Anvil prices :-/

[justdan]

Iv taken up a bit if blacksmithing over the past 12 months , got my self a nice wee single burner forge ... Iv made a few knifes etc been doing a lot of signs for folk so after farting round on a small 10k anvil I thought its Time to get myself a big guy thinking I can maybe progress and do some other things .......,
£200+ ...... I almost fell of my chair ..... Thinking of visiting a few farms local to see if there are any lay in a barn needing a home , I had £100ish in mind but £200 is beyond my funds .... I'll try get a some picture up of the thinking iv made later

[RatCav]

Steel prices are ridiculous it seems.

[Alfie]

Big anvils have always been £250 +.Farm auctions are your best bet Ebay some times or direct from a forge if you can find anyone making them in th UK. Also they are vey expensive to post.

[jmc]

You could try contacting blacksmiths in your area. There is an association called British Artist Blacksmiths Association very friendly and helpful members.
Vaughans in Birmingham area sell new anvils.
On youtube there are some films of Americans making their own anvils from flamecut mild steel profiles with tool steel tops welded on very impressive.
Kohlswa in Sweden used to make anvils but they have stopped doing them I asked about one earlier this year and the price was £1500...gulp.

[Alfie]

Vaughns don't make anvils anymore. They come from China. Next time I drive past Ill stick my head in and see what's lying around it in there new yard .I might be able to get you a deal.

[justdan]

Went and a look at 1 yesterday , the guy wanted £140 for but by Christ the face was mangled ..... There wasn't a decent working surface left in it ..... I left it were it was ........ Hoping Santa ( the wife and inlaws. ) will bring me something nice and extremely heavy for Christmas lol
Cheers Alfie

[jmc]

There was a nice double bick one on ebay which I watched but missed the end of the auction. It went for £180
and was in Cornwall so a bit of a way to fetch or by carrier.
I don't know where you are in Scotland but there is a company of blacksmiths in Ratho Byres near Edinburgh they may be able to help.
My first boss bought a shaper just to re cut several anvils that he had and was reselling it again. He may have a spare but he's in Guildford.
It's a bit of a job to get a bad anvil face good I would really try to hang out and pay the extra to get a nice one.

[justdan]

I'll have a look into that cheers jmc ...
This thing had a back in it like a old horse , it was only good for a garden centre piece to be Honest ..., iv been flogging a few bits on eBay so saving the cash to buy a good