop the money on a new anvil. Seems like everything is selling for around new price anyway, and most of the used ones have chunks missing. If the new ones are just as good, should I just go that route? Example is saw a 200lbs anvil sell for $1300 and a 100lbs with chips and re welded, for $350, also a tiny anvil with the back half missing sold for $50. Getting fed up.
NC tool new ones about 400
I just repaired an anvil. Anything beyond a little bit of welding is not economical for anything but very large anvils that are very expensive. Any anvil repair involving just welding is far less then anvil that had no repair - i.e. its a weak spot. Even with that in mind for 75 lbs anvil it took hours of welding and hours of grinding to get it into decent shape.
The buy decision is not predicated strictly on price, but rather price v. condition. That Wilkinson is worth every penny of $150, perhaps even $250. I would not pay more for it, but at the lower price I would pick it up in an instant and rebuild it.
My back ground is in auto collision work. I'm a beginner knife maker. I love your video's . Thanks..
I'd also throw in broken anvils. I recently got a Kohlswa weighing in at 215# actual with a broken heel at the Pritchel hole. At ~$1.50/lb, I'd consider that a pass. Still got 13"x5" of face and a large horn.
Love your tool shelves! (background ~4:10)
Very informative video, Thank you for taking the time to explain it to us! I'd also really like to see these repairs so I'll be looking for them on your channel hahaha. I'm going to keep all this info in mind when looking for an anvil or anvil substitute haha
That one anvil looks like I welded it !!! H aHa ha ! I used to be able to weld good back 40-50 years ago when my uncle was drilling a lot.
“Used ain’t new”, well said.
Thank you for the information.
thanks for the heads up on the way to look at anvils. I am looking for one and am having no luck. But I don't want to buy someone else's junk.
Be sure to look at my latest video about ASO's
purgatoryironworks Will do.
Anvil Brand anvils are a good value.
No cast iron. Steel!!!! You can tell by the ring from one hammer strike!
i think they were used for the launch the anvils in the air with explosives festival
they are both buys depending on your resources, you grind off the Plate and weld a new on and fill in the space not hard if you can get a piece of steel and a welder
Thanks
It sickens me to think anyone would treat an anvil like that. I have had my anvil a long time. I think I paid 1.25 for it and it was a lot better than either of them. a few minor chips on the edge and some chisel marks on the table and that's it.
I kinda like the beads on that Wilkinson. Air arc will smooth it out pronto, then you can finish the fill job. Don't forget to preheat and slow cool. You get all the fun jobs!!
I have a superior anvil that’s made in Sweden it says 98 pounds on the side and don’t know where to sell it and have no use for it any recommendations
any advice for beginners on how to not screw up an anvil, or basically maximize it's remaining lifetime especially if it's been used when purchased?
Is it true that the welded plates didnt start until about 1885? Im assuming if thats true an older anvil without the welded top plate would be older than that date?
I have done some smithing mostly to make knives and simple shepherd hooks and such. The anvil I use I bought at a tag sale for 10.00 I know even for a hunk of scrap steel that was a bit of a steal. Anyway watching you made me look into the anvil and its a mouse hole anvil around 100 lbs. The lettering which I found indicates it was made in the 1850's. Someone has welded a piece of steel on the top of the anvil. It worked for me and I had never noticed it until scrapping off paint and crap that was on it. I am not an anvil collector nor really a good blacksmith. Is this something collectible that I should trade or sell and replace with something new or should I be happy with it and keep hammering away? I am a gun dealer and collector and if someone had a collectible firearm that was being used as a door stop or paper weight I would try to salvage it before it ended up totally worthless. Is this similar as my example?
How do you attempt to repair the trucked up anvil?
I would go for milling down the top and replacing the top plate, while filling up the remaining hole with weld.
If I had a mill.
Otherwise I'd have no idea.
Mill the top and weld a fork lifter fork on top.
Build with a particular type of welding rod and then grinding to profile
Not wide enough
Ask on professional welding forums like Weldingweb and the Miller forums for the latest greatest in hardfacing rod or wire. (New alloys come out fairly often, the market is large.) Grind the surface clean then either pad weld something like 7018 as filler then hardface or just pad weld the hard facing.
For example an anvil with deep damage could be built to shape with low hydrogen rod then the hardface applied evenly over that.
If you want to mill your repair mill the "non-hardfacing rod" then hardface over it. Some hardface rods are not machinable and require grinding.
Grind then flap wheel to suit. After seeing my welding instructor pad weld a couple of anvils I wouldn't hesitate to do it. (I've an anvil needing facing but my other hobbies take precedence.) Many welders use propane weed burner torches to preheat.
www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/forum/welding-discussions/32124-anvil-repair
You could remove an existing steel plate by milling which would allow easy fitment of a fresh plate.
Thank you for the "trucked up" use, appreciate the politeness! :)
My anvil, pictured here, has a slight crown on the face. It's wrought iron i think, with no plate. It has nothing stamped on it anywhere. What's your guess on the make?
Thanks all!
probably a homemade anvil from over a hundred years ago
I got one for 50 recently, its it's in good shape on sides but got a dent .... if I want to reweld it ; I have 19 rod , 7024 and 390... what's best rod lol.
Talk about tearing up an anvil!😂
If there is minimal damage to the face of the anvil would welding the damage area affect the face of the anvil ????
I didn't realize collecting anvils was a "thing" I look at them as just a place to hammer against. Lol
Both
I have a cast iron anvil with USA raised letters on the side it's the only markings on it. All I have read is that a cast iron one is crap. Is it better to reface it with a harder steel plate or just use it as it is?
Anvil prices are crazy even badly used ones.
it figures, my uncle who's a blacksmith sold my dad and Anvil like the one you said you should pass for 50 bucks. I should have known not to trust him as his side of the family ripped my side of the family out of our inheritance. his experience didn't help me there
Can you advise when an anvil should be repaired (or messed with) or just left alone and worked upon?!?
i recently got an american star anvil cast body steel to it has som chipped edges its 110lbs and i was wondering should i fix it or use as is it is an antique after all im just afraid of hurting it
okay,
now please explain,
the anvil behind door 1...
(worthy of buy up)
with that much damage to repair,
what percentage of new price for a matching size & style, would you offer & top %'g you'd pay ?
great information , thanks Mike..
I found a anvil with trixion on the side in a diamond, i am not a smith but i figured it was worth grabbing (it was free). Id say its 100 to 130lbs and only surface rusted. The edges arnt new like but very close. Is it worth more to a smith or collector or would it be worth holding on too for my self. I doo have a slight interest in forging but have no plans to start at this moment. Any info would be a great help
the 'bounce and ring' test tells all.
Great info and a great channel. I watch you rather than TV. Just got hold of a Columbia anvil in good shape but somebody messed with the bottom to where it "high centers" and rocks on a flat surface. Any suggestions? Keep up the great work.
Cup stone and a little elbow grease
Every anvil I've found has been way over priced $1000-$3800 it's almost silly!
A lot of ppl with decent condition anvils are usually people buying and selling anvils and they know which brands ppl want and mark them up accordingly.
Yeah it’s getting crazy . In south tx good luck finding one under 400$ in good condition.
@@codyramos3200 I got a 200 pound old anvil that I would sell for $4 a pound.
@@josecanisales3491 , your for real ... who made it , what condition is it in . an roughly where are you located
@@codyramos3200 Sorry Cody, but I'm not selling it. It belong to my father and he passed away in 1978. I don't know who made it.
Was there a follow up/repair video? Was looking trying to find.
If you were to recommend a brand new anvil what make and model would you say to purchase? And what website?
Three years later, and prices are still climbing. “3, 4, 5 dollars a pound...”’
Man, the good ol days!! Haha. Today its luck to find anything less than $8.
$5/Lb is a great deal
And again; great advice and vid. Ty.
So for a beginner, would a 50 lb anvil in better shape than those two be a good starting point? Or heavier or lighter? Trying to decide if I should get this one near me.
I have a 1820 m&h armitage I bought for $350
What about damage to the horn? like deepish gouges?.
When welding a fix on your. Anvil. Do you have to forge an quence anvil?
Not if you use the correct rods
hi thanks for the video im a beginner and just found a hay budden 175 pounder for $550 today at a garge sale the face of the anvil is still smooth the edges are chipped but not really bad was that a good buy ? i wish i could send you some pics i hope i didnt over pay just looking for some advice thanks do you have a email i could send pics for you too look at thank you Mark
As always great information
Who repairs anvils and how much should I spend per pound for used?
Professional smiths are the only ones Id trust. There are special rods needed to make a -correct- repair. Lots of half booty out there. FOr me? Used anvil max 3.00 a pound for wrought and steel ONLY.
mines just disappear and make a weird sound
How much is a avil
Sir, I got my grandpa's anvil and I'm planning to restore it . Can you help me with advice. If you have some contact I would send you pics of it.
But if you can get the anvil for &20.00 then you have a great deal!
I just bought a 1904 fisher for 100 dollars got good horn and table but broken back half at hardy hole, couldn't pass it up
A good buy.
I would love to fixe the rejected anvil. Give it to me as I will sort it?
Good info thanks.
How would you fix that? Grinding, milling machine? Looks ka put! Welding and refacing? A lot of work for a beginner? I would fix it. I try repairing everything. Lol. Might take me 2 continuous weeks if grinding ,sanding, welding etc. Time and labour? Yeah???
Great videos man!
Spied a one foot rail track with a 2.5 lb sledge beside it, paid forty bucks for the combo. My Q is: is that hammer a good match with the track-anvil long term? Thanks.
work with what ya got, ya prolly ain't gonna wear it out
what about sizes ....whats the weight/size limit (in your opinion) before it's not effective anymore? (not counting promotional/gimmick anvils)
Just depends on the work!
great vid bro.. Thank you...
who is the best of anvil 25/50/100 kg
I feel genuine pity for these poor anvils.
always grind em down and put plate over them
Where’s the repair video?
Great vid
New anvil's in Europe are €1100 and up.. how is it over there?
New anvils in the states will run you 1200 and up. We have a lot of old anvils and they go for about 3-5.50 a pound so 7-12 is dollars a kilo. 500-1000 depending on weight. I have a 1901 fisher and it’s sweet it was 100 bucks. Missing the horn but I’m a welder so that is being addressed soon
@@jacobcarolan1172 pretty much the same I gather... Thanks for the reply 😊
What stick rods do you use when you repair them?
Heavy Metalworks 7018
Is it possible to mount and use an anvil upside down?
While that technically is possible, it would probably not be advisable to do so in most cases. Old anvils like the ones pictured in the video here have relatively soft wrought iron bases that wouldn't be nearly as durable as the hardened steel plate that makes up the anvil's face. Anvils with cast iron bases would likely suffer a similar fate, given that cast iron is more brittle than properly heat treated steel. I cannot speak for anvils that have been cast/forged entirely out of steel, but I'd imagine that the hardness of the base would be much lower than that of the face.
Can you recommend a new USA made anvil manufacturer?
Oldsmob455 nimba
what would be a fairly good price for anvil just saying , ,i have afriend gal who has two buuuutttt wont let go of them
I know of one place to actually buy anvils I believe small little work shop and not %100 sure if they sell them. It I'm like %75 sure
Dont need it!
Watch the video on ASO's
I could weld that