That fancy anvil I bought from an antique shop was junk

Spent $300 on what I thought was a steal of a deal for a 150-pound anvil off a guy in Ohio who swore it was from the 1800s. Turned out the face was case-hardened garbage and the rebound was maybe 40% after I tried it out with a hammer. Anyone else get burned by a pretty-looking anvil that just chips and dents?

2 comments

2 Comments

derek_brown2820d ago

Honestly, you just described the exact same trap I fell into with a "vintage" anvil from a flea market. Grab a file and run it across the face first; if it bites in easy, that case hardening is already gone and you're looking at a dolly or a boat anchor. Best bet now is to either get it hardfaced by a welder or just use it for bending and light work until you find a solid Fisher or Peter Wright someone actually used for decades.

simon_sanchez5819d ago

Derek, that file test is a good rule of thumb for a lot of old tools, not just anvils. It's funny how we assume something old must be well-made, but time and abuse can ruin even the best steel.