My anvil was out during some mist and it rusted all across the work surface. It's quite thin, but I just wanted to ask what the best way to get rid of it is, I don't want to damage my anvil or anything.
Thanks.

Get some hot metal and a hammer and use the anvil. It will be shiney in minutes.

Cheers

I keep a coffee can full of oily sand in my shop-high humidity in Florida-and for surface rust I just put on a pair of heavy leather gloves and rub the anvil or whatever tools I have with a handful of the oily sand then just wipe it off. Around here I have to do that about once a week. I also keep a slightly oiled rag drapped over my anvil and bench vise.

I have been told many times that hammer work will remove the rust. A little elbow grease with scotch brite pads work too.

Scale is an abrasive not only will it remove rust, with years of working it will polish a pitted face out!

Oh my, what a worry it is working the rust off the face of an anvil! You just don't know how good you got it. Guess you'll just have to light the forge this weekend and polish it all off. I so envy you that task. Some guys get all the dirty jobs but hey, somebody's got to do it, right, so I think your elected by unanimous vote.

Your local hardware store is very likely to carry a selection of 3M pads in the paint section.

10 hours of hammering hot metal will make make you both feel better (grin)

Put some ATF (automatic transmission fluid) in a spray bottle and lightly spray the anvil face at the end of the day. It protects and does not interfere with forging the following day or week.

Quickist way is a purple scotch brite pad with a helthy squirt of your favorite WD PB or Kroil. Less than a
minute to clean a 175 lb trenton. And every bit of the face is clean.
Ken

But why is everyone worried about a bit of surface rust???

I'd just heard that it was possible to damage your anvil while removing rust, so I wanted to make sure before I did anything. Thanks for all the info.

my pops old cenral forge anvil i have has been out side the last 30 years and has no pitting just fine surface rust and as soon as i put some hot iron on it and hammer the rust is gone maybe it made out some good steel i don't really know what it is but it holds up really well over the years i would just leave it alone and use it when you need it if you do cover it make sure it can breath as not keep condansation in

WD-40 works fairly well but only lasts until a heavy rain. What I often use on my outside anvil is a thick lubricant/grease. Harbor freight makes a synthetic grease that's about 4.49 a tube. Kinda pricy but it's excellent grease. It comes in a grey tube. If you heavily coat your anvil when not in use it shouldn't rust. I also bag my anvil with a large plastic trash garbage bag. That and the lube almost stop all rust. Then when you start forging again just wipe down the top surface. Cheers! :lol:

If your anvil is gathering rust, you just plain are not forging enough. :rolleyes:

in a blacksmith's world there is no such thing as a rusty anvil, as long as you are using the anvil properly!

Use it or lose it.

Don't worry about surface rust, damage comes from removing heavy rust that is in layers from years of laying in the mud.

All of my anvils are outside, and they just develop a patina when not in use. When they get used the surface is cleaned. Don't worry about it, just use it.

what about surface rust on the sides i want to paint the sides so the lettering is more visible and i am not worried about the face cause i know that will just work off

Wirebrush, light sandblasting, navel jelly, soaking overnight immersed in vinegar, dragging around a sandy dry riverbed chained to your pickup, electrolytic derusting.... pretty much most techniques will be ok

Painting an anvil is gilding the lily....

well i dont want it to rust away more than it has its already hard to read

will try wire brush though thanks