dancho Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 The new version of my anvil is being tested1. The main improvement is the dovetail end with one edge being sharper to be used as hardie and the other is rounded to be used as fuller. The triangular notch is used multifunctionaly for punching, bending, etc.2. The face preserves convex profile which proved itself extremelly well during last 5 years of work3. Same for the edge like cross -section of the horn.4. Massive concrete foundation was used under the base plate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everything Mac Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 Thats an interesting anvil for sure. Are you making them yourself? Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancho Posted September 12, 2015 Author Share Posted September 12, 2015 Thats an interesting anvil for sure. Are you making them yourself? AndyThanks Andy! I make the styfoam model, give it to the foundry, then grind , polish and harden the obtained object Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everything Mac Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 Ah ok that's cool. What are they cast from? I'm sure a few members on here would be interested in buying one. Why the rocks around the base? Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancho Posted September 12, 2015 Author Share Posted September 12, 2015 The material is 0.8 %C carbon.The rocks are used as quick fill for the drum base (gabion like) since this is test mode. For permanent set up I use packed earth and woodedn wedges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 They're looking pretty good. The hammer in the second picture is covering the feature on the heal end. What is it?Do you have pictures out of the stand, I'd like a look at the whole tool.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancho Posted September 13, 2015 Author Share Posted September 13, 2015 Here we go. The anvil is set selfwedged in a hot formed steel pipe (132 mm diameter, 750 mm long to give my proper anvil height 850mm) which is welded to the 400x400x12 mm steel plate which rests on a concrete base 600 mm deep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 That makes it pretty easy to take into remote places, finding a piece of pipe to use as a stand would be reasonably easy. Pipe is pretty common almost everywhere.What is the feature on the heal end? I'm imagining all kinds of things but would like to know what it's really for. It's gotta be something good, it's too much trouble to make not to be useful.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Frosty, the heel end notch serves much like a pritchel hole and supports the work while you drive the hole through. The ends of the heel are sharpened to varying degrees to create a built-in fuller and hot-cut.Here's a good link to a thread Bogdan did some time ago. He's definitely handy with a hammer! http://www.bladesmithsforum.com/index.php?showtopic=25866 I've been wanting one of these anvils for a long time. Very neat design and would be great as a demonstration anvil or for making blades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 That makes good sense, thanks Vaughn.Handy with a hammer isn't a whistling Dixi.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancho Posted September 14, 2015 Author Share Posted September 14, 2015 Thank you Vaughn!Yes, the notch was meant for working with holes but I am finding more and more uses for it. The heel edges are also good idea. If you need to get to some complicated places they are quite useful.Frosty, actully when I had to go to remote places with my anvil I took the pipe along in a complete assembly. The only problem it looked suspicious for the police (like a mortar) so I stopped to do it and now carry the anvil in a separate strong bag while the pipe is hidden in the other bag stuffed with socks and t-shirts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancho Posted December 4, 2015 Author Share Posted December 4, 2015 I ran a workshop in Vienna Uni a week ago "Blending Ecology and Blacksmithing together" and made an experimental stand for my anvil as a real gabion with the steel mesh and stones -- basically what I found at the location. Actually that worked extremelly well! I really liked it. No more earth and wooden wedges. The gabion was made in a conical shape with the base wider than top. The mesh probably should be of thicker metal with the smaller spacing but anyway the principle is very practical. I can recomend it like even to wrap around the thin wooden stands and fill it with rubble in case one lacks thicker stump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kette Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 The viking smiths of old would be proud of your work. Thank you for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancho Posted December 9, 2015 Author Share Posted December 9, 2015 Found some Youtube videos of Indian travelling smiths who use ancient style convex faced anvils. One can see how big is actually the surface radius. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUIFlJ8mX-4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzMqEAAhNME Everytime I forge on my convex anvil I keep thinking how great it is. Absolutely diffrent feeling from the flat one. Convex is magic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankem Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Could you post a picture of your forge that you use for this? I love the anvil design. The pictures are great, post more! Thank you for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyw Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 I was wondering about the forge myself. I think I see a tripod of green sticks lashed together for the forge stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancho Posted December 10, 2015 Author Share Posted December 10, 2015 The forge I use is the ancient earth-clay side blast char coal forge. Many years of experiments with diffrent forges proved that for my work (tools, forge welding) it is the best. At home I have it made on the table under the hood. For festivals, demonstrations and such I have developed the very light design made of metal basin put on a tripod of sticks which I fill with the earth found on place. The fan is from old soviet tractor stove 12 V. 40 Watts. Sometimes I made the side walls of bricks if I have them. If not -- make adoby walls from earth-grass mix. For the lightest set up I make the forge right on the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 Nice pics -- very interesting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancho Posted December 11, 2015 Author Share Posted December 11, 2015 Another example of magic convex anvil -- now from modern Uzbekistan (middle Asia). My friend was travelling there and came across a traditional balacksmith workshops at one of the towns streets. He took some pictures specially for me. This kind of forge is a great inspiration for me. Compact, effective and comortable. Also quite social I would say as this is just behind the street walkway. Very interesting idea of using pits so that while the forge and anvil is low but you still work standing. Also while the metal is heated you sit on the edge of the pit, rest and drink green tea... The customers walk along the street, you offer them a cup of tea and to buy a knife or nails. I like it The convex anvil as my friend says seem to be made of a railroad buffer the cut into rectangular shape. It is probably very hard. The radius is also quite big. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancho Posted December 13, 2015 Author Share Posted December 13, 2015 One of the most important features of the convex surface is that it is very good for forge welding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan P. Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 It seems that traditional Chinese anvils hve very convex faces. Also there is an old make of French anvil "Hulot Harmel" which have a hump where the horn melds into the body. I always thought it looked good for forging. PS I've also fluffed many a fire weld in a dished anvil face! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancho Posted February 20, 2016 Author Share Posted February 20, 2016 The Bogdan Popov’s anvil got its further development ! Now becoming more and more versatile tool. A longer built-in hardie with the alloy steel welded edge, deeper and wider notch and square horn on the other side of the notch. This really worked well and proved its validity. However a lot more other very interesting and effective developments came as well. The video coming soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTaylorJr Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 That's an amazing piece of work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Ling Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 did I hear you right that that you harden them your self? that would be a very large mass of steel to heat up! Litteblacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 It's looking good Bogdan. Wait a second, do we call you Dancho or Bogdan? I'm looking forward to your videos and next innovation. LIttleblacksmith: Bringing that much steel to critical temp isn't so hard, it's quenching it properly that's the trick. I'll bet if we ask nicely Bogdan, Dancho, or whoever, will even tell us how he does it. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.