ShortMagPirate Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 I've finally found a couple pieces of scrap for my anvil(s)and now I need to figure out some stands for them. Then the only thing left is to build the forge. I've got most of what I need for that, as well as a rough plan, but that's for the other forum... First is what appears to be the snapped off base of a rock breaker bit. It's about 14" long, maybe a little more, and about 6 or 7" across. I don't know how much it weighs, yet, but it's HEAVY. The other one I'm not quite sure of, maybe a piece of chute liner or something. About 12" long by 4" square, with some interesting shapes on the ends. Rounded on one side of the length and squared off on the other. For a stand I'm thinking a stack of lumber set on end like quite a few I've seen on here, possibly one big enough to set both in? With the big piece in the center and the smaller one in one of the corners, and maybe rigged so I can change it's position around if I need to... it's got a pretty sharp corner on one end that could be used as a cut off. For the big piece, would it be a good idea to leave the cavity a bit deeper than I want the top of the anvil to be, and fill it with sand? That way I would be able to adjust the height, if needed, and it might provide a little dampening. I'll get some better pictures in the morning... I was getting worried I'd have to settle for an ASO from Harbor Freight for a while there, so this is a welcome find... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caotropheus Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 6 hours ago, ShortMagPirate said: First is what appears to be the snapped off base of a rock breaker bit. It's about 14" long, maybe a little more, and about 6 or 7" across. I don't know how much it weighs, yet, but it's HEAVY. Nice chunks of steel. I made the anvil I use the most with this material from a rock breaker and the rebound is amazing. Take a look in one of my videos on Youtube on how I made my first anvil. Looking forward to see the two chunks integrated in a stand. I would use the rock breaker bit standing (but the side rounded surface is also useful to curve stuff) and the square chunk laying down so you have a long surface to straighten stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lionel h Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 Mounted in a good stand these will work nicely, I would do as Catropheus stated on mounting . Have fun ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShortMagPirate Posted January 13, 2018 Author Share Posted January 13, 2018 16 hours ago, caotropheus said: I made the anvil I use the most with this material from a rock breaker and the rebound is amazing. I actually just looked at your rock breaker video yesterday... that's a huge chunk of steel you started with. Mine is only the back section... it's still big, but not nearly the mass of the whole breaker you started with. That's fine by me, though, as I don't foresee needing anything larger anytime soon. 16 hours ago, Lionel h said: Mounted in a good stand these will work nicely, I would do as Catropheus stated on mounting . Have fun ! I've added a couple more pics of the pieces, as well as a rough idea for a stand. (Not necessarily to scale...) I think it will work. It looks a little wide as drawn, but it will probably end up with a smaller footprint. I have a piece of railroad tie that might work as a base to go under the rock breaker itself, then stack the rest of the lumber around it, or might it be better to use 2x4s to distribute the weight evenly for strength? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caotropheus Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Nice plan. Probably you do not need to build the stand symmetrical around the rock breaker bit. Looking at your plans, I think it will be enough just two bits (thickness) of lumber on the right hand side of the upright rock breaker bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShortMagPirate Posted January 13, 2018 Author Share Posted January 13, 2018 Maybe make both pieces more or less evenly located on the stand? One reason for the extra room could be for a tool shelf, since I'll be working out in the yard for a while, and won't have a bench or rack readily available. From the reading and video watching I've done, I do gather that the smaller the footprint the stand has, the better it is to work around, so I will probably slim it up a bit. What do you think of the idea of putting sand in the bottom of the hole for the bit to sit on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caotropheus Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 42 minutes ago, ShortMagPirate said: What do you think of the idea of putting sand in the bottom of the hole for the bit to sit on? I do not have experience using sand in my blacksmith constructions but you have to remove the ring of the bit somehow and I think sand will help you on that. About the bench and to start with, you need a work bench. Go to the scrapyard and try to find the thickest piece of plate you can get. Never mind if it is slightly pit by corrosion or has some cuts from the plasma cutter or even if edges are uneven but the surface has to be straight and flat. Weld some legs and you have a bench... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 if the wood is "clamping" the sides of the anvil you will not need sand for noise reduction. Perhaps build it with all thread so you can tighten it if it starts singing again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShortMagPirate Posted January 13, 2018 Author Share Posted January 13, 2018 All thread was definitely in my plan originally, but maybe I'll rethink my configuration a little to make more of a clamp around the bit. I imagine some wooden wedges would work as additional security as well. The temptation here, as well as my nature, is to make things more complicated than they really need to be... it's a curse/blessing all wrapped into one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Remember the biggest factor in getting smithing skills is time spent using the anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51 Papy Posted January 14, 2018 Share Posted January 14, 2018 Sand worked great on mine. Added some weight, set the metal solid and stopped the ring completely! It also lets you adjust the anvil up if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShortMagPirate Posted January 14, 2018 Author Share Posted January 14, 2018 7 hours ago, ThomasPowers said: Remember the biggest factor in getting smithing skills is time spent using the anvil. That right there is good advice for just about any skill... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShortMagPirate Posted January 14, 2018 Author Share Posted January 14, 2018 2 hours ago, 51 Papy said: Sand worked great on mine. Added some weight, set the metal solid and stopped the ring completely! It also lets you adjust the anvil up if needed. Don't suppose you have a picture of that anywhere handy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51 Papy Posted January 14, 2018 Share Posted January 14, 2018 Pirate also check out the improvised anvil sticky at the top of this section. All of the stickies are worth reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShortMagPirate Posted January 14, 2018 Author Share Posted January 14, 2018 That's one of the setups that gave me my inspiration... is it all 2x4 and 2x6? How is it put together? Screws and glue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51 Papy Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 It's what ever I had in the shorts rack glued and screwed together. I'm going to put a couple of bands on it one of these days. There is a piece of cabinet grade plywood on the bottom attached to the 2x4,6 &8's. I use Titebond for glue always. If your close to where new homes are being built raid their scrap pile...after you ask! The builders have to pay to have it hauled off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShortMagPirate Posted January 16, 2018 Author Share Posted January 16, 2018 Well, I know how I'm going to do the big one now, so thanks for the advice... I also just picked up another chunk of steel, this one is a straight piece of 4x4" stock about 12" long... I'm just going to sink it into one of the big Pine rounds I have out in the yard and call it good. That will get me going while I'm gathering material for the big one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51 Papy Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 There ya go! Ease those sharp edges and get started. Be safe and have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caotropheus Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 It seems that you have the raw materials, so, when are we going to see a picture or video of your improvised anvils? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShortMagPirate Posted January 17, 2018 Author Share Posted January 17, 2018 20 minutes ago, caotropheus said: It seems that you have the raw materials, so, when are we going to see a picture or video of your improvised anvils? Great question... going to try and get some sort of a forge put together by the weekend, and hopefully start putting these anvils to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShortMagPirate Posted January 20, 2018 Author Share Posted January 20, 2018 Put my hunks of iron on the scale this afternoon. (Don't tell Mrs. Pirate I used her glass bathroom scale...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShortMagPirate Posted January 20, 2018 Author Share Posted January 20, 2018 Also dressed up the 55lb square stock this afternoon while waiting for my sample batch of refractory to cure. The top I cleaned up real good and gave 3 of the edges a different radius and left the 4th one sharp. Tomorrow I'll sink it into a stump and it'll be ready to pound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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