Making a striking anvil from a plow?

[Xavier F-C]

I have a very heavy plow that I would like to convert into a striking anvil.

What I would like:
- A hardie hole with the same dimensions as my anvil's. (around 1 inch)
- Convert the existing rectangle hole for drifting.
- Make a wooden stand for it.
- Have one face without all the bolts in the way.

What I have:
- Some drills.
- A grinder.
- Files.
- Wrenches.(Some of the bolts are really hard; I broke one wrench! I can show you the pictures if you ask for it.) 
- A lot of scrap wood and some small logs.

What I don't have:
- A welder.
- A HUGE forge.(I could heat a small part of a maximum of 2 inch thickness.)
- A metal stand for the anvil.

My main issue is the supporting stand; it needs to have some empty space below the hardie hole and the rectangle hole.
I can only make it out of wood, so the design has to be good.

The other main problem I will have is about the bolts; If I cut them to make a flat face, the plates might fall apart.

Where should I place the hardie hole?
What kind of wood stand should I be designing?

The overall look of the plow. Definitively weights more than 100 lbs. (Was not that hard to slide it on concrete though.)


The part that interests me.

 
The other side.


To give you an idea of the dimensions.


The thickness.

I'm open to suggestions, picture request and warnings!

Thanks in advance.

[EJRailRoadTrack]

I assume since you said you wanted it the same as your anvil that you are only going to use it for hardy tools? Yes no?

Personally I would trade the plow for some fork lift tine OR sell it and buy some. 

Traditional striking anvil:

Portable hole:

 

I'm sure it could be done, but I would use different materials. Little info as to what you will be making would help too!

[Xavier F-C]

EJRailRoadTrack,

I planned to use a striking anvil mainly for making hardy tools, but also for drifting(like large hand hammers) and other work where a lower anvil is helpful.

I have not considered the selling/trading option. I'm not sure about its value.
I currently live on a farm with my parents and we no longer have a truck.
The long thick plates(about 1 inch) could be useful for me, like making swages.
From my perspective, selling/trading does not look so appealing.
 

[ThomasPowers]

The wear plate for a bulldozer or road grader already comes with square holes and get discarded on a regular basis as they wear down.

[Xavier F-C]

I have progressed and have separated two large pieces.



Here is my plan for the anvil itself:


I now think making the anvil looks totally feasible.
The center, the zone between the sweet spot and the huge bolt, is hollow. I think I can remove the heads of the bolts without much drawback.

The long arm could very easily be fixed to a wooden support.
I just need a good idea for the support of the piece. Maybe just putting a good log with brackets will do the trick.

Thoughts?

[BeaverNZ]

I have been told by some one who used to work at a local plow manufacturer that old plow frames are often made from 1080 steel while more modern plow frames are usually made from Bissalloy 80 which is a high tensile lower carbon alloy steel. He said the old plow frames could be identified by rounded edges from the steel mill. I have yet to prove this to myself so may stand to be corrected Cheers Beaver

[Xavier F-C]

If I do the project (I am pretty sure I will), I'll have an idea of the type of steel when I make the cut.
I don't know exactly, but I think this plow is at least 15 years old.

[Mark Ling]

13 hours ago, BeaverNZ said:

I have been told by some one who used to work at a local plow manufacturer that old plow frames are often made from 1080 steel while more modern plow frames are usually made from Bissalloy 80 which is a high tensile lower carbon alloy steel. He said the old plow frames could be identified by rounded edges from the steel mill. I have yet to prove this to myself so may stand to be corrected Cheers Beaver

I would have guessed it would be like a medium carbon steel, such as 1045.

                                                                                                                          Littleblacksmith

[ThomasPowers]

15 years is not old for a plow, but 80 is!

[Dave51B]

 I could look it up, but not that important. That style plow with trip-back bottoms, came out in the late 60s early 70s if I remember correctly.                    Dave

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

I would consider selling it first, then buying a more suitable chunk of steel. It looks in pretty good shape. 200# of steel should run around $50 at a scrap yard..

[ThomasPowers]

I'd ask around and *trade* it for an anvil!