uma685•8d ago

Can we talk about that time my anvil decided to crack mid-project?

I was out in my shed last Wednesday working on a railroad spike knife for a client. About 3 heats in I heard this sharp ping and saw a hairline crack running right down the face of my 150lb Fisher anvil. I had to finish the piece using a chunk of railroad track as a makeshift anvil, which was a total pain. Ended up spending $200 on a beat up old anvil from a guy on Craigslist that same weekend. Has anyone else had an anvil fail on them out of nowhere?

2 comments

2 Comments

oscarb778d ago

Honestly, that Fisher anvil must have been pretty old or had a hidden flaw because those are usually tough as nails. Tbh, the crack might have started from a previous weld repair or a cold shut during casting that finally let go. Ngl, paying $200 for a beat up anvil sounds rough, but if it has a good rebound and a clean face, you probably came out alright.

lilyg838d ago

Oh man, that reminds me of something that happened to my buddy Dave last year. He found an old Fisher at an estate sale for $150, thought he scored big time. Brought it home, set it up in his shed, and on the THIRD swing with a hammer, a chunk of the face just flew off. Turned out there was a hairline crack hidden under some paint and rust, totally invisible until it let go. He was SO mad, said he should have known better than to trust a cheap anvil with a fresh coat of paint on it. Now he just uses it as a heavy doorstop in his garage.