blafen Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Righty, hammer with right hand, tongs in the left, and my anvil faces to the right, partly because i like it that way and partly because of shop space requirements, this way i can go and work on very fine curves on the tip of the horn from the front, and it just feels more natural. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheftjcook Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Hit with right hand and walk around the anvil as needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 My main anvil came with a very heavy thick-walled iron stand. The inside surface of the stand tilts down and away from where I stand. As the result the horn is to my left. Any other placement and the anvil's surface would be at an impractical/impossible angle. I have tried to level the anvil with sand, but the anvil is heavy and gradually works itself down into the sand and back to where it wants to be. A previous anvil I tried pointing to the right, and that worked OK because I could see what was happening on the horn better, but with experience, I can now work just as well with the horn to the left and also have the benefit of better posture while working. The slanted anvil stand's surface is interesting. The smith that used it was probably my height because with my arm extended the top of the anvil lines up with the face of my hammer when my wrist is at a comfortable angle.... the angle that mimics that angle of your wrist when using an axe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_sandy_creek_forge Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 also pointing directly towards me and directly away from me. I am right handed (hammer right, hold w/ left). I usually end up with the horn pointing away from me. Please reference attached, um, diagram. My anvil has a fair bit of a sway-back/saddle-back to it. Therefore the area of my anvil that is the flattest and least likely to introduce unnecessary curves to a workpiece is perpendicular to the anvil's main axis of symmetry (i.e. across the face). Add to this that at area *A* I have a fairly well rounded edge that I use as a fuller for drawing out and it only makes sense for me to stand where I do, I think. Your mileage may vary. -Aaron @ the SCF (and yes, I am one of those people who does most of my general drawing out with half-face blows over the edge of the anvil) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I ALWAYS use my right hand to hammer with! I've never tried my left. If I did I'd probably end up with a broken knee cap! Tongs=left Hammer=right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Zietman Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I am right handed and have my horn to the left. I am comfortable either way, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devon blacksmith Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I am left handed and have anvils both left and right faceing and one anvil with two horns and two hardy holes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Falzone Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Righty. But I preferr my horn pointing left Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 I am left handed, with the horn left. Works good for a heavy anvil. With a 100-150 pound anvil you can find the anvil turned all sorts of directions, including horn pointing up, horn pointing down, and even with the anvil on its side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveh Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 i am right handed and have the horn on the right as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tribal forge Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Right handed, and prefer horn on the left, have had to get another anvil for oldest step-son,he prefers the horn on the right! and I got tired of having to change the anvil around after he got done/Selden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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