Having serious trouble finding anvil

T

twistedkeys

Joined
Jul 1, 2012
Messages
13
(firstly, I'm new to these parts so excuse me if this is in the wrong section...)

Okay so I've been putting things together for my forge, finding metals for crafts, I have the tools, coal, etc. the only thing I need is an anvil. The problem is, Ace Medieval-Hardware went out of business a few years ago :P

I know lots of bros say to pick up one of those rail pieces, but there hasn't been a train track here for 100 years. I do however, have access to LOADS of concrete from sidewalks. Whether this is actually useful I don't know, but that's why I'm asking.

Any other ideas for something to smash on? I'm out :/
 
12345678910 said:
Let's start with your location, what country, state, city are you in ?
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...and add the info to your profile too. In addition to knowing where you are, it might help folks to know what resources you have to work with: budget/no budget, transportation, industry in your area, tools, equipment and skills, etc.?
 
Phil Dwyer said:
...and add the info to your profile too. In addition to knowing where you are, it might help folks to know what resources you have to work with: budget/no budget, transportation, industry in your area, tools, equipment and skills, etc.?
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Sorry I didn't know most of these things were valid to ideas for anvils that I might find at an average junkyard? I can list everything out if you want.
 
Those are very important in finding an anvil. If you have an unlimited budget nimba anvils might be a resource. If you are trying to get a free or near free anvil or anvil shaped object (ASO) then scrapyards or the local rail-yard might be a resource. Any heavy piece of steel can be an ASO and work adequately. Actually even a piece of stone can work and I have even seen some beat metal on a hardwood stump.. If you have never used an anvil before then we mill give a little more guidance of what to look for. If you have we would be boring you and wasting our time.

Not to be uppity or rude but we get these questions all the time. Normally I do not respond to someone who has not filled out their profile because much of the information we need is there. Please give us a bit more info and we can help a lot better.
 
You have many top notch knifemakers in Utah.... I bet one might steer you in the right direction. But until one chimes in take a look at a ferrier supply. Utah has horses, horses have ferriers and ferriers have anvils. Find a supply store in Utah if you can.
 
twistedkeys said:
Sorry I didn't know most of these things were valid to ideas for anvils that I might find at an average junkyard? I can list everything out if you want.
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See now, only you know that you were thinking of buying one from a junkyard.
Otherwise I'd have linked you to this.
http://www.nimbaanvils.com/pricing.php


If you worked in heavy industry where you can buy scrap, I'd be on the lookout for a heavy 4140 cutoff to harden and create a post anvil
post-26511-1233902867.jpg



A C Richards said:
Those are very important in finding an anvil. If you have an unlimited budget nimba anvils might be a resource. If you are trying to get a free or near free anvil or anvil shaped object (ASO) then scrapyards or the local rail-yard might be a resource. Any heavy piece of steel can be an ASO and work adequately. Actually even a piece of stone can work and I have even seen some beat metal on a hardwood stump.. If you have never used an anvil before then we mill give a little more guidance of what to look for. If you have we would be boring you and wasting our time.

Not to be uppity or rude but we get these questions all the time. Normally I do not respond to someone who has not filled out their profile because much of the information we need is there. Please give us a bit more info and we can help a lot better.
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+ 1x on those comments Chuck


Also see IFI
I forge iron .com
 
Last edited:
A recent thread had some discussion on fabricating a post anvil.

Might find some useful info squirreling around some links at Anvil Fire...
Anvil Making: DIY low tech and high tech anvil manufacturing
http://www.anvilfire.com/anvils/

Persistent and selective searching Craigslist and eBay can sometimes score you something too!

Frankly, without your sharing some somewhat personal info folks might not know if their corresponding with a 12 year old enthusiast with limited resources/capacities or a 50 year old engineer with a full machine shop, skill sets and finances.

Whatever the case, good luck with your quest! And, WELCOME to Blade Forums and the world of crafting cutlery!!!
 
Welcome to Shop Talk.

Filling out your profile will help us help you. Go to "settings" at the top of the page, and click "edit Profile". Fill in the info with real places and dates. Tell us about you and your hobbies. This will give us an idea about you and your abilities. The standard explanation is that a question about how to start making knives gets a very different answer when asked by a high school student than it does when asked by a 45 year old machinist.
 
There were some ideas given in this thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/967674-Anvil-weight . I'd guess any piece of metal with a flat spot large enough to hammer hot metal on, that isn't to brittle and that isn't to light, will work. I like the idea of the large roller bearing cased/supported by concrete. Although it will probably work itself loose, it should be easy to reset periodically.
 
A C Richards said:
Those are very important in finding an anvil. If you have an unlimited budget nimba anvils might be a resource. If you are trying to get a free or near free anvil or anvil shaped object (ASO) then scrapyards or the local rail-yard might be a resource. Any heavy piece of steel can be an ASO and work adequately. Actually even a piece of stone can work and I have even seen some beat metal on a hardwood stump.. If you have never used an anvil before then we mill give a little more guidance of what to look for. If you have we would be boring you and wasting our time.

Not to be uppity or rude but we get these questions all the time. Normally I do not respond to someone who has not filled out their profile because much of the information we need is there. Please give us a bit more info and we can help a lot better.
Click to expand...

Thanks there might be a very old rail yard in this one place. I'll have to visit it sometime and check it out.
 
Phil Dwyer said:
A recent thread had some discussion on fabricating a post anvil.

Might find some useful info squirreling around some links at Anvil Fire...
Anvil Making: DIY low tech and high tech anvil manufacturing
http://www.anvilfire.com/anvils/

Persistent and selective searching Craigslist and eBay can sometimes score you something too!

Frankly, without your sharing some somewhat personal info folks might not know if their corresponding with a 12 year old enthusiast with limited resources/capacities or a 50 year old engineer with a full machine shop, skill sets and finances.

Whatever the case, good luck with your quest! And, WELCOME to Blade Forums and the world of crafting cutlery!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks! I appreciate it. And will fill all that stuff out as soon as I can.
 
The post anvil that Zaph1 mentions is a good idea. I made one out of a 30lb cast steel dumbell a couple of years ago. It's not high quality, for sure, but it will get the job done. The dumbell is wider and flatter than the hammer head, but it is softer.

- Chris

31976_520235776820_2458600_n.jpg
 
This is one of the many problems that can be easily solved by networking.
Believe it or not, there will be blacksmiths and blademakers closer to you than you think!
Join your local ABANA chapter, or just use google to find local blacksmithing organizations, then go to the meetups and you'll find anvils for sale by tailgaters, many of whom are happy to help a beginner get his equipment together.
This is an international forum, perhaps narrowing your focus would be a good first step.
Good luck,
Andy G.

PS. When I first took up blacksmithing, I couldn't imagine where to find an anvil- now I have a stack of em. They're out there.
 
elementfe said:
This is one of the many problems that can be easily solved by networking.
Believe it or not, there will be blacksmiths and blademakers closer to you than you think!
Join your local ABANA chapter, or just use google to find local blacksmithing organizations, then go to the meetups and you'll find anvils for sale by tailgaters, many of whom are happy to help a beginner get his equipment together.
This is an international forum, perhaps narrowing your focus would be a good first step.
Good luck,
Andy G.

PS. When I first took up blacksmithing, I couldn't imagine where to find an anvil- now I have a stack of em. They're out there.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I assume you assume I'm in at least a fairly populated area though. But I'm actually in rural Utah. I did know a knifemaker, but he didn't forge the blades he just did custom handles... The next big city is 270miles away...
 
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