Anvil Size?

[Greatwhitewing]

Homeowner use for general projects maybe something to take frustrations out on..lol

Seriously what size, weight or features would be appropriate for general homeowner use.

Now for the thread post multiplying question. What brand?

This caught my eye
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000AX9IU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bob15]

I would look for something in the 150 pound range. Craigslist or swap meets are good places to look.

bob

 

[Greatwhitewing]

Thanks Bob, one of things where bigger is better eh? lol

CL are pretty bad around here and takes far too much time to go on wild goose chases. Garage sales might work but again a lot of time involved.. I have had about zero success going either of those two routes for tools.

A swap meet might be a better idea. I'll figure out where to find some in my area..

 

[MoToys]

I was at the englishtown swap meet last weekend. Saw a few anvils for sale, best one I saw was 100lbs for $200.
If I had to guess, the northern tools one you linked is imported.

 

[retDAC]

... This caught my eye
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000AX9IU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I suggest you go to the Northern website and check the reviews.

 

[rusty65]

I heard the harbor freight anvils are imported from russia and might be forged steel instead of cast.

 

[Brad54]

I've heard the blacksmiths and metal formers refer to new, imported anvils as "ASO's.. Anvil Shaped Objects."
They seem to be cast steel, rather than forged, and will break off corners and stuff when you hit them.

-Brad

 

[Exceller8]

If you're not going to be working on "hot" metal then but any large piece of steel to beat on. For shop use any nice chunk of steel will do. A section of railroad track works great! If you do buy a real anvil just remember that using them cold is not recommended.

 

[coolreed]

I think for home use a 100# Anvil would be fine. I have an old Kohlswa and a Nimba Titan in that range. They were $600 and $1k respectively and are quality units. Don't buy a cheap one at NT. If you buy a good old quality Anvil you will always get your money back later.

 

[Outlawmws]

"Home use" and anvil doesn't define anything IMO.

Be more specific about what metal forming you want to perform. Will it be hot forging? hammer welding? or cold forming and brute force?

Are you bending metal over the edge, and if so, what size shapes would you expect to be doing at the extreme ends of the spectrum?

If all you need is backup for supporting something you are hammering on, a large slug of steel works well. I used to have a 10" X 4" thick disk of steel and I wailed on that as a backer for getting things hammered together ( brute force fits) for lots of work.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

"Home use" and anvil doesn't define anything IMO.

Be more specific about what metal forming you want to perform. Will it be hot forging? hammer welding? or cold forming and brute force?

Are you bending metal over the edge, and if so, what size shapes would you expect to be doing at the extreme ends of the spectrum?

If all you need is backup for supporting something you are hammering on, a large slug of steel works well. I used to have a 10" X 4" thick disk of steel and I wailed on that as a backer for getting things hammered together ( brute force fits) for lots of work.

Homeowner use means whatever needs to be done. The tool should serve as many functions well but doesn't need to be superb at any. I can envision whaling on it to free up something, bending a chunk of metal to repair something. Probably not hot forming like a blacksmith would but I could see using a torch on parts trying to free up on top of the anvil.

Some metioned a chunck of train track. Like to find a foot of CR171 crane rail or heavier.. That would do the job probably..

 

[Outlawmws]

Homeowner use means whatever needs to be done. The tool should serve as many functions well but doesn't need to be superb at any. I can envision whaling on it to free up something, bending a chunk of metal to repair something. Probably not hot forming like a blacksmith would but I could see using a torch on parts trying to free up on top of the anvil.

Some metioned a chunck of train track. Like to find a foot of CR171 crane rail or heavier.. That would do the job probably..

As was mentioned you don't want to be doing cold forming on a Blacksmith's anvil, you will just mess it up.

If I were you I'd get a big chunk of scrap from a scrap yard for your use, and be considering if you want to be forming over a sharp edge/corner before determining the shape you want. For cold forming the ends of a bar of metal; say flattening it out some, a rail section would probably work well, but for many other uses it is a curved shape, so if you are spending more time flattening things (kinked flat bar or sheet metal) something with a nice flat surface will serve better. You might want both types of "anvil" around...

 

[larry_g]

As most have said what you are looking for is some heavy mass for backing up what you beating on. The cast iron anvil you linked to will do you until you define and refine your skills enough to make a specific type or style of anvil a necessity. If you have no experience or specific need then any anvil will do. As you learn and use it you will be better able to define the specific size and characteristics YOU need in the tool. Like vehicles, what you need may not suit me at all and so many to chose from.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Exceller8]

I have an old 300+ pound anvil outside that I beat the heck out of. I use it for everything hot or cold and it works great. I know that using it cold is not good for it but it's not a high quality anvil anyway.

 

[LSU]

I've got an 18" piece of train track. If you want to see a bunch of funny comments about train track do a search and find my original post of when I asked about where I could find some train track.

I'm like this size piece of track because I can move it around. Works for what I want/need to do.

Somone gave it to me. I keep it on my workbench and use it on the floor if I'm really beating something stiff.

If I found an anvil, I'm not sure I'd buy it because I think the track suits my needs.

 

[Rust]

"Home use" and anvil doesn't define anything IMO.

Quoted for truth.
lol!