Anvils & Vises Galore

[twertsy]

Ok boys, I don't mean to cause a tizzy here but, I just returned from picking a young gent who answered my CL ad looking to buy hand tools. I bought a bunch of stuff and payed him. As I was about to leave, he asks if I'd be interested in anvils and/or vises. Apparently he just bought a farm where they currently live and this place where we met was their "extra" place. He says the barn has 10+ vises and 6-10 anvils of various sizes. He said there are at least 2 vises where he thinks the jaws are at least 8" wide. He offered everything to me for $200. He said he was just going to scrap them if i didnt want them. I almost fainted. He then proceeds to tell me about one particular anvil that had to be moved with the bobcat. He said when he lifted it, it was tipping the cat. Now, according to him, it has to weigh around 800 lbs to tip his cat. Is that possible??

He described the huge hunk as having (forgive my lack of knowledge in anvil terminology) holes around the base that have various implements in them. I'm guessing they get used via the hardie/pritchel holes for various black smithing activities.

I did not take him up on the offer.......I just couldn't bring myself to rip him off. I explained to him what his stuff could be worth (particularly the anvil) and convinced him not to scrap them. We worked out a deal. I'm going to help him sell the anvils and I get all the vises I want. So, he's going to send me pics when he gets back to the property tonight and I'll post them in the morning at some point.

If his stuff is that good, what do you guys think of an auction thread where you PM me bids until some end time and I'll keep the bids current in the thread but not the bidders? Thoughts?

 

[Bobcat753]

Stop teasing!

 

[twertsy]

Stop teasing!

I hear you brotha and fully expected that feedback! As soon as I get them, I'll post them up!

 

[1950mercury]

If you want to auction them use ebay or some other auction site. If youvwant to sell them here list tjem in the classifieds with a price

 

[Maui]

I like the idea, count me in! What's the best way to ship anything this heavy? They would have to go by freight. Regardless, I'm looking forward to seeing some photos of the anvils and vises!

Maui

 

[RustnGrease]

Keep us updated, i might be interested in an avil or two

 

[MixManSC]

Subbed!

 

[twertsy]

Keep us updated, i might be interested in an avil or two

Actually headed right past you Friday night....may be able to do that.....

 

[1982fxr]

i'm drooling just thinking of this

 

[organ]

Potential **** of the year... if no pics are produced, ban this man!

 

[thebeekeeper1]

:wow:

 

[drivesitfar]

Twertsy: anvils have hardy holds and some have holes in their bases that is in their design. pictures would really help and just in case you didn't know shipping via Fastenal on pallets is the best way to ship heavy vises and anvils usually.

post pictures when you can and i'll help if you need some values.

 

[trijeff]

$200??? I would have fainted.

 

[Cypherian]

I would have given him one warning you might want to check into the values on them first. If he said nah I would have left rubber heading for the nearest ATM and calling a buddy with a trailer. But yes please post pictures of the anvils makers marks and if you think about it do a ball check see if they still have rebound etc.

Cypher

 

[1982fxr]

is the one anvil a swage block maybe?

 

[twertsy]

Appreciate all the questions guys but right now, at 4am Thursday morning, I know exactly what you guys do. As for the swage block, I googled it and I don't think so. He explained it has being a huge anvil that had holes all around the base with hardie tools in them. I can't find a pic of what he explained anywhere. He also said all the other anvils have holes / feet for mounting but this huge one doesn't

I pinged him again this morning for pics since when I woke up I didn't have any yet. Hopefully he gets them to me when he gets up and I'll pass them on here. Fingers crossed!

 

[Jarhead0408]

I'd be interested price dependent.

 

[bigcaddy]

Appreciate all the questions guys but right now, at 4am Thursday morning, I know exactly what you guys do. As for the swage block, I googled it and I don't think so. He explained it has being a huge anvil that had holes all around the base with hardie tools in them. I can't find a pic of what he explained anywhere. He also said all the other anvils have holes / feet for mounting but this huge one doesn't

I pinged him again this morning for pics since when I woke up I didn't have any yet. Hopefully he gets them to me when he gets up and I'll pass them on here. Fingers crossed!

He could be referring to a custom mount for tool inserts around the waist of the anvil. My old man has a anvil with a hammer rack mounted in the same fashion.

I call dibs on any floor cones.!!! That's one thing my old man doesn't have and Father's Day is about a month away

 

[bigcaddy]

You had better move quick in closing a deal with that man or you might come back to an empty barn with "Joe was here" painted on the wall

 

[Youngguns]

I still haven't found the one tool I've been looking for the longest, an anvil! And you're within driving range, count me in!

 

[drivesitfar]

Twertsy: heres a few holes in a Peter Wright anvil other than the 2 on the top for hardys. moving an 800 pound anvil isn't something easy to do, but i just moved a 1300 pound cast iron surface plate that i didn't think i could when i first bought it.

also if there are several anvils there might be hardys so i posted a picture of a few. the cone BC is mentioning is sort of in the shape of the orange cones and it's cast iron/steel.

have fun if you get an invite back before they are gone to the next guy or a relative that might not have been in the loop before you met the guy.

 

[twertsy]

Ok gents, spoke with the young man this evening. I haven't heard from him since last week. He had a family emergency and has been out of state since last Thursday. Things are looking good and he aspects to be back, and send me pics by Friday sometime.

 

[oldldh]

Everybody...

Hates...

A...

"TEASE!!!!"

Oh well...

We'll wait---

 

[thebeekeeper1]

 

[twertsy]

Everybody...

Hates...

A...

"TEASE!!!!"

Oh well...

We'll wait---

Believe me, I was really worried that I had given him too much information on what he actually had and he'd decided to give it a go on his own! But he called me last night to let me know his situation and that he'd be back by Friday so that's a good sign. I too am on pins and needles

 

[Farmall450]

Unless his skidsteer is tiny that anvil must have weighed thousands of pounds.

 

[twertsy]

Unless his skidsteer is tiny that anvil must have weighed thousands of pounds.

I believe he said "bobcat" and last night he told me he had it "out on the end of the forks and it was counterbalancing the cat." Don't know what to tell you Farmall other than, "that's what he said"

 

[chilly460]

Also in va and in the market for a vise, I'll keep an eye on this thread

 

[Farmall450]

I believe he said "bobcat" and last night he told me he had it "out on the end of the forks and it was counterbalancing the cat." Don't know what to tell you Farmall other than, "that's what he said"

I think you're going to be in for a pleasant surprise when you go pick it up!

Unless he has some giant fork extensions

 

[twertsy]

I think you're going to be in for a pleasant surprise when you go pick it up!

Unless he has some giant fork extensions

lol. With my luck he has 20' fork extensions!

 

[1950mercury]

Any news

 

[twertsy]

The only news I have is that he finally responded to a text from me last Thursday begging to come to his location and take pics / make offers in person. Response was that he's been extremely busy between work and family, and will get me pictures "soon." It's killing me knowing there's several "apple crates full of vises" sitting there, not to mention the anvils. Add to that the fact that they "would have went to scrap if I hadn't run out of room in the trailer" and it really makes me nervous. I'll definitely update when I hear................eventually! Just know I'm working on it but it's a delicate balance of "immediate want" versus infringing on the guys time constantly. I'm trying not to be a nuisance while remaining on his radar. Ugh............

 

[Fretters]

Call me a pessimist, but something rings wrong over this one. I'd be tempted to think he's stringing you along, by this point. Why can't you just go through and have a look in person? Why photo's of the stuff?

I hope I'm wrong, but gut instinct says not.

 

[twertsy]

Call me a pessimist, but something rings wrong over this one. I'd be tempted to think he's stringing you along, by this point. Why can't you just go through and have a look in person? Why photo's of the stuff?

I hope I'm wrong, but gut instinct says not.

I'm smellin' what you're steppin' in.

On the other hand, to what end? He's the one who just mentioned them on a whim after I bought a bunch of hand tools from him. Can't imagine what he'd have to gain from stringing someone along?

 

[Fretters]

On the other hand, to what end? He's the one who just mentioned them on a whim after I bought a bunch of hand tools from him. Can't imagine what he'd have to gain from stringing someone along?

Usually, it's either because they've blabbed before they knew true worth, else the decision wasn't theirs to make. Some people seem to have an inability to just tell the truth when circumstance changes though, hence the stringing along. It's as if they hope people will just give up rather than them having to admit the truth.

 

[twertsy]

Well, he just struck me as a "good ole boy" from the woods. Last time I spoke with him on the phone, when the call ended I overheard him say to someone "that's that guy looking to buy all my vises and anvils" before he hung up so, whatever that's worth.....

 

[Cypherian]

Well, he just struck me as a "good ole boy" from the woods. Last time I spoke with him on the phone, when the call ended I overheard him say to someone "that's that guy looking to buy all my vises and anvils" before he hung up so, whatever that's worth.....

So see if he will set a date that is good for you and him get your trailer empty bring some loading "HELP" I have no problem being cough cough cough and driving over :} any day you need no strings just want to see what is there for anvils ..... And give him a a flat price when it is all loaded :}[

Cypher

 

[twertsy]

So see if he will set a date that is good for you and him get your trailer empty bring some loading "HELP" I have no problem being cough cough cough and driving over :} any day you need no strings just want to see what is there for anvils ..... And give him a a flat price when it is all loaded :}[

Cypher

I wouldn't have a problem with that Cypher. I'll shoot him another text this evening and see if he responds.

 

[bczygan]

Man. for something like this, I'd be "just stopping by" his place, or the place you met him, and hunting these down by tracking him down any way I could.

 

[bczygan]

And I never would have let these get away from day one. Would have driven, walked or crawled on my belly to get to see them, right off the bat.