kbaknife Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Thought maybe this might give somebody an idea or two. Whenever someone undertakes the first few steps into knife forging, it seems like the first thing sought is an anvil. Big surprise! Not easy to find, and a new one is serious expensive! The first one I bought cost me $900.00. The things you will see here are basically scrap! Keep in mind that the importance of an anvil is NOT just something to beat steel on. The weight of the anvil is designed to RETURN the energy of the blow to the back side of the workpiece. With a light piece of steel as an anvil, the energy of the hammer blow just passes right on through the work piece and is consumed by the earth below. Here is a concept using a large piece of scrap steel and a piece of railroad track. When a lot of guys are told to use a piece of RR track, they get one and then use it WRONG! It should be stood on end so that the entire mass of the track is directly BELOW the hammer blow. This set-up I made here also works as a work station to forge the "Brut-de-Forge" knives, as it can be rolled around the shop and located right next to the forge, and then rolled out of the way until needed again. I have also used this for twisting Damascus and wrought iron. I use the vise to straighten my blades, just unlimited uses in the forge area. It can also be loaded up into a truck or onto a trailer and taken to hammer-ins!!! Just get to a recyle yard somewhere in your neigborhood and find a chunk of HEAVY steel to set on top of a piece of RR track. Find a buddy who does some welding. The base is 5/8" steel plate. I figure the whole thing weighs in at around 325 pounds. I got lucky on the placement of the wheels - it balances perfectly for tilting back and rolling around the shop. ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 That's not a bad set up at all. For myself I'd like a radiused section to forge on as well as the flat. And I'd try and come up with a way to mount the wheels so they wouldn't be a trip hazard. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbaknife Posted September 16, 2009 Author Share Posted September 16, 2009 They're not a trip hazard at all. I don't walk where they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 - Is there an ideal or minimum size for the surface area of the block for forging knives? - Do you find any advantages to using a block of steel for forging knives, versus an anvil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbaknife Posted September 16, 2009 Author Share Posted September 16, 2009 - Is there an ideal or minimum size for the surface area of the block for forging knives? - Do you find any advantages to using a block of steel for forging knives, versus an anvil? I do NOT use it for forging - I have two anvils. This is just to help a person out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 ....This set-up I made here also works as a work station to forge the "Brut-de-Forge" knives,....] Sorry, I read this and thought you were using it to forge knives. My error, and apologies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbaknife Posted September 16, 2009 Author Share Posted September 16, 2009 No appologies necessary. The term "forging" can mean more than one thing. When I "forge" a knife, I will use one of two "forges", my power hammer, my press, both of my anvils, and now I have an additional tool for other processes. In a pinch, this one tool could do them all. My first anvil cost me $900.00 almost 10 years ago. That can be a daunting hurdle for many new "forgers". This instrument can take some of the pain out of that process, and offer other alternatives as well to the already complete shop.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Actually that IS an anvil just not a London Pattern one! The traditional japanese sword makers use a large block of steel for their anvils and they seem to do OK. The London Pattern anvil is a "swiss army knife" type of anvil with lots of features allowing you to do lots of different things; but not optimizing for any one thing. A lot of beginning bladesmiths are now using simple anvils as they are *much* cheaper to find/make as such they are getting a lot closer to the anvils that swords were forged on back when they were a high class weapon! I've forged using a broken rail car coupler for an anvil before found free! and that $900 could have bought any of the 3 commercially made triphammer's I've owned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 They're not a trip hazard at all. I don't walk where they are. Just speaking for myself but I'd be stepping on the left caster every time I addressed the vise. It's no big thing to make one to suit specifics. It's a fine forging station. Well done. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 That's a decent looking setup. Easier to move so you can put the car in the garage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 I think when I find a post vice I will make something similar looking. That is a sweet looking setup. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Yeah, that's a cool setup. Often it's nice to be able to smack something around while you're right at the vise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Askdamice Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 (edited) I like that alot! Great for us small shop guys. I don't think there is a WRONG way to use RR track if it does what you need. I use mine laying flat. The section is about 15 inches long and I mainly use it to prebend and straighten blades. My "anvil" is a 4x4x24 piece of 1045 set on end and burried in a chicken feeder..... lol.... I know of atleast 3 master bladesmiths who use the same set up. I'm seriously considering making one of these stations, now. Thanks for posting. Rick Edited September 17, 2009 by Askdamice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
businessmoons Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Hey Rick, I love the forge set up that you've got there. Is the semi-circular metal at the back of the forge just a heat baffle to save the wall ? Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Askdamice Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Yes its a baffle. I can remove it when doing swords. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf's Den Armoury Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 That's a decent looking setup. Easier to move so you can put the car in the garage. You put a CAR in there???? Hell, if I had a garage, I would consider that to be instant workshop! LOL David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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