Charles R. Stevens Posted October 9, 2017 Author Share Posted October 9, 2017 Ah, that I get. On the other side I have seen some knife makers forging from stools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 1 hour ago, Charles R. Stevens said: I have seen some knife makers forging from stools. Forging from leaf springs, coil springs, lawnmower blades, files -- and now forging from stools?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 Buffalo chips were used for forging on the open prairie )as was a barrel you could stick the workpiece in to see the colour in a treeless shadeless prairie... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay.bro Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 I haven't seen it on this thread or anyone say anything about it on ifi yet but I read a couple of sites saying that you can use an 80 lbs barbell as long as,it's all metal but I haven't seen one in use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 many barbells are cast iron and so have the same issues as ASO's. If you can find a steel one you have an improvised anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay.bro Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 Okay cool the way they were saying was go down to wally world and pick in up cut the handle in half stab it in a stump and get to hammering which I guess if it's what you can get it wold do but I feel a sledge hammer head would work better if the barbell was cast iron and probably be cheaper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 I see so many sledge hammer heads at the local fleamarket I can't understand why folks would buy new...Every once in a while I'll pick up a 16" one when I find it cheap---still hunting a 32# oldie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay.bro Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 I've been really considering buying one until I can get something more efficient I have been given an old rr track anvil my grandpa used as a welding anvil by my grandma but I haven't been able to go get it yet but I seen a thread on here I may try with a different piece of track I'm trying to get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 You are located in a good place to use the TPAAAT to find anvils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 It'd work but there are better expedient anvils than a dumb bell. Still its powerful hard to not high jack and start a commentary thread about "Dumb Bell" anvils. What "Will" work and what works well is the difference in an emergency expedient and a temporary tool while you look for better. Anything hard and heavy will "work" but not very well or long. A sledge head is a good anvil within it's limitations where a dumb bell would "work." It's a cool idea though and I can think of a number of things it would be good for say a ball stake. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 armour makers use them for mushroom stakes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted October 9, 2017 Author Share Posted October 9, 2017 As a weight plate is flat, unless you are using the edge you will find a sledge hammer head works better than a 1- 1/2" plate. As will a solid 2" draw bar with the multi balls. As Jerry pointed out there is a difference between what will work and what will work well. But if the kettle balls Walmart cries are steel and not cast, mounting one so the flat bottom was up would work well. And flipped back up the handle would make a bick sorta. I wouldn't buy one new to find out, personally tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay.bro Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 I dont think I'll be buying a new one just to see if it works but I have been leaning more towards sledge hammer heads until I can find a bigger chunk of steel I can fashion into a special anvil me and my grandpa designed a long time ago we just never built it. 2 hours ago, Frosty said: It'd work but there are better expedient anvils than a dumb bell. Still its powerful hard to not high jack and start a commentary thread about "Dumb Bell" anvils. If you feel it would benefit any of the new emerging smiths I'd say it's a great idea to make a commentary thread on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeroclick Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 This was my first anvil it worked really well to get me started. I still have it and use it sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted October 10, 2017 Author Share Posted October 10, 2017 That's the first time I have seen a good use of I beam in an anvil. That is the best way to use rail, tho grinding a cut off or a hardy on the web is a good option, I prefer a cut off, others don't, I also cut a square and round bicks out of the flange end. Tho the bicks aren't mesisary they make stake turners easer to make. I have a 2" square drop of 6040 I also use to demo, as well as a 10# sledge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeroclick Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 Thank you I thought it would add mass behind the face, so I lined it up so the rail sat right on the cross section. I have got some plans based on threads I have read to make it into more off a swiss army anvil. I thought of putting a fuller on the webbing, a bick and then on the other side make a small turning fork. Then because of the light weight use it as my demo anvil to show people you don't always need a London pattern anvil to get started Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted October 10, 2017 Author Share Posted October 10, 2017 Wonderful to see we are of the same mind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeroclick Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 It's always nice when it happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay.bro Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 I actually read something in another thread about testing anvils you are going to buy and I feel like I know what the answer is but here's the hypothetical part in my mind. Say I go to the scrap yard looking for a piece of steel to use as an improvised anvil and let's say for aregiments sake I come across a 6"×6"×6" cube of metal but the workers don't know if it's steel or cast iron or what it is right off hand. Could the ring and rebound tests be a good indicator as to if it's a good piece for an anvil or could it be affected by what it's on or around it too much for those tests to actually work seeing as how it is in a scrap yard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 Ring and rebound would be great tests on it in situ. Ring should help you determine if it's cast iron vs steel and rebound can give you an idea of the hardness of the steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay.bro Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 Okay I didn't know if it only worked well for hardened metals or if it worked for unhardened as well but I assumed it would work that's why I picked up a 1 inch ball bearing I seen on the side of the road I planned on using it to find a good improvises anvil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 It checks for the hardness state of metals, unhardened has lower numbers than hardened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Make sure the bearing is hardened. I have one that is not, and if you dropped it on an anvil it would barely bounce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 If it's a bearing, it's hardened; however there are plenty of types of steel balls that are not from bearings.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay.bro Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Well I hit it with my hammer last night just to check on a thin piece of random metal it put a mark on my hammer and on the metal with no sign on the ball that I even hit it so I think it's hardened Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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