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Post by chrisperoni on Nov 17, 2016 16:23:53 GMT
So for now in lieu of a real anvil I have a big rectangular block of steel. It's about 5"x7"x8.5" and weighs 90lbs. Is there a "best" side to use as the face based on the dimensions? It seems similar stuff I see online would have the block set so it's standing at its tallest- the 8.5 as the height, leaving the smallest surface as the face. Thoughts?
Also, mounting it? I'm thinking I might get a stump and use 2x4 around the bottom of the block to frame it in. This would be a removable mount which I've seen described when people want to keep their anvil portable. I guess I could also use angle iron and bolt that to the sides at the bottom and then to the stump, but that'd be harder to do and more expensive and eventually I will have a real anvil anyway so I don't know if it's worth it to do the extra work on this block. Or perhaps I should cut out little feet or something? Again also more work than I really want to do though. Thoughts?
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Post by L Driggers (fallen) on Nov 17, 2016 17:17:42 GMT
Make your mount where you can change sides, have a feeling if this block is mild steel you will be putting a lot of dents in it. Also it will be dead with no rebound have you tried the 1in ball bearing teat on it or lightly hit it with a hammer. You would like to get 75% rebound.
The 2x4 frame might work or you might just bound in out.
How the forge build going.
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Post by chrisperoni on Nov 17, 2016 17:54:21 GMT
That's a good point about making it so I can change sides as it gets beat up. Thats one more reason to go with the 2x4 frame I guess.
I'm not fooling myself here though - I know it's not a real anvil and not going to do as good a job. It'll get beat up and won't bounce back like it should. It's what I've got for now is all.
I finally have all the stuff I need to line the forge
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Post by chrisperoni on Nov 17, 2016 17:59:30 GMT
It does ring like a bell and the hammers I have do bounce off if some and bounce a bunch of times when I drop them on it. So it's not the worst I hope.
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Post by L Driggers (fallen) on Nov 17, 2016 18:50:58 GMT
Sounds like it might work better than my first anvil a harbor freight. Those forged knives I send you were made on it.
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Post by chrisperoni on Nov 17, 2016 23:31:33 GMT
I've got so many knives from you I don't know which ones you mean
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Post by brotherbanzai on Nov 21, 2016 14:35:20 GMT
I have a rectangular block of o1 I use on occasion and just flip it to whichever side is best for what I'm doing (long narrow/long wide/short end). As long as you're only doing hot work, it shouldn't get dented up. Also, I never really noticed any difference in having one side up over another, though I haven't used it all that much. But as L Driggers mentions, might not get good rebound, which will tire you out quicker. I've done all kinds of stuff with my crappy little 70 pound made-in-china anvil, and though I certainly wouldn't mind a good quality, large anvil, I've never felt any real "need" to get one. I talked to Howard Clark a couple years ago at a blacksmithing conference in Florida and he was still forging on a block of steel with no intention of switching to a "real" anvil. Though I don't recall if it was hardened or not.
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