Anvil like objects.

[Quenchcrack]

I bought two 100# blocks of 4130 when I worked at the steel mill. They were about 4x6x12". I sold one to a beginning swordsmith for $35. I use the other one on a shelf under my 170# anvil that I mounted on a 2x6 stand. Putting 100# just a few inches off the floor lowers the center of gravity and keeps the anvil from jumping around.

[ChrisB]

You could send one out for heat treating and hardening. Build a stand and have them stacked and use it like an anvil. Problem is that you'll probably spend as much on getting the 120# object to the heat treating facility and having it done as buying a 100lb-ish NC or JHM. Then just use those drops under the anvil as part of the stand.

[rcs7]

Thanks for the heads up on welding them together. I hadn't really thought about hard they would be to do and I'm not what you call good at it either.

I think using one for a swage block of sorts sounds like a good idea, I also like the idea of using one on the floor for upsetting as well.

I really appreciate all the input.

Russell

[ThomasPowers]

Well unless you know it's a steel that can be hardened you generally have to assume that they won't harden so trying to do so would be throwing money down the drain.

However that steel will still be much harder than red hot steel and as it stands will be a better anvil than an HF cast iron ASO

There is a fellow in SOFA that demo's on a big round chunk of shafting. His anvil stump has been carved to hild the chunk either flat or turned on edge so he can use it for regular smithing or for drawing out.

[Bentiron1946]

They sure are a lot better then the rocks that early Iron Age smiths used as anvils.

[Frosty]

Oh I don't know, they had some pretty nice rocks. I've seen pictures.

Frosty

[rcs7]

I have a different question for you guys. If I were to attemp to create various shapes without the help of say a milling machine how would you go about it?

I have a 4" grinder any other suggestions?

Russell

[ThomasPowers]

Explosive forming! Casting! Forging! Filing! A mixture of all of them!

Now can you help me: I need to do something but I won't tell you enough details to let you make any sensible suggestions. How should I go about it? BTW I have a 9" grinder.

[Frosty]

I can help you Thomas! You can make grindings 2.25 x as fast as a with 4" grinder!

Seriously, that's WAY too broad a question to answer in a meaningful way.

Father was a metal spinner and I can go into quite a bit of detail on the process but doubt it's what you're looking for. I also know a number of guys who work on and build bridges but suspect the same holds true for their expertise.

Tell us what you have in mind and we'll be more than happy to make up something plausible.

[rcs7]

Sorry about that.

In an earlier reply someone mentioned making a swage block out of one the drops. Not having machining equipment, I was thinking of my grinder to creat shapes in it and was looking for some alternate method or maybe I'm just crazy and should leave well enough alone.