Marksnagel Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 For all those that feel that they need an "anvil" to do any blacksmithing, take heart. Here are some pics of my anvil through my journey into blacksmithing. All the anvils listed below are because I followed the advice of Thomas Powers and told everyone I met that I was looking for an anvil. One by one they crept into my life. Well, not the rock. Needs no explaining other than you use what you have available. Possibly thrown at me by someone that I asked too many times if they knew where I could get an anvil. Flat, heavy, unyielding. 1" x 12" x 12" plate of steel. A step up in the world. A 6" piece of RR track that was given to me. Next step, a train car coupler. Seriously immobile with lots of great angles and curves. Still in use! And finally my 152# Ygiagam anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshua.M Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 cool idea for the progression pics... my progress was: anvil on back of macheinist vice, 25lb cast iron anvil, 8"x 8"x 6" block of steel, 200lb peter wright (still in use), 100lb peter wright(main anvil now) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don A Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Back of vise 16" of RR track c. 1800 Mousehole ($35.00) 178Lb. EuroAnvil Cool thread. A testimony to persistance! Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Back of vice and then MouseHole anvil then made a Brian Brazeal anvil. Just read in Village blacksmith that anvils were not made until the 1600"s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 May I commend to your attention "Cathedral Forge and Waterwheel", Gies & Gies, that has a number of medieval anvils shown in it. Anvils were made prior to the year 1000! (The London Pattern anvil however is much later with the final bit---the pritchel---added in the 1820's) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Blacksmith Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 wel first i used a rock, then a piece go cart chain thingy, then a sledge hammer head, and finally a 300 pound block of steel still looking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 A 300# block of steel IS an anvil. I have used a paver brick. It worked... I have a short piece of rail, still gets used at times. I have a cast iron ASO that weighs about 70#, I think it weighed about 100#, as the heel is broke off and it is ridge-back. I cut a new hardy in it with a cold chisel. I have a 1x3x12 bolster plate with a hardy hole chiseled into it with a cold chisel. Yes, I had some practice. Make a diamond point chisel to clean the corners. The sledge hammer head gets used clamped into the post vise. It is sometimes more convenient. When I needed a fuller I clamped a cross pein hammer in the vise. Worked pretty good, other than being too high. I like my Trenton anvil. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 My first anvil was (is) a 100 kg anvil I got at the scrapyard. My second anvil was a small 25kg anvil I got at the scrapyard. My third anvil is a badly damaged 30 kg I got at the scrapyard. And I am now looking for a square piece of steel as an anvil for a specific job. I think this is the wrong way round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elemental Metal Creations Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 1. Miller Falls anvil drill ? ( does anyone know anything about these?)about 20#, hollow, cracked parts broken off. 2. Piece of RR track 3. 50# london pattern anvil. Face about wore down to tha step. Still looking for a good 100#+ anvil my wife can afford.LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Blacksmith Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 rock, 4''x4'' square stock, and now a 150 pound piece of steel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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