New Anvil - Does anyone have any experience with this brand?

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I just purchased a new anvil.  I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this brand.Yes, it's Chinese but I was told that the bottom is cast iron and that the face is 3/4 - 1 inch hardened steel.  It weights 122 lbs (50 KG) and if the spark test in any indication then the face is indeed steel.  The horn is cast iron by the same test.  Where the horn meets the face it appears to have been welded.  I has a nice ring (based on a You-Tube video on what anvil rings should sound like).  I thought it was too good a deal to pass up since I was able to get it for under $2/lb.  See attached pictures.1. The new anvil2. The new anvil with chinese 70 lb cast iron (available at HF or Northern)3.  My custom made hold down (tight fit!).By the way, the stand is a solid piece of maple that weighs about 200 lbs. Attached Images
Reply:I sure don't see the line on the side between the cast and the steel. Usually you can. And you mean toughened steel not hardened steel. Hardened steel will chip. Anvil tops will work toughen. I think they usually have 1% moly in them. I hope it works for you.
Reply:well whats ur ? you already baught it ....theres a lot of brands out there in my opinion as long as its not a harbor freight one you will be just fine .what are you using it for ?  i bauhgt a 150 pound  used one for 300 it was a lot but its doing the job itheres no name on it  but its old so its prob a decent one i dont know...what do u use it for? i been tryin to forge knives...no luck though...i need a hotter forge
Reply:My 110 pound steel anvil.<-------<<<City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:I recommend using safety glasses whenever you beat the devil out of something on it.  Chinese stuff is notorious for chipping.  Just one man's opinion.
Reply:Hi...  I've been using 2 Harbor Freight Anvils for over 20 years; and periodically beat the living beejesus out of them.  I've only had to rework the surface on one of them 1 time in all these years.  I like your idea for the shoes.  What I did was to drill a 150# Mesquite Log and insert a 1/2" Threaded Rod into the center.  This matched the 1/2" inch hole in the bottom of my large anvil.  Now, I can rotate the Anvil versus having to move around it.  It serves my purposes; and is tougher than all get out.  For the price, it can't be beat unless you find a FREE one.  I made a small forge out of 2 Chevy Surburban Brake Drums.  It gets hot enough to hand-bend 1/2" rebar really, REALLY easily; but it's too small for lots of other jobs.  Nevertheless, it gets hot, and will melt 100 Beer/Soda cans as fast as you can throw them in.  Makes it easier to take them to the recycling center, and keeps the Honey Bees and flys away.  Nice Work !  Ed VALast edited by edv7028; 11-22-2008 at 09:55 AM.
Reply:Follow up.  First, I will use it as I used the 70# one I got from Northern - to bend or straighted just about anything - from farm tools to gate hinges .  I used the 70# anvil alot and never had a problem with it.  However the top is slightly convex and getting something really flat is a challenge.  It also doesn't have  Hardy or Pritchet holes and at only 70lbs tend to wobble and jump - even with the tight shoes I made to hold it down.  Second, I going to try to learn a little blacksmithing and maybe do a little wrought iron work.  I bought an old forge with a nice electric blower( thanks Craiglist). I refurbished it and lined it with firebrick.  I couldn't find any coal outside of Utah (I'm in Washington) until I saw another ad in Craigslist for 1 ton of coal - free to whoever hauled it ;-).  I loaded up the bed of the big dog (I mean Dodge) and now I have a ton of coal.  Not coke but it converts easily (low-sulfur bituminous coal).  I've play around with the forge now for a few months and while it's more work than I though it's also more fun!This heavier and harder anvil will be much better suited for this.  I've been looking for an anvil for a couple of years and this one seemed to be the best value.  The good used anvils I seen on Craigslist and Ebay - the Trenton, Hay-Buddens, and the like, all go for $4 - $5/lb or more.  New high quality anvils are even more expensive - both out off my price range for a hobby.I'll let you know how this anvil works out.
Reply:Edited out a duplicate mesasage - seems I don't type fast enough and when I try to post the system says I need to log in again.   When I log back in and post my message it already has been posted.  What's up with that???/Last edited by reefera4m; 11-22-2008 at 06:40 PM.
Reply:And what did the DW say about a ton of coal in the front yard ??  "Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I told her we could always burn it it the fireplace!  The I had to move it out to the shop - 1 80 lb bag at a time. ;-(
Reply:Hey FarmerSamm... did you get that website where I found Lincoln Aerisweld advertised ?  If I remember correctly, it was "Liberty Alloys.com" or something similar.  I've asked them for pricing and availability; but no response yet.  Nevertheless, it's advertised on their website.Regards, Ed VA
Reply:I have no experience with modern anvils; mine all came from old wood piles or abandoned mines long ago.My biggest has a bit of a saddle and the horn is slightly worn. Another has some chips near one side from  the previous owners misusing it, but I haven't gotten around to/needed to repair it.reefera4m: regarding the double post problem, you might try writing your messages in your own mail system, then copy and paste them into this site. I often get interrupted by phone calls or ? and find that tricks like that can be useful. BTW, do you ever check your PM here? Below your name at the top right of each page will be a note about "Private Messages".
Reply:My other anvils.  While driving my truck out in the boonies (miles from civilization), I happened upon about a dozen railroad rails lying by the side of the road.  Some were 20' long and others were bent.  I though someone must be dumping them as trash but didn't pick them up till a few weeks later. When I went back they were still there so I figured I must be correct.  I decided to salvage one of the smaller one - probably 7' in length.  It was all my son and I could lift into the truck.  These rails are probably from an old mine as they are smaller than modern train rails.  I took them to the Tech College I was attending for my hobby welding class and cut them into 12’ lengths with the shop horizontal band saw.  I gave the instructor and some of the other students all but these two.  We even tried to cut some with the oxy/acetylene torch but that turned out to be real difficult.  Even when we succeeded the results were UGLY .   They weigh about 25lbs each.Here’s the first Hardy I made for my new anvil.  Several years ago I found a 2 5/8 hitch ball that had a damaged threaded shank – the threads were too damaged to repair but I though I might find a use for it someday.  Lo and behold – I ground down the shank and filed the underside of the ball mount until a got a real snug, flush fit.  Should work great.By the way, in the background is my ‘heat sink’ for heat dissipation when welding.  It’s a piece of copper plate 1/8” thick I pick up at a salvage yard for a couple of bucks Attached Images
Reply:By the way,  the tops of these rail anvils are actually quite straight and even.  Looking at the pictures after I posted them made me realize the photos did not do them justice - blame the photographer!.  The lighting and brush strokes from the wire wheel I use to polish just makes then appear uneven.They make excellent anvils for there size if their ability to withstand serious pounding is any indication.  Plus they have a nice ring too!.
Reply:I bought a HF anvil that was solid cast steel made in russia 110 pounds.  I looked in blacksmith publications before I bought it and it was actually recommended for intermediate work.  A little horn shaping and it was ready for work.   It is all cast steel and not cast iron.  No problems, even after I left it sitting in the grown up grass and it found its way under a batwing rotary cutter.  A few dings, but no breakage.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT