Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Oct 15, 2014 6:00:53 GMT
Ok, so, I kinda lost my makeshift anvil in my divorce several years ago. While there are forges-a-plenty, I seem to be having a problem finding a decent anvil at a price that isn't outrageous. Are there any good ones out there that would be good for regular use making things from small knives to short swords?
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Post by L Driggers (fallen) on Oct 15, 2014 6:20:52 GMT
Like it or not you are going to have to paid a lot of money for a good anvil. The cheapest good one I know of are TFS. Shop around you can get a 150lber under $1000.00.
Try to find a good used one, good luck most of what I have found have been abused. Beat on with hammer while the steel they were trying to work with was cold. People don't understand anvils think they can beat the crap out of them and not damage them.
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Oct 15, 2014 7:12:17 GMT
Check out the ads in your local area
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Post by LG Martial Arts on Oct 15, 2014 18:28:32 GMT
Swap meets, older farms, maybe at an older shop/salvage yard. Fallen is right though - it's going to be tough finding a decent one on the cheap. There are other alternatives like making your own out of a rail, but it's kind of small/light weight compared to a good anvil. I missed my opportunity to keep my grandfather's anvil when the shop closed down for good (uncles sold the biz/land), I don't remember the brand, but it was at least 175 lbs. since it was used at a wrecking/salvage yard for many years, it's face was a bit beat up, but still in usable condition.
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Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Oct 15, 2014 18:30:26 GMT
There are no used ones or local ads. All the ones around here have been scrapped. I've looked at auctions, asked old farmers, and even been to what used to be blacksmith shops to see if they had one just sitting in the corner. All scrapped. Every. Single. One. That's why I figured I'd ask you guys. I don't know what's good, what's not, and what's a good price.
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Oct 16, 2014 1:44:39 GMT
What area do you live in? I am in the midwest - cincinnati and we see them all the time at estate sales etc. Consider haunting auctions. Other thought, look at your scrap yard, make friends with your scrap yard, tell them whjat you;re looking for, and they may come up with something that will work. Hell my scrapper guy found a 400 lb cast brass chicken to tempt me with, knowing I'd mount it in the front yard and polish it regularly....
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Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Oct 16, 2014 1:53:11 GMT
I live in Illinois. No, not Chicago. Illinois. West Frankfort, to be exact. Home of the jankiest people on earth. If they can get their hands on something that is heavy that they can get beer money for, it's gone. My grandpa knows everyone in a 50 mile radius, and even he hasn't turned up anything. The guys at the local scrap yard are less than friendly. They want you in and out NOW because they know that most of the stuff that comes through there is probably stolen.
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Oct 16, 2014 21:57:24 GMT
When I moved back to the city the anvil stayed behind, :cry: now I have a length of railway line, it may not be ideal but it works for smaller things
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Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Oct 16, 2014 22:17:53 GMT
I found this guy online. It doesn't look too bad. I'm just going to be making knives and short swords. Nothing crazy. Think it would work? www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... oCTKnw_wcB
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Post by LG Martial Arts on Oct 16, 2014 22:44:07 GMT
I don't know if that anvil's a good deal or not, but here's a $20 off code in case you do get it - 192918. Expiration is Dec 2014 I believe.
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Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Oct 16, 2014 22:55:19 GMT
I don't know, either. It doesn't say if it's cast iron or steel. I don't mind over paying a little bit as long as I get something that I can use and last a long time. I just don't want to drop that kind of money on something for it to crack in half on the third hammer blow. Ask me why I'm paranoid about that...
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Post by L Driggers (fallen) on Oct 17, 2014 4:07:58 GMT
Cast iron and will be dead.
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Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Oct 17, 2014 4:39:28 GMT
That's kinda what I figured, and why I'm asking. I used to have a great makeshift anvil. It was just a broken counterweight off of an oil field pumping unit. Weighed about 200 pounds. But it was solid and amazing. I just want something good that will last a long time, without paying infinity dollars for it.
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Post by Dapper Blades on Oct 17, 2014 14:21:54 GMT
I've known a lot of people who swear by old railroad track. If you can acquire legally a smallish segment, the top can be painstakingly ground flatter to make a good surface. Many of the people I know to have done this method then take the small anvil and attach it to a large tree stump to give it height and more weight.
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Oct 17, 2014 14:52:22 GMT
Construction yards, truck wreckers, demolition contractors all end up with broken buckets, hydraulic ram ends and other big lumps of steel.
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Oct 17, 2014 14:57:46 GMT
Ring these people, ask for a massive lump of steel - if they don't have some ask for the next people to call -
Gary's Metals Inc
307 Scout Cabin RdCarterville, IL 62918
(618) 985-6931
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Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Oct 17, 2014 17:53:17 GMT
I junked a couple cars at Gary's. Not sure how you found that, but I asked when I was there a while back and he said he hadn't seen anything go through there in a while. I'll give 'em a call sometime and see if they have anything useful.
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Post by LG Martial Arts on Oct 26, 2014 15:27:14 GMT
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Post by LG Martial Arts on Oct 26, 2014 22:32:20 GMT
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