I have been contemplating getting started making blades as a hobby for about 2 years now. So I’ve been looking for an affordable anvil to get started with. So far I think I’ve watched 5 different videos on the vevor line of anvils, a couple of which actually did test the rockwell hardness of the face of these anvils. Both tests showed the hardness of the anvil met or exceeded the claimed hardness. Adding this video to the list, I have now watched 6 reviews of this anvil line and all have pretty much come to the same conclusion. It’s a good enough anvil to get started with and should last for as long as it takes a person to step up to a real anvil when they are ready for it. Thank you for an honest and educated opinion of this anvil, you have helped me make my mind up immensely.
Unrelated to the video but… I was today years old when I learned that Walter is also an author! Been watching stuff for at least 7 or 8 years and I never knew.
I have the 132 pound version of this anvil and I'm very happy with it. The ringing can be moderated with a good size magnet on the underside of the square horn. The table is surface ground, which makes a very flat surface, but imparts a 'grain' or 'texture' that, when hit, makes the surface look dented because the pattern is disrupted, but it doesn't really dent. Polishing a little will clean that up if that's a concern. Yeah, the hardy hole is, uhmm, well, Im not sure what they were thinking there, but I've made plenty of tools to fit and it's fine. Overall, I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
Going back and forth on this one. Picked up a Doyle two months ago, had issues and got an exchange with no issues. That said am favoring the heavier 110 pound one so will be returning the Doyle next week and getting this one. Walter, you made my mind up, thank you.
I found years ago that if you can find an iron or steel block that weighs 50 or more lbs and securely fasten the anvil down with the block under it, the anvil will act like an anvil 50 lbs heavier. I have an 80 and a 100 lb anvil secured this way and have had them for years for students and they work well. I was fortunate to have some heavy blocks of 4120 that I cut on a band saw to use. You will have to reach out to a machine shop or a business that uses heavy blocks of metal.
Not used the Vevor anvil but I have used some other products they make like a vacuum chanber for curing timbers, a bandsaw and a sausage maker. Their products are hit and miss, the vacuum pump setup is great, the bandsaw took me about 6-7 hours or modification and repair to get to a functional state and the sausage maker was a complete flop with the gearbox which sits above the meat shedding metal shards into food before falling apart. That being said, when I contacted them about warranty several months after purchase they were great to deal with, replying very quickly and having no arguments about returning items that don't function correctly.
I bought the 132 lb black anvil several months ago. For me, that’s a good size. It’s bigger than the usual anvil with a filled in base. This base allows more steel for the anvil itself, meaning the useful portion of the anvil is as large as a heavier anvil. That doesn’t seem to detract from the way the anvil works. I recommend it.
I’d ordered this model: got cancelled due to inventory error. Interesting that the photography of this suggests the horn and pritchel hole being almost in line with the face. Where the reality shows it’s very similar in shape to the blue! I ended up ordering the 30kg/66lb one at au$143 delivered… which is very good value!
Thank you for reviewing this as I haven’t purchased an anvil yet. As a general question, my impression is that the anvil as well as the gas forge were a little lower than I would have thought they would be. Is there a good reason for this? Just looking at your posture it would appear you were leaning over more than necessary?
Vevor sells two versions of the 132lbs ers, one is blue the other is black, the blue claims HRC 50, and is 259.00 the other is black with a claimed HRC 55, valued at 252.00 which HRC should I get. .? Can anyone help me with this,? Thanks 🙏
Walther, don't be so amazingly helpfull all the time. Sooner or later anyone will be able to buy a smithy and make katanas. Imagine that. Just kidding, I love your stuff you truly are masterfully cool
you waited long enough that there is a better deal now. Harbor Freight has an improved version on their cheap blue Russian anvils. They are red and labeled Doyle. They made the pritchel hole in a place you can actually use it too
Russian? Where did you hear that? The HF anvil seems to have its own problems according to a number of reviews. While these seem to have perfect faces and horns, the HF Doyle model has lots of casting holes, some of them large, large enough to have been welded for fill. That worries me because what is the weld material? Most is pretty soft. Are they using hard facing? If so, are they welding before or after heat treat? Yeah, it’s nice the Prichel hole is in a good spot, but it doesn’t make up for the effects that many, if not most of them have. It’s also just available in a 66 lb size, at least for now.
I have been contemplating getting started making blades as a hobby for about 2 years now. So I’ve been looking for an affordable anvil to get started with.
So far I think I’ve watched 5 different videos on the vevor line of anvils, a couple of which actually did test the rockwell hardness of the face of these anvils. Both tests showed the hardness of the anvil met or exceeded the claimed hardness. Adding this video to the list, I have now watched 6 reviews of this anvil line and all have pretty much come to the same conclusion. It’s a good enough anvil to get started with and should last for as long as it takes a person to step up to a real anvil when they are ready for it.
Thank you for an honest and educated opinion of this anvil, you have helped me make my mind up immensely.
That pritchel hole location sucks, why is it there?
Unrelated to the video but… I was today years old when I learned that Walter is also an author! Been watching stuff for at least 7 or 8 years and I never knew.
I have the 132 pound version of this anvil and I'm very happy with it. The ringing can be moderated with a good size magnet on the underside of the square horn.
The table is surface ground, which makes a very flat surface, but imparts a 'grain' or 'texture' that, when hit, makes the surface look dented because the pattern is disrupted, but it doesn't really dent. Polishing a little will clean that up if that's a concern.
Yeah, the hardy hole is, uhmm, well, Im not sure what they were thinking there, but I've made plenty of tools to fit and it's fine.
Overall, I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
Great review. Thank you sir
Going back and forth on this one. Picked up a Doyle two months ago, had issues and got an exchange with no issues. That said am favoring the heavier 110 pound one so will be returning the Doyle next week and getting this one. Walter, you made my mind up, thank you.
@8:22 Dang, this guy is really strong, lifted that 110lb anvil like it was a stool!
I found years ago that if you can find an iron or steel block that weighs 50 or more lbs and securely fasten the anvil down with the block under it, the anvil will act like an anvil 50 lbs heavier. I have an 80 and a 100 lb anvil secured this way and have had them for years for students and they work well. I was fortunate to have some heavy blocks of 4120 that I cut on a band saw to use. You will have to reach out to a machine shop or a business that uses heavy blocks of metal.
Thanks! I have the 132 pounder and love it!
Great find, it's going to let a lot of people get their smithing on.
3 bucs an hour hay that's a nice bonus!
I have got 3 nice anvils from Swedish Soderfors. 2 of them about 100 years old but not used.
Good info I went with an atlas 60 some pounder
I got what Vevor calls a 100 pound anvil 2 days ago. Hit with with a 2.5 lb from Home depot. Dented. 1/6 inch.
Enough said.
Not used the Vevor anvil but I have used some other products they make like a vacuum chanber for curing timbers, a bandsaw and a sausage maker. Their products are hit and miss, the vacuum pump setup is great, the bandsaw took me about 6-7 hours or modification and repair to get to a functional state and the sausage maker was a complete flop with the gearbox which sits above the meat shedding metal shards into food before falling apart. That being said, when I contacted them about warranty several months after purchase they were great to deal with, replying very quickly and having no arguments about returning items that don't function correctly.
I bought the 132 lb black anvil several months ago. For me, that’s a good size. It’s bigger than the usual anvil with a filled in base. This base allows more steel for the anvil itself, meaning the useful portion of the anvil is as large as a heavier anvil. That doesn’t seem to detract from the way the anvil works. I recommend it.
I have the same one, and I'm very happy with it. Had it for a little over a year.
Thanks for the info
This looks much better than my old Harbor Freight anvil! I might have to look into getting one of these.
I’d ordered this model: got cancelled due to inventory error. Interesting that the photography of this suggests the horn and pritchel hole being almost in line with the face. Where the reality shows it’s very similar in shape to the blue!
I ended up ordering the 30kg/66lb one at au$143 delivered… which is very good value!
Thank you for reviewing this as I haven’t purchased an anvil yet. As a general question, my impression is that the anvil as well as the gas forge were a little lower than I would have thought they would be. Is there a good reason for this? Just looking at your posture it would appear you were leaning over more than necessary?
Vevor sells two versions of the 132lbs ers, one is blue the other is black, the blue claims HRC 50, and is 259.00 the other is black with a claimed HRC 55, valued at 252.00 which HRC should I get. .? Can anyone help me with this,? Thanks 🙏
Looks like my 60 kilo anvil. But yes, it's cheap and does the job. Cost me 290$ with vat and cargo charges
Walther, don't be so amazingly helpfull all the time. Sooner or later anyone will be able to buy a smithy and make katanas. Imagine that.
Just kidding, I love your stuff you truly are masterfully cool
Walther?????????
you waited long enough that there is a better deal now. Harbor Freight has an improved version on their cheap blue Russian anvils. They are red and labeled Doyle. They made the pritchel hole in a place you can actually use it too
Russian? Where did you hear that? The HF anvil seems to have its own problems according to a number of reviews. While these seem to have perfect faces and horns, the HF Doyle model has lots of casting holes, some of them large, large enough to have been welded for fill. That worries me because what is the weld material? Most is pretty soft. Are they using hard facing? If so, are they welding before or after heat treat? Yeah, it’s nice the Prichel hole is in a good spot, but it doesn’t make up for the effects that many, if not most of them have. It’s also just available in a 66 lb size, at least for now.