Anvil fabrication

[skunkriv]

Dr Dean, I think it's looking great! Have a friend in MN who wanted a double horn anvil and built it from scratch with plates. Turned out real nice too. Great job on fitting those rounds to get what you want.

[Dr Dean]

You know what they say about best laid plans, it never works out. Since my last post we've all been sick, strep throat has run through the family but we're all better now.
I realized today that it's a good thing that I rarely work with blueprints because my projects go through a evolution process. Yesterday the north shop at work was doing some house cleaning. I found a junk flywheel in my truck at the end of the day, hmmmm looks like a anvil stand. I also have a chunk of 4" square tube. What I'm thinking of doing is to weld the tube to the flywheel then weld one of the full round pieces of 1.25" to the top of the square tube. Then flip the base over, pack the square tube with sand and cap the bottom. I'm thinking of using one of the full round discs for my anvil base instead of making feet that look more traditional. Hopefully I can get some pics tomorrow or saturday to show what I'm thinking.

[evfreek]

Originally Posted by Daryl

After looking at the pictures on the link and thinking that you are manufacturing your own anvil rather than spend the money on one... have you considered the fact that you will definitely spend more money on rods, grinding wheels and electricity than what a decent used one is worth? I am including the fact that the base material is free! I am probrably just as 'thrifty' as the next guy, though we should still be pragmatic.

I think that the electricity issue in hardfacing or fabricating anvils is a myth. I fabricated one anvil, and added up the cost of electricity. It was neglibible (about one or two dollars, if I recall). I have a hard reference for this number if anyone is interested. It comes out of an old manufacturing technology book when labor was $12 per hour and electricity was 6 cents per kilowatt hour. I can provide it if there is interest.

You probably guessed it. Labor is the main cost, especially if you use cheap (expired or wet?) rod. It is difficult to measure how much people value their time, but the best estimates I have seen are based on bridge toll avoidance. As for me, I would rather weld than drive.