1866 William Foster Anvil - Worth the Time?

[apittmanii]

This is being sold for $150 firm on local craigslist. Looking at it this evening. Comes with base depicted in photo. According to seller:

"Weighs approximately 129 pounds, about 20 inches long and 10 inches tall... Has surface rust, I cleaned some off with a brass bristle brush and it does not appear to have any pitting."


My questions:

- Have not purchased an anvil. Assuming there is metal under all that oxidation, what else should I look for?

- 150 fair for anvil in this shape?

 

[Will561]

The edges are rough... Do you plan on using it or a flip?

 

[apittmanii]

Probably clean it up and flip it unless I really like how it looks in my garage. I do not blacksmith.

 

[Maui]

I'd probably pass.

 

[rsanter]

That thing is very rough. Edges are gone.
You would need to mill the top flat again but you couldn't take enough off to fix the edges without destroying that thing.
So then you would have to do some welding to replace the metal and I think the ********* anvil guys would not like that so much.
I would love to have it for the cool factor but I'm thinking $50 or he can keep it

Bob

 

[Youngguns]

Those aren't ****** edges, that's what's left of the laminated top, isn't it? And I don't believe for a second that it's "not pitted." I've been searching for an anvil for five years now and I wouldn't want that thing.

 

[apittmanii]

For better or worse, I pulled the trigger on it. I'm a sucker for a project. Here it is after an of using a wire brush grinding wheel and some oil. I used some sidewalk chalk to highlight the markings, but they actually don't do it justice - the markings have good depth.

Overall I'm happy with it for $150. It rings very well at every part of the anvil (although I'm not really qualified to really judge - I do not blacksmith). I mostly like the fact it been around for 150 years this year. It was a pleasure to see that muck (from original photos) come off so easily.

I have it for sale for $300 on my local craigslist and have some interest in it, so I anticipate selling it for that price.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Looks good.

People always say how you have to heat the whole damn thing and weld hard face and mill, yada yada.

I know there's a video on Youtube somewhere where ol boy welds it with 7018 and grinds it and says he gets more than several years of daily use and abuse with it.

I'm going to do the same with my Trenton here shortly.

And most smiths don't want a 90 degree edge. Too sharp and stress rises/dents. Most keep a little contour for the average stuff.

 

[Monkey Milk]

Wow, that thing had a hard life.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ Yeah, where did they store it . . . ocean floor ??

Looks much better now OP. Your effort likely will pay off for flip as $2 a lb might get some bites.

 

[apittmanii]

The anvil ended up selling for $280, so overall I am happy with the experience and the purchase.

Because I like to make my life hard, I took that money and purchased the anvil depicted in these photos for $210. It is a Peter Wright, a little under 100 pounds. I overpaid, but want to try the technique outlined by this guy: http://www.iforgeiron.com/index2.html/blueprints/100-series/bp0101-anvil-repair-r330/

Talk about anvil abuse! The top of this thing is in horrific condition. I'll post the finished product after I make an attempt.