Regret dropping $120 on a cheap anvil from a flea market

Picked up what looked like a solid anvil at a flea market outside Tulsa for 120 bucks. Turned out the face was case-hardened mild steel, not tool steel, and it started chipping after maybe 40 hours of work. I hammered a leaf spring on it and chunks flew off like popcorn. Now I gotta either weld it up and grind it down or just eat the loss. A real anvil from a proper dealer woulda set me back triple that, but at least it would last. Anyone else get burned by a bargain anvil that was too good to be true? How do you test a used anvil before you hand over cash?

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betty12615d ago

...and that reminds me of the time I bought a table saw at a garage sale for 60 bucks, guy swore it worked fine. Got it home, turned it on, and it sounded like a bag of rocks in a blender. Took the belt guard off and found a mouse nest and half a hot dog shoved in the pulley. Cleaned it out, replaced the belt, and it still wobbled like a drunk. Used it twice before the motor gave up. At least your anvil has a chance with a good weld. My saw went straight to the curb.