Lift truck forks

[Paul B]

I believe I read somewhere that lift truck forks make a pretty good hitting surface if you don't have an anvil. I hope this is true because I have access to a couple of bent ones.

[craig]

They would work, as will almost anything that has a decent amount of mass.
If you have access to a fork already, the biggest challenge is to get it sitting how you want it so it is nice and sturdy and stays in it's place.

[petere76]

Paul,

The forks make excellent hammers. I have several in the shop. Dereck Glazier of New England Metal offered a great class on traditional tool making at the New England School, he used the forks as hammer stock.

[Dave Budd]

I use fork lift spikes for anvils when teaching students. They work fine, unless you hit them with the edge of your hammer I'm sure that I could improve them no end if I re-heat treat them, but I don't have that big a forge.

[marco-borromei]

We made a decent anvil of one... actually two anvils, but I only have pictures of one.

Marco Borromei - SCA/WMA Rapier Helms Weapons and More
Click on Research on the top menu
On the research page, the last link about making an anvil

Marco

[NateDJ]

Take a look at my 460# Anvil in the gallery, was made from forklift forks. They work great!