[SEL] Blacksmithing / Anvils

[Arnie Fero]

Hi Rick,

A couple of comments....

Personally, I think those Nimba anvils are butt-flucking UGLY.  They might
be ideal and practical for a working smith, but they would do nothing for
someone to whom esthetics mattered.

Over the years I lost many an anvil at auctions to some Yuppie couple who
wanted to paint it puce and put it next to the fireplace.  The purchase
dynamics are very different if you're buying an accent piece for home
decoration or if you're buying a working tool.  Don't forget the Yuppie
market when you do your sales projections.

Finally, I think if you could sell a nice traditional style 260 pound
anvil with a good ring for $500 you'd sell a bunch!!

See ya,  Arnie

On Wed, 3 May 2006, Rick Rowlands wrote:

> I did some research and there is a fellow in the US making steel anvils,
> however I think his prices are a bit on the high side.  How many hobbyist
> blacksmiths can afford to spend $1,450 on a 260 pound anvil, even if it is a
> beautiful piece?
>
> http://www.anvils.nimbaforge.com/
>
> According to his website he has them poured out of 8640 steel and heat
> treated to rockwell 50.   I've made 8640 before and a local heat treater
> will have no problem doing the correct treatment.  We could probably sell a
> comparable anvil at a profit for around $500.  However the anvil would have
> the as cast finish except for the face which I could plane on our 1880s
> Putnam planer or 20" G&E shaper.
>
> I think Curt is interested in making the pattern for this one. I can't pour
> these with my current furnace however I'm agressively looking for a 300
> pound furnace which would be able to handle this size anvil.