whats with warming anvils

If they're cold, then they will suck the heat out of your workpiece very quickly, making your work very inneficient until the anvil finally warms up (which can take a while, especially with smaller pieces).

be merry,
Archie

What is the best way to warm an anvil?

I put a piece of steel plate in my gas forge and let it heat up while the forge heats up. when the plate is orange, I just lay it on my anvil face. I have also found that leaving a piece of thin plate (1/4 inch or so) in the forge helps heat pieces faster. at least it seems that way.

there are several ways people do it some heat thick blocks of steel and set them on the anvil to warm some use a magnetic block heater (for trucks in the winter ) the one i have is a kats 1500 watt also it a good idea to warm them as i have heard of and seen the aftermath some of the older anvil were they have the heel broken in the cold wether when struck cold i beleave its happens mostly with the cast ones but not sure

What is the best way to warm an anvil?

Build a heated building around the anvil. Good for the smith too.

Anvil Heater
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The *best* way is to heat your smithy so the anvil doesn't get cold.

Now there are a lot of good ways depending on your setup; Some folks like to use an old electric iron or two to warm up the anvil. When I worked with the swordmaker we would hang paint cans from the heel and horn of his 400# anvil and build small wood fires in them to warm it up. Some people take the anvil inside the house and only bring it out when they will be working.

Build a heated building around the anvil. Good for the smith too.

Anvil Heater
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I like this Idea the best. now just to get enough cash for the building, I might work a power hammer in the building cost to present to the boss for final approval.

I'll use either my propane weed burner or heat heavy pieces in the forge and lay them on the face. I would much prefer heated building though.

I can just imagine Deb's reaction to bringing one of the anvils into the house on a cold night. I'd probably get to share a blanket with it. I kind of doubt the blind border collie would enjoy his game of fetch as much is one of the surprise obstacles in his path were an anvil.

The magnetic engine heaters I have don't do much for the anvils but they do help keep the propane from freezing up. Normally it isn't an issue with a 100lb tank but it gets pretty cold here and doesn't take much evaporation to kick it over the edge.

Frosty

I built a box from half inch foil covered insulation board large enough to slip down over my anvil and stump with plenty of room to spare. I then wired two porcelain light fixtures which now hold 100 watt bulbs.

This set-up works great to gently and evenly heat the anvil and anything else in the box - anvil tools, hammers, lunch whatever. I turn it on in the early morning when I let the dogs out and it can get the anvil to 50 degress F in a couple hours and much much warmer given more time.

I'll try to post some photos tonight if anyone is interested.

Woodeye

I have seem motor frame heaters used. They are low wattage and will keep a pretty good sized piece of solid iron hot. Most are set up for 110V and all you have to add is a drop cord and a houshold plug.

Peter

This shows just how mild our climate is. Heating the anvil is not really needed here except for working on really fine articles. Then a bit of plate in the fire and put on the anvil works.

On the other hand its odd that in my other hobby, astronomy, we spend lots of time chilling our gear :)

Rob, I work in a radio astronomy research org; we do lots of cryo too!

Take the anvil home and only take it out when you want it. Excellent idea. I shall take mine to bed which will be even better.

Warm the anvil enough and it will radiate the heat while you work, heating the rest of the shop any you; much thermal mass:)

So far I like the "heat the building it in" the best...

Some day I'll have a building, then I'll get to see what its like to work inside!! AAhhh warm pleasant dreams those are!

During the winter I heat a 1/2 x4x6" plate to orange and lay it on the face while I finish laying out tools and stock for the day repeat after lunch time.

Hey would a plumbers tourch that i use to start my forge with work as a heater for my anvil or will it hurt it.

I take a mechanics trouble light, (caged) and put a moving blanket over the anvil the night before, hook up the light, make sure the clearances are good, and in the morning, the anvil is soooo toasty!!

I don't see why an electric heating pad would not work? Remember with the mass of an anvil it will take a long time to get heat into it. I wouldn't try to heat one too quick, it may pop the plate on the top.

I see no one mentioned that the working surface of a cold anvil may break off if struck the right way, relizing there may have been some hidden hairline cracks. I found out the hard way, now I have to reface a 125lb mousehole.

Looking at a copy of a 1908 Sears catalogue last night – they sold various forging equipment – they warned of drawing the temper from a steel anvil face by laying a hot piece of steel on it. Made me wonder if a lot of the old wrought & steeled anvils may be softer now than when they were new because of years of heating from all the hot steel in contact. OTOH, you would have to be working some big pieces to actually get something that massive up to tempering heat, and you would see the face change color!

Sorry for the hijack.

Looking at a copy of a 1908 Sears catalogue last night

I use a 1000W tripod light.
Its not as fast as putting a hot plate on the anvil face, but at close range, they put out a surprising amount of heat.

I built a wooden box lined with that foil covered foam insulation that fits over the anvil with about 4 inches of air space all of the way around. I also cut out two pieces of plywood that fit around the base of the anvil and covered them with the same foam insulation. I have a 60 watt ceramic reptile heat emitter that I mounted through a hole in the top of the box to point down on the face of the anvil.
Check them out here Heat Emitters. it draws only a little more power then a 60 watt light bulb.
It keeps my anvil warm not hot and last year in my shop (unheated) I had temps at -15 degrees
My shop is in the woods in a low spot and in the winter it does not get sun until around 1:00 pm. Lets put it this way this time of year I hang deer and game in my shop and they keep as if in a meat locker.

Build a heated building around the anvil. Good for the smith too.

Anvil Heater
A search of IForgeIron found this information.

Ha ha. I'm fire going to fire up the wood stove at least an hour before I step foot in the shop. (My tool rack is in close proximity to the stove...) Don't like the cold.