Ferrous Beuler Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 Why Elm specifically for an anvil support. Plenty of good stout wood available. Again and again in various books on blacksmithing, elm is specifically called for as the best support for the anvil in the "classic" american blacksmithing era. Please refrain from showing your metal stand here... Why elm? Dan.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddan7 Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 I believe it's because elm has interlocking grain. In other words, Elm is highly resistant to splitting and I'm sure there's a few folks who chop firewood who will agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Pook Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 My guess would be that its based on where the books where written. Different species of local tree's different wood for the stands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 I believe it's because your mid-nineteenth century blacksmith could sound it out and spell it reasonably well. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mills Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 Elm is the choice of wood for split resistance. It is specified in wagon hubs for that reason. Cottonwood also has the characteristic of being cross linked. How ever both elm nd cottonwood rot pretty fast. I wouldn't use either for a buried stump but have used elm for a portable. It held up pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice Czar Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 Cottonwood also has the characteristic that, was an exceptionally helpful bit of fact, thank you ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddan7 Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 For what it's worth, Sycamore has the same interlocking grain and is used for cutting boards for this reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 I believe it's because your mid-nineteenth century blacksmith could sound it out and spell it reasonably well. Frosty Okay, that brightened my day. One of my anvil stands is fabricated from 3" thick planks of mahogany. Don't know about its grain, but it weighs almost as much as the anvil sitting on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irnsrgn Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 actuaally doesn't make any difference for a movable stump. Just what is available locally. Some species its advisable to band the top and bottom. FWIW, when using a stump for a portable stand, use a chainsaw, chisel, router or other means to remove the center about an inch deep, leaving 2 inches all the way around the outside, it will set better and not rock on uneven ground or where rocks are present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayco Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Dan, a lot of the old timers were very picky about what kind of wood they used for a particular task. Since they used cross-cut saws, axes,froes, and wedges as their tools, they probably only wanted to do it once....if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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