I Think I Need An Anvil?

[Smiles79]

I recently got a really good deal on a 6ft King Kutter brush hog, a 6' blade, and a damaged boom pole for my tractor. The blade and brush hog need a little work, but I only gave $425 for all of that.

The brush hog, looks like someone backed into a tree at some point and the metal bars that create the 3 point hitch mounting are bent and need to be straightened. I don't really have anything that I can pound them against to straighten them up other than my smallish bench vise (I do have an oxy propane torch), and I was thinking about getting this:

55 lb. Rugged Cast Iron Anvil

Amazing deals on this 55Lb Rugged Cast Iron Anvil at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Is that a decent price for what it is? How well do these anvils hold up? I also thought about getting the 15lb anvil but it seemed a little small:

15 Lb. Rugged Cast Iron Anvil

Amazing deals on this 15 Lb Anvil at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

What other options are there to straighten this thing up?

 

[35k0]

Look at the new 65lb Doyle Anvil from HF. It gets great reviews, check some youtube reviews.

65 lb. Cast Steel Anvil

Amazing deals on this 65Lb Cast Steel Anvil at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[dougf]

Everyone absolutely needs something to beat on to get tasks like you are describing complete.

Actual anvil's are $4+ a LB now (I have a 150lb Hay-Budden), so for occasional shop use I would put that option off the table.
The Harbor Freight anvil you posted gets very bad reviews from blacksmiths because its soft and the face damages relatively easily, but they have a newer anvil they are selling that's getting pretty good reviews actually (https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-...vils/anvils/65-lb-cast-steel-anvil-58924.html) but a little more expensive.

Some people hunt Craigslist, Marketplace, or go to a scrap yard and pick up round drops of appropriate size for beating on, or score a chunk of railroad track to beat on. Overall I think the inexpensive Harbor Freight anvil (newer red one) wouldnt be a bad purchase for smashing things into compliance.

 

[Smiles79]

Look at the new 65lb Doyle Anvil from HF. It gets great reviews, check some youtube reviews.

65 lb. Cast Steel Anvil

Amazing deals on this 65Lb Cast Steel Anvil at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I was going to stay away from that one just because it was more expensive, but if it's better than the blue one that I can probably be convinced. Thanks!

Everyone absolutely needs something to beat on to get tasks like you are describing complete.

Actual anvil's are $4+ a LB now (I have a 150lb Hay-Budden), so for occasional shop use I would put that option off the table.
The Harbor Freight anvil you posted gets very bad reviews from blacksmiths because its soft and the face damages relatively easily, but they have a newer anvil they are selling that's getting pretty good reviews actually (https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-...vils/anvils/65-lb-cast-steel-anvil-58924.html) but a little more expensive.

Some people hunt Craigslist, Marketplace, or go to a scrap yard and pick up round drops of appropriate size for beating on, or score a chunk of railroad track to beat on. Overall I think the inexpensive Harbor Freight anvil (newer red one) wouldnt be a bad purchase for smashing things into compliance.

Thanks for the input! I definitely am trying to not spend hundreds of dollars haha.

 

[dougf]

I just saw you were in Missouri, so am I, near Waynesville. I had 20 foot of railroad track I gave away about 6 months ago, but when I get home from work i'll see if I have something laying around that you might be able to use if you want it for free.

 

[Smiles79]

That's very nice, thank you! However, I'm North of St. Joseph and I think you're quite a ways away.

 

[Renegade1LI]

First off, you definitely need an anvil, it's a must have. For what you want to do you may get better results using a press. I have found if you can fit it in the press you can get good results and without expanding the steel. Really you need an anvil and a press, and both from hf aren't bad.

 

[Renegade1LI]

If you don't want to spend for those find a 3'or 4' section of an H beam. Nice to have also as you can clamp and weld on it.

 

[Copymutt]

Anvils are a must have. If I had to straighten 3pt. hitch bars I might try the receiver hole on my truck and a jack, or a couple bits of angle iron and the weight of your tractor.

 

[Smiles79]

First off, you definitely need an anvil, it's a must have. For what you want to do you may get better results using a press. I have found if you can fit it in the press you can get good results and without expanding the steel. Really you need an anvil and a press, and both from hf aren't bad.

Well ****, I have a press that I forgot about lol. Think I'll still need to heat it up?

Anvils are a must have. If I had to straighten 3pt. hitch bars I might try the receiver hole on my truck and a jack, or a couple bits of angle iron and the weight of your tractor.

Good idea, but I think it'll be easier to unbolt them and either hammer them or put them in the press.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Use heat as a last resort, the press is easy and smooth. Also an H or I beam, if you have some good clamps you can block and clamp with good results.

 

[Copymutt]

Yep, I assumed you would be disassembling.

 

[Smiles79]

Use heat as a last resort, the press is easy and smooth. Also an H or I beam, if you have some good clamps you can block and clamp with good results.

Thanks for the tips. I'll give it a go sometime and see how it goes.

I probably forgot about the press because it's tucked into a corner of the garage by the Firebird. Maybe I need to move it somewhere more accessible.

 

[Firebrick43]

I to would use a press or clamp it to a piece of steel or something and heat/bend. Beating a piece straight on an anvil stretch the metal and make things worse.

 

[Smiles79]

I to would use a press or clamp it to a piece of steel or something and heat/bend. Beating a piece straight on an anvil stretch the metal and make things worse.

Yeah, I'm going to give the press a shot first

 

[MikeC55]

I'd like to obtain a short section of RR track to make an anvil. Is there somewhere you can buy used rail?

 

[PCustoms]

I'd get an anvil, just to say I have an anvil, but realistically not the right tool to fix a 3 point mount on a brush hog.

As someone else said you'd be better off to disassemble and straighten in a press. If you are disassembling (cutting welds based of the brush hogs I've seen) it might be faster/cheaper to just weld in new material.

How bent is this thing?

 

[ZRX61]

I have a small "Anvil Shaped Object" from Horrible Fright. I put a dent in it with a piece of aluminum...

 

[Smiles79]

I'd get an anvil, just to say I have an anvil, but realistically not the right tool to fix a 3 point mount on a brush hog.

As someone else said you'd be better off to disassemble and straighten in a press. If you are disassembling (cutting welds based of the brush hogs I've seen) it might be faster/cheaper to just weld in new material.

How bent is this thing?

It's pretty bent. It can all be unbolted though and for some reason didn't think about the 20 ton press I have

 

[finn]

There are several YouTube reviews on the currently available crop of imported cast steel anvils on the black smithing channels. These anvils, not to be confused with the universally distained Harbor Freight cast iron anvils, begrudgingly receive good reviews.

The HF Doyle and the Vevor 66 lb cast steel anvils were two reviews I watched earlier this week. They come in at, I think, something like $2.30/lb, and are readily available, unlike antique anvils that you either stumble upon, or pay through the nose. I was actually considering a heavier, 132 lb Velvor, but I think I will do a little more looking before I pull the trigger, just so I can learn a little more.

There seem to be many variations of these imports, but some of the reviewers think they all come from the same factory.

The reviewers universally would prefer a domestic or “famous name“ anvil, but also concede price is a barrier, and state that these are good value.

 

[Renegade1LI]

It's pretty bent. It can all be unbolted though and for some reason didn't think about the 20 ton press I have

I just straightened some mangled 3 point hardware, good to go. Interestingly it's made to bend just in case, the metal is fairly soft and easy to straighten.

 

[Smiles79]

I just straightened some mangled 3 point hardware, good to go. Interestingly it's made to bend just in case, the metal is fairly soft and easy to straighten.

Good to know, thanks! I just have straighten this, fabricate a swivel kit, and make a couple new braces. Luckily work has multiple lasers and I know how to use Solidworks.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I recently got a really good deal on a 6ft King Kutter brush hog, a 6' blade, and a damaged boom pole for my tractor. The blade and brush hog need a little work, but I only gave $425 for all of that.

The brush hog, looks like someone backed into a tree at some point and the metal bars that create the 3 point hitch mounting are bent and need to be straightened. I don't really have anything that I can pound them against to straighten them up other than my smallish bench vise (I do have an oxy propane torch), and I was thinking about getting this:

55 lb. Rugged Cast Iron Anvil

Amazing deals on this 55Lb Rugged Cast Iron Anvil at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Is that a decent price for what it is? How well do these anvils hold up? I also thought about getting the 15lb anvil but it seemed a little small:

15 Lb. Rugged Cast Iron Anvil

Amazing deals on this 15 Lb Anvil at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

What other options are there to straighten this thing up?

You will be so much better off taking your project parts to a proper welding shop. I have the tools and equipment to do this repair. A proper repair can be made after you spend several $1000 on tools.

 

[Jarhead0408]

I’ve made similar repairs with my HF 29-ton press.