Ice Czar Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Id think it would be much more efficient to just run a little nichrome wire under the anvil and make an insulated box that goes over it. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quenchcrack Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 After moving from NW Tennessee to Houston, I find I really don't need to heat up the anvil. What I need is something to cool off the smith! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ten Hammers Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Ok I have a question for you smart guys. IF a man was to wrap his anvil ( waist ) in heat tape ( fill in the blank on wattage ) and just plug that tape in like a tank heater, what if any effects would occur to the metallurgy ( forged wrought anvil - Hay Budden to be precise ). Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 That should be an alternating current so no problem with magnetic effects. Won't get hot enough to draw the temper on the face. The only effect I can guess at would be to help keep the anvil above the ductile/brittle transformation. You would probably have to remove the tape before using ans the odd bit of dropped hot steel is hard on such things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ten Hammers Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 Yeah havin a pigtail on the anvil would not be a good thing. Farm store here can make heat tape. May check into that when I remember but you know how that goes. If it ain't on the list I may forget and remember it in a year or so. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbrforge Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 I've used the heat tape for maybe 10 years now, same anvil, no ill effects. No magnetic transfer and cheaper (using less electricity) than the iron, and safer, no critter damage (puppies) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ten Hammers Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Tbr, good info, thanks. May look into that today. Slack tub heater on and off last few weeks. Hopefully the bad cold is over for the season. We can still get a ton of snow until mid April. Spring will come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dimag Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Ah.... cold anvils,I know about those.I don't fire up unless it is above -20C,my shop is unheated.I have a propane construction heater with a fan that I use to warm the shop. I aim it at the anvil,kinda killing 2 birds with 1 stone. In addition I have a piece of 4x1/4 flat bar that I put in my gasser while it is getting up to forging heat.I put that on the anvil face a couple of times and it warms it all up quite well. At -20c the whole process takes about 35 minutes.I usually shut off the heater and the forge keeps the shop warm from there on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Martin Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Would it be possible to take a blowtorch and run it back and forth on the top of the anvil for like 30 seconds - a minute, a little bit before you bring the first piece out of the forge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Why run it on the face where de-tempering could be a problem? run the torch on the side of the anvil and heat up the body and let it bleed heat to the face. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triw Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 It usually doesn't get that cold in Arizona but when it does I use an electric iron I picked up at a yard sale for a buck. I sit that on the anvil face and by the time my steel is hot it has taken the chill out of my 300 lb anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geofthesmith Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 if your anvil is close to the forge, would it work to run some thick steel cable from the forge adn wrap it around the waist? would it be conductive enough to heat the anvil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 No. Copper might help; but it would be expensive Need a large cable! and you are more likely to melt it down into your forgepot and clinker breaker. Heating a steel slab in the forge and sticking it on top of the anvil works better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 I use a piece of 6in X 6in X 1in steel plate. Put it in the forge, as soon as it's fired up, and heat to a cherry red. Lay it on the anvil and just turn and move it around every 5 min or so. Seems to do the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unkle spike Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 I thought about using one of those heating pads some of us need to use for aches and pains? You could lay it over the anvil and put a blanket over it. I don't heat the anvil, but in the winter it sure draws the heat out of the work when you lay it on the anvil to hit it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 Hey Jeff. The winter is the only time that I heat the anvil. It doesn't cool down enough in the summer to draw the heat out of your work as fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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