Re-surfacing anvils?

[tippit]

Has anyone re-surfaced and squared up an old anvil either yourself or through a machine shop?  Just trying to figure out if I'm going to buy a new anvil.  That dang Smokey Mt Blade Symposium has me fired up on some new toys      tippit

[kbaknife]

A new anvil is certainly a considerable expense. I would say a minimum weight is about 150-175. They're a thousand bucks almost anywhere you look, once you include shipping.
Here's one that I use for $860.00:
  http://www.oldworldanvils.com/anvils/two_horn_classic.html  

But, then again, you only need to buy one of these one time!
It's not an easy decision to make.
(you won't regret buying a new one!  

[Tim Fishell]

To bad you dont live closer to West Michigan Doc.  I have done one for a buddy before.  It takes some time but can be done fairly easy.  Those anvils are made of some pretty hard stuff and it takes lots and lots of light cuts with carbide.  When I did it I ended up taking .005-.010" off per pass with a 2" fly cutter.  I melted a few inserts on the cutter but got it done.

[Tim Fishell]

Karl and I must have been posting at the same time.  Now that I see what he said I am not sure which way would be more economical.  If I have to quote doing another one it would probably be in the 300-500 dollar range for the time it took and wear and tear on the tooling.  But could be considerably less if you find somebody with a mill in there garage.

[Doug Campbell]

Ah yes, Doc has the ideal situation for getting it done, a S-I-L with a machine shop    

I've welded up the corners and resurfaced with a right angle grinder on a couple of anvils. Not nearly as accurate or flat as machining but it worked in both cases. Can't remember what the rod was but think it was a mag rod that was supposed to work harden, you pounded the heck out of it after running your beads. Been out of the loop too long but any good welding supply outfit should be able to help you out and I bet Matt might know with out the help.

If you decide to buy a new one Doc just throw that old one in a bring it out with ya next time ya come     Man can't have too many anvils laying around  

[tippit]

Doug, Matt's going to take a look at it to see it I can get some nice square corners, other than that the anvil is fine.  The two of us are also thinking of building one of the tire power hammers.  I'll keep ya posted.  I just wasn't sure if I could get a nice square edge.  Thanks all...Doc

[Doug Campbell]

Dang it'd be handy to have a son-in-law with all those cool toys. All mine is good for is taking me huntin and fishin in Alaska  

Can't wait to see that tire power hammer!

I imagine you've got around a 1/2" of good steel on the working surface of that anvil Jeff. I've even worked the sides down a bit to get square corners but don't take much off there.

[d. ward]

Jeff,Doug is right about the welding rod and darned if I recall the number eather but the name is something like I'am gonna spell these wrong but here goes monal or incanal maybe something in there.You keep the surface hot while welding and then as Doug said pound heck out of it.Let it cool and resurface.The shop I worked in they would last over two years with daily use after welding and resurfacing.bd

[Wampus]

I had one repaired by one of the resident artists at the National Ornamental Metal Museum here in Memphis and he used a stick welder with some kind of special rods (can't remember the name either) and an angle grinder.  He put one nice square edge and the other a gradually increasing radius rounded edge.  It's still in great shape after about 5 years.  I think he charged about $80 for the job.