wisdom Posted July 14 Report Share Posted July 14 Well after loads of searching I have yet to find an anvil that's not too big near me.Most of the ones on the bay are either full size or too small.I need one that is movable so I have been looking at the vevor ones.The one I thought might be ok is cast iron so not the best there is a slightly smaller one weight wise that is cast steel.A much better option. Has anyone got one and are they OK?It's only for hobby use.And will in time be supported by a small forge.I will basically be making things out of old horseshoes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted July 14 Report Share Posted July 14 bit of a railway line ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen-H Posted July 14 Report Share Posted July 14 Fb marketplace or tool station used to sell them years ago in various sizes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisdom Posted July 14 Author Report Share Posted July 14 Nothing on marketplace near me and toolststion don't do them now.Free shipping from vevor though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted July 14 Report Share Posted July 14 20 minutes ago, ditchman said: bit of a railway line ? That's what my mini anvil is made from, with a 1/2" steel base welded to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob85 Posted July 15 Report Share Posted July 15 I made one a few years ago out of railway track and welded an offcut of digger bucket blade onto the top for a harder surface. As nice as it is you don't need a tool steel surface on an anvil what you need is mass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted July 15 Report Share Posted July 15 Hello, There is nothing like the old fashioned Anvils like we used when i started in Engineering but looking at prices asked is !!!!!, the Vevor , 88 llb Anvil being the heaviest might be worth a look fitted to a good heavy base and of traditional design, Farriers Anvils are by nature a different design than the Blacksmiths, there seems to be some for sale on Face book , Reclamation yards are worth a look, or you could ask at a Large Racing stable , or where you get your old horse shoes ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisdom Posted July 15 Author Report Share Posted July 15 16 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said: Hello, There is nothing like the old fashioned Anvils like we used when i started in Engineering but looking at prices asked is !!!!!, the Vevor , 88 llb Anvil being the heaviest might be worth a look fitted to a good heavy base and of traditional design, Farriers Anvils are by nature a different design than the Blacksmiths, there seems to be some for sale on Face book , Reclamation yards are worth a look, or you could ask at a Large Racing stable , or where you get your old horse shoes ?? Thanks I have exhausted all those.The farrier has an old London pattern one he carts around it's about 1/2 cwt 20 minutes ago, Rob85 said: I made one a few years ago out of railway track and welded an offcut of digger bucket blade onto the top for a harder surface. As nice as it is you don't need a tool steel surface on an anvil what you need is mass Thanks for that I thought it was better to have a hard surface. so a heavier cast iron one may do then.Its only for hobby use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted July 15 Report Share Posted July 15 (edited) 7 minutes ago, wisdom said: Thanks I have exhausted all those.The farrier has an old London pattern one he carts around it's about 1/2 cwt Thanks for that I thought it was better to have a hard surface. so a heavier cast iron one may do then.Its only for hobby use Hello, No problem, as it happens our Engineering shop was originally a Blacksmiths , let us know how you get on ? Edited July 15 by oldypigeonpopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen-H Posted July 15 Report Share Posted July 15 https://www.machinemart.co.uk/categories/?search=Anvil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adzyvilla Posted July 15 Report Share Posted July 15 Keep an eye out for local farm sales or collective sales, they often have one or two anvils. Not like the old days though when they went for scrap money, too many people want them so they make strong money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted July 15 Report Share Posted July 15 21 hours ago, ditchman said: bit of a railway line ? I dont have much use for an anvil but thats what ive got, 1 piece around 18" and a small piece about3-4" i dont tend to move the large piece around much. There's probably a few other lengths around at work hiding somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonty Posted July 15 Report Share Posted July 15 On 14/07/2024 at 19:57, wisdom said: Well after loads of searching I have yet to find an anvil that's not too big near me.Most of the ones on the bay are either full size or too small.I need one that is movable so I have been looking at the vevor ones.The one I thought might be ok is cast iron so not the best there is a slightly smaller one weight wise that is cast steel.A much better option. Has anyone got one and are they OK?It's only for hobby use.And will in time be supported by a small forge.I will basically be making things out of old horseshoes. I don’t have a vevor anvil but spent a lot of time umming and ahhing between their largest cast iron and steel ones - it seemed to me that the iron ones had a wider range but the steel ones (from review/opinion) are a better material to work with. I must stress that my decision making was based on absolutely no personal,experience, but I eventually decided that for a hobby anvil, either cast or steel would so me, and I was about to take a punt on the largest cast iron anvil when I got the opportunity to buy a bigger anvil from my wife’s farrier. I know I can’t give a review as such, but I did do a lot of tyre kicking before I was happy that I’d take a shot at the vevor cast iron option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisdom Posted July 16 Author Report Share Posted July 16 Thank you all for the input it really helps. I have food for thought.Like Jonty I have watched numerous YouTube videos.I have ruled out a secondhand one and the choice is now cast iron or steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tx4cabbie Posted August 14 Report Share Posted August 14 Buy an old forklift tine, cut at right angle, leaves you a piece that's dead flat weighing about 35kg, and a long tapering piece weighing similar, you can mount in a concrete bucket and use the end of, plenty of mass under there for moving metal. And cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted August 15 Report Share Posted August 15 5 hours ago, tx4cabbie said: Buy an old forklift tine, cut at right angle, leaves you a piece that's dead flat weighing about 35kg, and a long tapering piece weighing similar, you can mount in a concrete bucket and use the end of, plenty of mass under there for moving metal. And cheap. I like the sound of that as a plan, but there’s going to be more second hand anvils / bits of railway track floating about than forklift tines. I have been watching anvil prices - really good north of £1k, not bad north of £500 and something for home use / fixing your shoes under £500 but none of them are selling / shifting. If it were me I’d look local on Facey market place and start issuing monkey low offers and see who once dreamed of top money for something big and heavy (and now unused and in the way) and who has been got at by his wife to have a clear out. Swerve anything in a factory setting and look for garages, driveways and angry wives in the photos 😆 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted August 15 Report Share Posted August 15 Facey market place is great for ‘stuff’ like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted August 15 Report Share Posted August 15 Wow, not often you see a breeding pair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted August 15 Report Share Posted August 15 1 hour ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Wow, not often you see a breeding pair. It means the seller has at least one too many to get rid of. I love Facey market place. I have a fascination with old top end hifi - nowadays it’s all wireless and micro (eg Sonos, which we have) and because the wife won’t let me get anything old, bulky and spewing wires no matter how good it may sound. Old Hi Fi gear that used to cost as much as a new car now goes for pennies as everyone’s wives tell them ‘I’m not have that and all those wires in the house, can’t we get [insert latest micro wireless kit that streams Sonos]. Must be my age. I digress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted August 15 Report Share Posted August 15 Wisdom - there is a place in Preston - advertises on Facebook Marketplace - selling railway line - £65 + vat per metre. Might be worth asking them for a shorter piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisdom Posted August 15 Author Report Share Posted August 15 Thanks all for your advice and input I have bought a vevor cast steel one not cast iron. last week it weighs 66lb so I can move it. Cannot fault it at all I am not earning a living with it just hobbying.It certainly does what I want and for less than 90 quid delivered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted August 15 Report Share Posted August 15 Our local preserved steam railway sells old railway line for anvil use and will cut lengths to order I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted August 15 Report Share Posted August 15 Ive got 2 lengths of rail track from work 1 x 4 inch the other 18 inch, cost 6 blobs of sweat carrying them to the truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tx4cabbie Posted August 19 Report Share Posted August 19 Saw a pair of forklift tines in Horsham for £40 on Ebay. I paid £100 for a pair in 2020, was offered a 56kg anvil next day for pennies, sold a tine to a chap, still have one in two pieces should anyone near essex/east london need a piece of heavy flat steel to beat on. I've made tongs on the smaller piece, works well. No doubt an actual anvil works better, but a few quid vs a few hundred makes good sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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