Sweany Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 How high did you set your anvil?http://i.pbase.com/u24/tj53152/upload/15399078.Blacksmithatworkinoldtownsquare.JPG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Well I couldn't look at you link, was forbidden, but my anvil is set at knuckle height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Which one? My knife forging anvil is higher than my heavy work anvil by several inches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewed Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 My anvil is just above wrist hight. I find knuckle hight to be to low and it hurts my back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 I set my first one at knuckle height and my second one at wrist height. However I've discovered I've been using the one at knuckle height so long the new one isn't as comfortable. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecelticforge Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Mine is at knuckle height with my fists facing down and 8 inches from my belt. I was gonna say 30 some odd inches but that would have been WAY useless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gobae Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 It was originally set at knuckle height. However, since I have a dirt floor in my shop a divot has worn away where I typically stand and it's now almost wrist height. Basically, the goal with anvil height is to have it tall enough that you're not hurting your back and low enough that you're not wasting swing energy nor having the hammer head end at an odd/uncomfortable angle at the end of the swing arc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveh Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 I started out at knuckle height but I raised my floor around the anvil so that when I am standing at the anvil my hammer face is on it with my arm extended.I find it very comfortable and I know I am getting the full extension of my swing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hammer Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 thecelticforge.... you have odd inches? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 thecelticforge.... you have odd inches? Aren't half of them odd? Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 My anvil ended up at just above knuckle high with the log I am currently using. If I want it higher, I can kick some gravel out of the way and make myself an inch shorter. Making it lower however is not as easy at the moment. I can dig the log down as I set it for the day, but I can only go down an inch or so before I hit hard pack earth under the driveway. Standing on more than a inch or so of this 3/4 inch gravel is like standing on marbles or ball bearings. It seems comfortable at just above the knuckle for what little I have done, which is mostly key fobs in 3/8 square. A few weeks ago, before the log, the anvil sat on the ground and I sat on a wheel ramp (generally used for oil changes) since I was using a ground high brick pile forge. That was similar to squatting, which would be comfortable if I was more flexible. But I am not that flexible any more. My only problem was I had no power in my swing with the body position, but I was still only making a few key fobs. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philip in china Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I now have 5 anvils- although currently only 4 of them are in use. The one I use most is at wrist height but I have another one of similar size at knuckle height. As my posture improves- i.e. I stop bending over and use the hammer more wisely I am finding the knuckle height one is better. I also have another, a double bick, which is higher still but I tend to sue that only for fine work- so rarely. The big one is set very low and tends to get used almost exclusively for heavy striking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweany Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 The pic didn't hot link, here's an attachment The smith in the pic ,seems to have his anvil set below his knees. My chiropractor convinced me standing upright and hammering was more productive than leaning over, more back friendly also. I use just below belt buckle for most small work and hand width above knuckle height for heavier work. I find if I am over extending my elbow I need to move the anvil up. Sometimes I use a riser block in hardy hole on my heavy anvil. I've seen lotsa pics of old smiths, with scoliosis. any how the pic of the low anvil brought it to my attention again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjohn Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I usually mount my anvils at knuckle height. I always get a good laugh when friends come over to play in the fire. Most of my friends are average height and I'm a bit above average at 6'9". So what is comfortable for me, is at eye level for them. I actually took a chainsaw to one of the stumps and lowered it for them. All of the shop tables are cruising at 40" in height as well. So if you come over consider bringing a box to stand on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweany Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 6'9" so your anvil must be about 40" off the ground :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 The pic didn't hot link, here's an attachment The smith in the pic ,seems to have his anvil set below his knees. any how the pic of the low anvil brought it to my attention again. OW! That looks painfull! There's If I had to work one that far from my correct working height I'd either find some lumber to shim it up or find a chair and work sitting down. I hope the guy was just setting a rivet or something one time only and not using it regularly. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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