Looking for anvil/steel plate

[jdm0515]

I'm looking for an anvil or piece of steel plate, mostly for setting rivets on. Harder to find for a reasonable price than I thought it would be. Anyone have anything they would be willing to part with? Or know of a good source where I can find one?

[Matt S]

Wander over to your nearest fabrication/welding/machine shop. Take a pack of whatever beer is popular in your area.

[480volt]

The price of real anvils has skyrocketed over the last few years, driven ,I think, by demand from hobby blacksmiths such as myself. By real I mean one forge welded out of wrought iron with a tool steel plate forge welded to the top, from a maker like Peter Wright or Hay Budden. For setting rivets, a cast iron ASO (anvil shaped object) from the third world country of your choice would probably do just fine, or as suggested, a piece of scrap plate from a fabricator. Pieces of railroad track are also frequently used as improvised anvils.

[bruce johnson]

I'm with Matt S above. First try i went in the front door of the office, talked to a manager. I just needed plates to stick over dies to use a shop press as an improvised clicker. He said he's have to run it by the engineer to see what specs I'd need. Yeah right, that'll happen. Under the guise of "just checking back" the next day, a dozen doughnuts to the receptionist got me pointed to the shop crew in the flat stock shed. Told them what i wanted. Javier figured 1" cold rolled stock would be plenty (he was not the engineer). He said he'd had some end cuts by 4:30 and to stop back. Twelve pack o' Bud Light = Javier and Armando loading the pieces cut to sizes I wanted plus a few more, sans invoice.  

[ChasCS]

We had previously thought, a full sized anvil would be neccesary, but recently found that the Tandy anvil, was perfect for my uses.

I managed to pick mine up, after seeing it, in one of the mail out monthly sale catalogs. Saving me several dollars for other stuff.

https://www.tandyleather.ca/en/product/2-lb-mini-anvil

 

Chas

 

 

[Squilchuck]

I have a small anvil from Harbor Freight, I think.  I mainly use a metal plate bought at Lowes hardware. --John 

[JerseyFirefighter]

1 hour ago, Squilchuck said:

I have a small anvil from Harbor Freight, I think.  I mainly use a metal plate bought at Lowes hardware. --John 

The blue one? Old faithful for me right there.  

[Brianm77]

I wanted a couple pieces of steel for the weight to clamp leather together while the glue dried.  I went to a local fab shop they had a entire pallet of pieces about 4”x6”x1 3/4” or so laser cut. They did not work for their project.   They are about 40lbs each.   I bought 4 of them for $20 I am thinking about going back for a few more.  

[OLDNSLOW]

Hobby lobby, of some other art like supply place that sells art, jewelry making stuff like hobby lobby will have the small anvil that your looking for.  But none of that is really needed if you have a Lowes or Home depot they will have something, walk in look around and let your creative juices flow and think about what you could come up in place.  I have had the railroad tie a mini anvil bought and sold more tools than a fool, take your time don't rush it.

[Union Level Leather]

Harbor freight has a 55 lb anvil for 65.00 and a 15 lb anvil for 18.00.

wait for the 25% off coupon, problem solved.

ive been using the 55 for years.