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Had to pick between a used forge and a new anvil... picked wrong | Farriers - Vivisector

Had to pick between a used forge and a new anvil... picked wrong

I was saving up for months to upgrade my setup, and I had just enough cash for either a used gas forge I found on Craigslist or a brand new 150 pound anvil from the supply house. The forge was a screaming deal at $300 from a guy in Des Moines who was getting out of the trade, and I figured I could make do with my old beat up anvil a while longer. Well, I bought the forge, got it home, and the burner was clogged and the insulation was cracked in three places. Spent a weekend patching it up and it still doesn't hold heat right. Meanwhile, that anvil I passed on got snatched up the next day for $450 and now I'm kicking myself. Has anyone else gambled on used gear and regretted it, or am I the only one who can't catch a break?

3 comments

3 Comments

paige1665mo ago

and here's the thing about used forging gear, you never really know what you're getting until it's sitting in your shop. I've bought a couple used forges over the years and it's always a gamble, even when the seller seems honest. Those burner issues you're dealing with might be fixable with a new nozzle and some refractory cement, but if the insulation is cracked to hell it's probably never gonna hold heat right. For what it's worth, I'd check if that anvil buyer might flip it after a month or two, people change their minds about heavy things taking up floor space.

abby_cooper4mo ago

Is it possible you sandbagged yourself by looking at it like a permanent choice instead of a stepping stone? I mean, maybe that forge ends up being a good learning experience on burner setups that you can pass along later.

olivia_lopez984mo ago

Strong disagree, some gear is just not worth the hassle when you can start fresh for not much more.