So back in September of last year I came across a 1928 Soderfors Paragon 168lb anvil in excellent condition. This thing rings like a church bell and the ball bearing test probably has 90% or better rebound.

Unfortunately due to moving twice in 2 months (long story) I never got the chance to put this fine anvil to work.  So a few days ago, I decided that since I have my workshop just about setup (cleaned out of moving boxes) I would build a proper stand and get my anvil ready to do some work.  

The stand is built out of treated 2x6 lumber that I had left over after a deck project.  The finished stand probably weights in at 50-60lbs.
The stand was assembled with construction adhesive and deck screws.

Here is the almost finished setup.  I'll be adding about 10' of chain later today to dampen the ringing.  
Only other thing I have to do is fabricate some way to roll this around when it isn't in use.

-Brian

Here are a few pics of the anvil and its new stand.

very nice. great looking anvil

 

I have its identical twin. same year and everything. you can't ask for a better anvil.

Here is a video of a couple of rebound tests I did on it.

 

Great looking Anvil, and nice job on the stand!

Thanks.  Hopefully this weekend I will get to fire up the forge and give it a proper welcome to my workshop.

Is that a ball bearing or a rubber super ball? That's amazing rebound!

40 minutes ago, John in Oly, WA said:

Is that a ball bearing or a rubber super ball? That's amazing rebound!

I promise it is a ball bearing.  
I was quite surprised as well, when I watched the video.  

That is a great video demonstration. I've thought about wanting to video something like that with my anvil, but don't know how to slow it down like you did (or increase the frame rate, as the case may be). I think my anvil is about 70% rebound though.

Now I want an anvil like yours! LOL

 

I took the video with my phone (Google Pixel XL).  It has a feature to shoot slow motion video.
It records the video at 240 frames per second then when you play it back at 30fps it appears to be in slow motion.
Many of the newer phones have similar slow motion features.

Thanks for that info Rogue. I just checked my phone - it's old, doesn't have that feature. I'll check my son's phone tonight and see if it has that feature.

I LOVE your slo mo rebound test, the sound is perfect. If you put your anvil on a more rigid stand I'll bet the rebound improves, not significantly but it'll be there. It's a beautiful stand but not as rigid as it should be. Just standing the lumber on end and screwing & gluing it together will make a more rigid stand. No need to set it on a table top,just the end grain has less yield.

A chain will help damp the ring but it's still pretty brutal if you miss a blow, especially on the heal or horn.

I put my Soderfors on a steel tripod and it damped the ring to tolerable levels, even hitting horn or heal doesn't make your ears ring all night.

You're going to LOVE that beauty.

Frosty The Lucky.

 

Thanks Frosty.
A steel tripod is definitely going to be a future project.  This wood one is just to get me through until I have time and materials to build the steel one.

-Brian

 

"Nothing is so permanent as a temporary solution!"

1 hour ago, ThomasPowers said:

"Nothing is so permanent as a temporary solution!"

So true!  

My daughter is starting welding classes at the local college and she will need a project to practice on.  So I figured if I don't get around to building it, I'll have her do it.