Hoping I learned something from Dave. Finished Anil.


https://lh4.googleus...40/IMG_6657.JPG

Lyle,

I was wondering if you have or can get a picture of the drift you three used for the striking anvil? I am curious about the profile and length. I have seen the anvil that Brian used for his demo tour and am thinking of one to help make bottom tools for my Fisher. It has a 1.5 hardy hole but I want to be able to set the striker up outside with my portable forge so there is more room to strike around.

Thanks
Brian Pierson

Brian, There are some pictures of the drift in Lyle's link in post number 20 on the first page of this thread. That drift is not what I would have made for that striking anvil if I had more stock to make another drift. I made that drift for my first anvil, and it only has 3 inches of true one inch in the middle and just a little over three inches of taper on the bottom side and a little over 2 1/2 inches on the struck side. That is a bit short for drifting three inch stock on the struck side , so I had to use a smaller piece of stock to drive it all the way through.

Brian,

Thanks for the dimensions. That answered most of the reasons I asked for the picture. I would think that the struck end should be longer than the thickness of the anvil being punched so the drift will disengage when driven through. How important is the leading taper length if you are driving into a drilled hole? Is the taper close to what you use on your hammer drifts for the leading edge?


Quick question on the drift's metal, 4140 or 1045 or... ?


Thanks again.

Brian Pierson

That was only the second time I've done that and probably the last time I'll ever need to do it, so I don't think I'll experiment or research into the matter of what would be best. I used what I had at the moment. I made that drift at the last moment the day before I went on the road trip from a piece of unknown tool steel I got from a knife maker in California. The angle of that drift is not at all like the hammer drifts. I would assume a longer taper more like the hammer drifts might be better for opening up the round hole.