Bob JS Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 (edited) I tried a search for this but with so many results for anvil table I hope you will forgive me if it has already been asked and answered, but: I have seen an anvil for sale with no table between the face and the horn/bick. So far I understand that the original idea for the table was to have somewhere on which to use a chisel without damaging the face - but it seems that using a soft plate on the face is is now a more popular practice. Are there any other uses for the table? Am I going to regret spending my pennies on one that does not have one? Thanks. Bob Edited March 30, 2009 by Bob JS Inability to construct sentences! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quenchcrack Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Bob, I own two anvils: a 170# Old World German Pattern with no cutting table and a 100# TFS in a traditional London Pattern with the cutting table. I ALWAYS use a cutting saddle. It is much easier to use a hold down to anchor the hot iron onto the face of the anvil and cut onto the cutting saddle. Both my anvils are free from nasty hot chisel wounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divermike Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 If the price is right, go for it, I do use my table, but it is not very often, and I could easily work without one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I use the step between the table and the hard plate, however if you don't have it, it would be easy enogh to make a hardy tool to give the same effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philip in china Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 I am a combination of Quenchcrack and arftist. I have a very traditional London pattern anvil with a step. I use that when I want to put a shoulder on something and it is, undeniably, useful for that. My other anvil is a two horn one which is ultra modern. That has no step. If I am using that one I don't miss the step. It is easy to work around not having one. If the anvil is a good buy then get it by all means. If you want a step just weld a hardie shank onto a piece of very moderately plate and use that. I never cut on the cutting shelf. I have a cutting plate to do that on. If I am likely to be doing a lot I move the big ASO close to my anvil and cut on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt87 Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 I think the reason for the horn/face step is that the face was traditionally a piece of steel welded onto one or more soft iron pieces making up the body, horn(s) etc. It being a convenient place for cutting is another matter entirely. It can also be used in forging upsets, bending and straightening pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 I never use the step for chiseling. Some day when I hit the lottery, I would like a massive anvil with no step, because then I can use its whole length. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob JS Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 Thanks for the advice. Sounds like having no table is not a big deal, that its main advantages would be providing a variety of shapes and edges - which could also be found on junk steel, or made as hardy tools. Question for Philip: How is the step particularly usefull for making shoulders - in comparison to all the other edges on the anvil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob JS Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 Btw the anvil is maybe 30'' long - didnt think to measure. We guessed around 2 1/2cwt (only because it was a bit smaller than the one we guessed to be 3cwt ) Definitly not a cast body, with what looked like a small ledge along the front and back of the feet, and two visible handling holes - Peter wright? The make doesn't really bother me, but It would make it easier for me to google and compare and find out a bit more about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arbalist Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 I was shown how to hold round stock (where the table meets the face) for punching/marking etc. so have found the London pattern with table quite a useful shape. I'm sure you'll soon get used to whatever you get though and find your own way of doing things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob JS Posted April 2, 2009 Author Share Posted April 2, 2009 is is at all common for an anvil not to have the table/shelf/step? - on an otherwise typical london pattern Im starting to wonder whether I just missed it. Wont go into details here but I didnt get a good look at the anvil but more of a grope as is was burried under things - I didnt feel the table but my hand might have just slid over it if it had worn edges. I wasnt there to view the anvil, but might go back soon for a better look. Just wondering because I cant find a pic of a similar anvil with not table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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