spiritrider Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I noticed the guys in the drop forge shop using NG torches to preheat (on cold mornings) the dies before forging. Should a cold anvil be warmed before starting work? And if so anyone have suggestions on how? Thanks spiritrider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Yes. An anvil can break if hammered on cold. Usually the heel but I have heard of the horn breaking clean off! I have a 1" x 3" x 14" bar that I heat in the gasser while it is heating up. I let it get a dull cherry red and then lay it length wise on the face of the anvil. By the time I'm ready to forge, the anvil is warm enough to avoid possible breakage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I also do the same as Dodge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksnagel Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I preheat with a rod prior to forging. My reasoning was that the cold anvil draws out the heat of the work so fast I spend more time and energy keeping my iron hot than actually hammering. I hadn't thought about breaking a cold anvil. Makes sense though. Glad I prewarm. Mark<>< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciladog Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 A cold anvil is like a cold woman, you just can’t get anything done (my apologies to all the women on this site). What I do is go into the forge and sit on the anvil while having my coffee in the morning until I can no longer feel my behind. Then I know I’m probably getting hemorrhoids. But the steel stays hot and the anvil is not going to break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I also have a steel plate, (6"X6"X1"), that I heat to red and lay on the face of the anvil to preheat it. The anvil doesn't suck the heat out of my work quite so fast, that way, and, good point by Scott about breaking a cold anvil. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I have a friend that takes an electric clothes iron and places it on the anvil face first thing while setting up to work. When we used to heat up a 400# Columbian we did it by hanging a paint can on horn and heel and makes a small kindling fire in each and keeping them fed until the anvil was nice and warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric sprado Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I too heat a piece of iron in my propane forge and put it on the anvil-but I also put a fire brick on top of it and more heat goes in to the anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbruce Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 A cold anvil is like a cold woman, you just can’t get anything done (my apologies to all the women on this site). What I do is go into the forge and sit on the anvil while having my coffee in the morning until I can no longer feel my behind. Then I know I’m probably getting hemorrhoids. But the steel stays hot and the anvil is not going to break. Best chuckle , no the only chuckle I've had all day! ....................thx...mb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I don't fear breaking the anvil, but having metal I am working go brittle because the cold anvil "quenched" it and it hardened is a PITA. Getting more than 2-3 hammer blows out of a heat is also nice. Now I live in an area that cold is typically in the lower 20's and the coldest is single digit negatives. I need a large heating plate, but use whatever stock I have and heat it up and set it on a few times till it feels warmer than the air to my hand. Ciladog, that's funny! Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 The old electric flat-iron sounds like a great way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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