Spent $200 on a cheap anvil off Craigslist and it was a nightmare

I thought I was saving money on a 100-pound anvil for my garage setup, but the face was so soft it dented after my first few hammer blows. Has anyone else had luck fixing a soft anvil face or should I just cut my losses?

2 comments

2 Comments

lewis.mila26d ago

Wait, isn't there a way to harden the face yourself with a torch and some oil? I used to think cheap anvils were a steal too, but after seeing one get chewed up that bad I totally changed my mind.

shah.shane26d ago

Yeah, you can technically harden the face with a torch and oil, but it's way trickier than it sounds. Getting the whole face an even heat without messing up the rest of the anvil is really tough for most people at home. You also risk making it too brittle or creating a soft spot that'll just dent even worse.