acrosteve Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Hello, I just joined today. I am working on getting myself equipped for forging some metal. I have recently completed building my own 2x72 belt sander/grinder and also a striking anivl of sorts. The belt sander is currently off getting powder coated - Kawasaki Green. lol I do not yet own a proper anvil, but this will have to do for a while. I think my next metal working project will be a propane forge that I will likely construct using an old compressor tank. I am thinking that I want to go ahead and build a ribbon burner for it also. Then possibly a power hammer. But 1st I am starting my research on forge building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Looks like a proper anvil to me! Nothing wrong using an anvil more like the type that was used for over 2000 years longer than the london pattern has been around! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryCarroll Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Great job on the belt sander too! Looks like you have been researching Blacksmithing a bunch. Welcome aboard IFI--where are you located? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caotropheus Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 I know nothing about belt sanders, yet, but the anvil looks very much like a "proper" anvil to me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawk18 Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Do you think that grinder is rigid enough? (lol). And that anvil, and it is an anvil, will do nicely. Better than some. Hawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lionel h Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Nice job on all , your anvil is much better than my first , a piece of railroad track. Your on your way to a fun mental illness,I meant hobby. Have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acrosteve Posted January 13, 2018 Author Share Posted January 13, 2018 Thanks all. I did update my profile. I am in Southern Ohio. The belt sander was made using scraps and materials I had on hand, other than the 3 aluminum wheels. Main tube is 3x5, and the base is a heavy 10" channel. Motor is 1.5 hp from a treadmill, but is a little weak compared to the rest of it. We shal see how well it works. The anvil top is 4" thick 7x11 I believe setting on an 1-1/2" base plate. The hardy hole is 1" - I "cheated" and had it done with EDM, rather than a proper drift. EDM and Pritchel holes are through the whole 4" thickness. So, I(or the next owner) do have the option at some point to flip the plate over for a new surface. I have had a piece of track for a long time with intentions of making it into an anvil, but never did. After reading up on the shortcomings of track anvils and learning about striking anvils I decided to go that route. Then I was fortunate enough in finding the other plate metal for free, basically. The legs where from house trailer axles I shortened for other purposes. Basically 3" pipe with 1/2x4 bar for the feet. They are filled with a mixture of sand and oil. It weighs about 200lbs. This metal is all just mild steel. I am also considering adding a piece of hardenable steel to the lower striking are of the anvil, and probably creating a horn of sorts. More pictures on that in the future. Keep in mind that I don't have a specific use or focus in regards to the anvil. I do have a concern where the main part of the striking surface of the 4" surface is over an area of the 1-1/2" plate that is unsupported from below. I am considering tying the middle area of that plate to the front leg near where the existing braces join. I am thinking there may be some flex experienced during heavy striking which over time may case it to sag in the middle. Is that concern reasonable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acrosteve Posted January 13, 2018 Author Share Posted January 13, 2018 Well, I went ahead and took some pictures. What I started with for the 4" piece. I am using the drops for another anvil of sorts. I can put this one onto my workbench which is only 3/16" thick and not very well suited for hammering. The start of my "horn". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Use it for 50 years and let us know....And why do you think that using EDM is "cheating"? I know a blacksmith that was forging Titanium for satellite use---the craft didn't suddenly stop dead at some time in the past---look at induction forges! They are slicker than...slicker than...slicker than a very slick thing indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acrosteve Posted April 7, 2018 Author Share Posted April 7, 2018 Still a work in progress. I picked up a piece of 5" shaft about 5" long for the start of my horn. Tied it back to the main striking surface with some bar stock. I will cover with some 1/2" AR plate to bring up to the level of my striking surface. Also some more places for hammers and clamps. So I added about 30 or 40 more pounds and more working surface. I will likely get more shaft of smaller sizes to make the horn smaller in steps. Maybe not ideal, but hey - it's cheap enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeldinEldon Posted April 22, 2018 Share Posted April 22, 2018 Hay Acro. I like your anvil. Nice job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 All very nice. One question though. How do you control the belt speed of your grinder. I like the drive pulley, looks like wood to me. I made on like that for my power hammer but had trouble keeping the leather belt on so I switched to a v-belt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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