C-1ToolSteel Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 I've heard all the horror stories, and even preached against them myself, but this is the first time I have actually tested the limits. Sometimes it is hard to separate truth from people joking around, so the best way to find out is to do it yourself. This is the 15 lb one from Harbor Freight that I have held onto for the occasional rivet and the like. I used a 4 pound hammer to "do the business". I learned a lot from this. . ...and it was also kinda fun. IMG_0012.MOV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 There is a 70 pound ASO, with China cast onto the side of it, for sale in Albuquerque for only US$2 a pound; Just in case you need more of a workout..... The MOB once took a HF ASO and made it into a propane camp stove and has it at Quad-State one year... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted March 6, 2017 Author Share Posted March 6, 2017 Feel free to PM me about donations for the next video... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 Well, gosh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judson Yaggy Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 I've always wanted to find one of the bigger (100lbs+/-) ones and drill some holes thru the body an inch or two under the face and connect the dots with my portaband to make a female dovetail, then wedge in some nice power hammer dies. Poor man's cutler's anvil! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 I think you could chisel out the dovetail if it was anything like the ASO we were working with; I think it had more graphite than iron in it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted March 7, 2017 Author Share Posted March 7, 2017 Hey, if I sharpen the broken-off heel, I betcha it would last longer that my carpenter's pencil. Hmmm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caotropheus Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 C-1ToolSteel Please, allow me to criticize this test. 1- Would you have given the trouble to secure this ASO to a base, it would have broken not with a couple of blows but with just half a blow when hammer was still being raise for the first time! In any case, would you have hit this ASO firmly secured it would have broke in several pieces from a single blow... 2- post this video on YouTube with the title you use for this post and you're going to be famous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 I agree that you should post it on YouTube. Partly because I can't get the video to load here and partly because I'd imagine it would be a good thing to point people to when they ask about using a cheapie ASO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted March 7, 2017 Author Share Posted March 7, 2017 Yeah, I thought about securing it to a base, but decided it wouldn't be worth it. I do like the idea, though, of securing it really well to a solid base and making it into a YouTube video. Maybe I should do a video of hammering the "sweet spot" until it breaks in half. If I do that one, I'll be sure to post it here! A more scientific test would include doing the same thing to a forged steel anvil and a cast steel anvil.....but I'll let someone else do that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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