Peter Wright Anvil 270lb

[Labarquecreek]

Bought this anvil from an estate sale over the weekend and hoping for a little more information. From the marking 2 1 18 ... 270lb from what I've read.
I've also read that any welding is a big no... and this anvil does have a little welding along the face. I dropped a bearing and from 10" it is bouncing back roughly 8" near the weld and more as you move away.
Besides this test is there any suggestions on how to test or tell the condition of this anvil? Should I have the face ground smooth? Or just leave it be.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
Also bought a forge at this sale. Plan on cleaning it up and eventually learning some basic smithing skills.

 

[cmccoy]

Neat anvil. Got some character but still usable. You can weld on it but you need to heat it to approx 400 degrees prior to striking an arc. It is worth repairing. My advice would be to ignore the people that are so called experts.....they will tell you that you can't , you'll ruin the temper, you'll ruin the hardness, blah, blah blah! Find someone that pays attention to the details and they will be able to do it.....that someone may be you, I don't know. Good luck to you and thanks for sharing.

 

[leg17]

You could just use it.

 

[lis2323]

Neat anvil. Got some character but still usable. You can weld on it but you need to heat it to approx 400 degrees prior to striking an arc. It is worth repairing. My advice would be to ignore the people that are so called experts.....they will tell you that you can't , you'll ruin the temper, you'll ruin the hardness, blah, blah blah! Find someone that pays attention to the details and they will be able to do it.....that someone may be you, I don't know. Good luck to you and thanks for sharing.

Agreed[emoji481]. Too many anvil “ experts” out there. Google anvil repair. Wade through the **** and pick a repair mode you think you can handle and will work.

Some bozo left cutting torch scars on MY 300 pound PW also. I welded it up. Good luck.


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[Maui]

That anvil has a lot of swayback. Apparently it was heavily used during its lifetime.

 

[Labarquecreek]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I'll plan on just using it for now and eventually making the repairs myself.
Also thanks for answering my question as to the damage along each side of the face... shame it was torched on.
But overall glad I bought it, great character and a unique piece to me.

 

[leg17]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I'll plan on just using it for now and eventually making the repairs myself.
Also thanks for answering my question as to the damage along each side of the face... shame it was torched on.
But overall glad I bought it, great character and a unique piece to me.

Good plan.

You already noticed that it is not as good where the welding has been done.
A little sanding and smoothing is all that needs for now.
You don't want the edges sharp anyway.

 

[Farmer J.]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I'll plan on just using it for now and eventually making the repairs myself.
Also thanks for answering my question as to the damage along each side of the face... shame it was torched on.
But overall glad I bought it, great character and a unique piece to me.

Yea, that's the best attitude. Use it as it is for now and see how you get on then consider repairs in future.
One of my sons is a qualified artist blacksmith, and he says " An anvil is just a big heavy lump to hit things against, and a hammer is just a 'lump on a stick' to hit things with."
He started with an old anvil that had been totally wrecked, the face was burred over at the edges so i welded a length of 1" thich steel on top of it which i got from a scrap yard it had come from the knife of a huge printing press. It works just fine. He has made beautiful things on it even though the anvil isn't pretty!

 

[lis2323]

Yea, that's the best attitude. Use it as it is for now and see how you get on then consider repairs in future.

One of my sons is a qualified artist blacksmith, and he says " An anvil is just a big heavy lump to hit things against, and a hammer is just a 'lump on a stick' to hit things with."

He started with an old anvil that had been totally wrecked, the face was burred over at the edges so i welded a length of 1" thich steel on top of it which i got from a scrap yard it had come from the knife of a huge printing press. It works just fine. He has made beautiful things on it even though the anvil isn't pretty!

I agree. It’s the person wielding the hammer that makes the masterpieces. [emoji481]

Personally I’ll just continue blaming my anvil......[emoji1]


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