Anvil Advice

[bdGreen]

I am going to kiss my steel-toed boots in the morning. This post makes me cringe just thinking about it.

After posting my anvil picture I was discussing this thread with my sister.
She told me that when she was about 7 years old that she stood in the basement by my dad's work bench and unscrewed is bench vice.

Yep, all the way out,,, and down,,, on the toe.

Gotta hurt.

Hurts just thinking about it.

bdGreen

 

[crazyphil]

I have a short piece of railroad track that makes a good little anvil for
smaller jobs. If I remember my railroading correctly a 3' piece of mainline
rail weighs 133#

 

[Rustyt1953]

If you want one with a true ring then get the Giuseppe Verdi model.

 

[Kurusu]

If you want one with a true ring then get the Giuseppe Verdi model.

Got to love this version.

[ame="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-8aHsJdMEMY"]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-8aHsJdMEMY[/ame]

Edit. So, what's the best anvil for bear?

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

I was able to pick this one up a couple of months back.

The previous owner did the base mods to it. It was well used.

I don't have a clue who the manufacturer was.

enjoy,

bdGreen

My vote is a Vulcan.

 

[merl67]

Thought I might give an update. I have added a two burner propane forge, a $40 post vice that just needed a new spring, and a pivot bolt, and six different tongs built from kits. Here are a few things I have since made. This is lots more fun than even I had had realized it would be. I know the railroad spike knives are more of a novelty I still enjoy making them.

 

[Onomea]

Nice work, Randy. Looks like fun!

 

[Fishslayer]

Does he then go down to Georgia for a fiddle contest!

Nope... he goes on a date with some hussy named 2020...

 

[Fishslayer]

Thought I might give an update. I have added a two burner propane forge, a $40 post vice that just needed a new spring, and a pivot bolt, and six different tongs built from kits. Here are a few things I have since made. This is lots more fun than even I had had realized it would be. I know the railroad spike knives are more of a novelty I still enjoy making them.

Not sure which would scare me more... some berserker coming at me with a 1911 or that wicked looking axe!

 

[raisedin99]

Personally, I wouldn't pay more than $1 per pound for a well used anvil.

Some people are "tight" some people own anvils...

terry

 

[7shooter]

Looks like the same one that came from the Acme Company and caused so many troubles for Wile E. Coyote.

Wasn't it Herman Anvil who wrote Moby Dick ?

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I have found it’s way more useful to know somebody who owns an Anvil than for me to own an Anvil.
Every 5 or 10 years when I need to use one, I go over to their house and use their’s.

 

[motom]

The only thing I know about anvils is when I was 15 or so my father said I could probably tear the horn off one in 30 minutes or less.

 

[gjgalligan]

Interesting. An anvil collector! Is there an anvil collectors forum? I am looking for a small anvil for my work to straighten knife tips and such.

Kevin

I have some vices that have a small anvil built right in.

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

Thought I might give an update. I have added a two burner propane forge, a $40 post vice that just needed a new spring, and a pivot bolt, and six different tongs built from kits. Here are a few things I have since made. This is lots more fun than even I had had realized it would be. I know the railroad spike knives are more of a novelty I still enjoy making them.

Good work! Before you know it you will be expanding your talents. Keep up the good work and remember every blacksmith
will make some mistakes, these can be learning experiences also.

 

[Jaco1234]

Why is it that people wanting to blacksmith look for cheap anvils.
The anvil arguably affects the forging process more than any of the other blacksmith tools.
Go ahead and get a new peddinghouse. It will always be worth what you paid and most likely like a nice S&W revolver appreciate in value.

 

[Jaco1234]

By the way Smokey Ward said the difference between a good blacksmith and a sorry one is, a good one can fix his screw-ups.

 

[Heinz]

Nice work on the railroad spikes. You have cleaned up the anvil well. If you want to make some serious knives you should srat with some 1084 carbon steel, The New Jersey Steel Baron is an excellent source for knife steel
New Jersey Steel Baron - Quality Steel For Quality Blades -

 

[merl67]

My first Damascus blade not perfect, and small, but I am kinda proud how it turned out. I used 1095, and 15n20 started out with 3 pieces of each measuring 1 1/2" x 4". I forged cut into 3 pieces and restacked 3 times cleaning in between the last time I folded in half this worked out to approximately 100 layers. Things I learned folding is better than cutting, flux, flux, and flux. The next time I will start at least with 2 times the steel I think I need. I etched in muriatic acid several hours. I will be putting my handles on it hopefully tomorrow. Pictures aren't great, but you get the idea.

 

[BigBill]

I have giant I beams that are 36” tall 75 lbs per foot 10’ long x2. They would make anvils?