Chris_Riffe Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Here are a couple of pictures of the first of six striking anvils I am building for friends and family. Total cost of materials: 4.75" x 4.75" x 11.75" 5135 steel block: $55.00 2" schd 80 pipe for legs: $10.00 3/8" steel braces and 1/2" plate feet: $5.00 Water jetting 1 " hardy: $130.00 Square facing all six sides of block: $60.00 6010 and 7018 electrodes: $20.00 Mileage and other: $70.00 So......for $350.00 in materials and 5 hours of fussing around in the shop I have the first one finished. Not the cheapest proposition on the block; but this tool will save your working anvil a lot of abuse and is the correct height and form to properly strike tools on. And before you ask....the height is 22.5" which is lower than some folks but also allows for each person I am giving them to to use it and then I will cut new rounds for the feet of the correct height to mail to them so that they can have it the right height for their use. This is much preferred to have to cut down the legs and requires only a quick easy weld (mild to mild), and they could even bolt them on using the anchor hole if they did not have a torch or welder. And...the legs are welded to 1/2" mild doublers which are in turn welded to the 5135. I heated the 5135 with a rosebud prior to weld up to drive off any moisture that would affect the HS electrodes: I did not reach a temperature high enough to meet any industry standards for joining medium carbon to mild steel...but as a field expedient; driving off the water and at least getting everything to the same temperature does usually work. Time will tell and pretty quickly as two of these are going to the Brazeal Brothers for allowing me to steal away their very excellent David Gaddis built striking anvil for my son Daniel's use (and he has taken it the the Heartland Horseshoeing School to make tools with while he is there). I also left 1/2" holes open in the feet so that the end users could fill them with sand and oil if they so desire. I did not do so because I am concerned that an unsuspecting person might afterwards attempt to cut or weld on the legs and be quite surprised at the results. Even water in the sand could be interesting! But the holes are there and could be tapped, just plugged, or epoxied shut after filling. I am probably going to put oil soaked metal fillings from my band saw in the ones I build for Daniel and myself. Cheers all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Riffe Posted March 16, 2013 Author Share Posted March 16, 2013 Just to head you off Alec, Custer, Daniel, etc......8 degrees on the legs. I do listen to you young'uns! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gaddis Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Very nice looking anvil, and of course I agree witht he angle of the legs. As far as installing oil and sand into the legs and cutting them later...there is no problem at all. It is easily accomplished with a hand angle grinder and thin cut-off wheels. The cost is cheap for theamount of work to be done. Your economics per each stage is much different that my calculations but in the end the customer gets a great device. Congrats fro a job well done. Carry on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Riffe Posted March 16, 2013 Author Share Posted March 16, 2013 David, Three down and three to go. I productive afternoon; but it is time to head to the barn (trough)! The costs could differ substantially from one locale to another. The pipe and plate all came off of offshore jobs as scrap in our shop that I accumulate too much of. But I put the pricing as if one went out and bought new pieces at the minimum cuts just so folks could see the material costs involved if they did not have access to scrap. And I do agree with you that I am not worried about the person who knows he or she has oil or water in a sealed pipe; I am just concerned that the anvil might end up in someones ownership that did not realize what they were working with. I am definitely filling mine and Daniel's as it makes a big difference in both sound and vibratory feedback! I hope to see you again soon, and I will always appreciate the support you have provided the "Young Smith's". Folks like yourself are the ones that will have the most influence in keeping the art and science of forging vibrant and continually filling out the ranks with the younger generation. It has been very gratifying to see how much influence Alec, Kainon, Custer, and Daniel have had in motivating others to pick up hammers and start pushing themselves. Cheers friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Very good work. If you were closer, I'd think seriously about having you cut me a big chunk like that and jet the hardy out!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Riffe Posted March 17, 2013 Author Share Posted March 17, 2013 Vaughn, Thank you for the compliment but I am just fabbing the pieces together as a project that seems to have a "life of its own". This effort started as a means to re-pay Brian and Karen Brazeal for all they have done for my son and the "Young Smith's" and to also assist another of the "Young Smith's" private efforts. Of course, having my own striking anvil (my son ran off with our shop striking anvil) will benefit our efforts at HABA and I would otherwise be lost without a project! I will offer this........IF the striking anvils I am making are "up to the Brazeal's standards......and if folks are willing to pay me the "out of pocket costs" to produce and deliver them; then I am willing to build them and turn all the proceeds over to the NEXT "Young Smith's" program through Brian Brazeal...! I have been hoping to see the ABANA leadership or "other local forging organizations " take up the challenge of continuing the "Young Smith's Project". I am firmly in the camp of those who feel that it our responsibility to pass along our knowledge and tools to the best and the brightest of the next generation BEFORE the knowledge we pass along is considered just "anachronistic". Cheers, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gaddis Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 Perhaps I did not understand...But I know for a fact that Daniel's striking anvil has oil and sand...no well maybe it does not. I do am cetain that his anvil stand, as well as kainon's anvil stand is filled with oil and sand. Time goes by fast...built several stands last summer in such a short time frame. all that I build now are tapped for sunken pipe threaded plugs...so that the anvil can be positioned over the top without interferance. It is nice to have helped those YoungSmiths and read often on projects they make today. Many of the readers on this site also appreciate just what a contribution has been performed by bringing them all together. Having met another young smith from Milwaukee I now wished that he could have been a team member for them too. Aaron makes regular contributions here. Like the others he brings good technique out into the open for us older guys to watch. Carry on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Riffe Posted March 17, 2013 Author Share Posted March 17, 2013 David, You are correct....your memory holds true! The striking anvil and stand that you made for Daniel does have the oil and sand in the legs and it works very well at reducing noise and vibration. Kainon's anvil stand as well is so outfitted; I know because I welded some 7/8" stud holdfasts to it for his big Nimba about two weeks ago. I am making Daniel and I two additional striking anvils and will also fill the legs as you have suggested. Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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