Appreciation post: That old anvil I found at a farm auction in Ohio

I grabbed a 150lb Fisher anvil for $80 at a farm auction outside Columbus last spring. Took me 3 months of wire brushing and oiling to get the rust off, but now it rings like a bell and barely dents my hammer strikes. The difference between that and my old cast iron anvil is night and day, like switching from a sledge to a feather. Anyone else find a hidden gem at a random auction that changed your setup?

3 comments

3 Comments

murray.drew25d ago

Picked up a beat up 100lb Peter Wright at a estate sale for 40 bucks a few years back. Best tool money I ever spent, totally changed how I work metal.

theagibson24d ago

I read somewhere that Fisher anvils were known for that "ring" because of how they were heat treated. Your story totally backs that up. 80 bucks is a steal for that kind of upgrade.

jasonf1724d ago

Man, I gotta admit I used to think all anvils were basically the same. I figured as long as it was heavy and had a flat face, it'd get the job done. But then I swapped out my old HF special for a beat up Arm & Hammer I found at a garage sale, and holy cow what a difference. The rebound alone made me feel like I was wasting half my energy before. Now I totally get why people get picky about brands and condition.