Anvil Heater

[Glenn]

I purchased an magnetic engine block heater for my truck. The idea came to me that it would work great to heat my anvil and tongs. I tried it that night and have enjoyed fingers that don't get too stiff and a comfortable warm feeling while I work. Wind Chapman

[HWooldridge]

It doesn't get cold here very often but when it does, I heat anvil and power hammer dies with 2x4 steel blocks that I put in the gas forge. I place 5 or 6 of them in the forge, then light up and let both heat up together. I then set the blocks between the hammer dies and let them kiss, plus put a couple on the table and near the hardy to heat the anvil. By the time I load the forge with whatever steel I am using and am ready to work, the blocks have shed most of their heat into the tools, so I just lay them on the floor.

I have a 10 inch scale engraved on one side of the anvil originating at the heel. I can easily lay a piece of steel against the side of the anvil and check a measurement. I made the scale by laying out and engraving with a cold chisel then stamping the numbers. The numbers are done normally and upside down so I can merely glance over the anvil and still see without walking around. Some people can convert easily in their mind but I still like to see "6" instead of "9"...

[ThomasPowers]

HW: I laid out a scale on my cutting saddle with a line in the middle and then laid out by 1/8ths from that center line---makes it a lot easier to notch billets evenly for folding...

Capt'n Atli uses an old electric iron to heat the anvil before use in cold weather.

Thomas

[Strine]

At what ambient temperature should heating the anvil be a consideration? Not that it's a worry at the moment... 43C (109F) the other day. I'm more worried about the anvil slumping into a molten mess all over the shed floor. Temps here might get to as low as 5 or 6C (40F) on average overnight and rise to 10C on cold days. Is that a worry?

[Glenn]

Strine, I think they start to worry when you have to buy the thermometers that go below 0*C. We button up our shirts about that temp. :wink:

But I think folks start to get concerned when the temps drop below the minus 17*C ( 0*F) and into the minus 40* below zero C range. And yes the "normal" thermomoters are marked to that temp and even a bit below - just in case it does get cold for a night or two. :shock:

[HWooldridge]

Strine,

We have weather similar to yours but I heat the anvil when my shop gets to 40 F or below. That does not happen very often (it is 72 F as I type this) but we occasionally get blue northers. I am most concerned with the anvil sucking heat out of the work rather than damaging the anvil. However, in northern climes where it really does get COLD, it's best to preheat and prevent shocking the tools.

[bruce wilcock]

Strine if you are trying to get us jealous, its working,,,,,

the way to warm the anvil is to make a set of cart horse shoes and leave them on the anvil whilst you go in for your breakfast ,

[frogvalley]

I keep a 4x6 piece of half inch plate and a couple of other odd shapes that I heat in the forge and then lay on the anvils when it gets below freezing. Mostly thats important for small work, 1/4 to 1/2 stock. Larger stock doesn't usually need it.

For my body and its assorted cold spots, I come over to the shop and start the gas forge or the torpedo heater to take the chill off while the fire gits goin. Then I come back to the office/house and have coffee.

[Strine]

You blokes work far too hard for me. Forty below?...that's the time to sit in front of the fire in the lounge room and mull over important things like how long before that little stick catches alight or the time to buy an airline ticket. A set of shoes before brekky? BEFORE BREKKY :shock: That's the time to walk round the traps with a coffee and smoke and generally ponder deeply, without too much excersion of course, on how the day might pan out.

[Glenn]

Strine, According to the weather Bruce is enjoying single digit C degrees for the next week or more. He would enjoy a warm anvil early on a frosty morning.

http://uk.weather.com/weather/local/UKXX0085 (current weather in UK)