Sources of big thick hardened steel for making anvils

[Brad93]

Lorry leaf spring

 

[DAPPH]

Lorry leaf spring

You'd have to forge it flat , as most will have some curve in them and the shorter one or two will usually have a centre bolt hole in them to locate them on the axle pad .

 

[Shedendman]

Forklift tines are supposedly good for that purpose.

Anvil from a forklift tine

My search for a real anvil got me nowhere,reason being those that were good would cost a fortune,or were miles away,those that were affordable were rubbish. So the other option was to make one,now i had ideas about one from a rail track,big no there couldn't get a bit,i even know guys who work...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

 

[Bornfree]

So, they don't have to be super thick, since I am thinking of welding them onto thick blocks of mild steel. They just have to be thick enough to be the hardened work surface for the anvil.
I don't mind scrap since I can clean it up. Like I say, it's for anvils not something that must be brand new and conform to any regulations etc. More just does the job and looks the part.
Any ideas guys? Thanks.

If you're anywhere near norfolk I've got scrap forklift tines you can have for free.

 

[Onthespotwelding]

One of these?

20” Custom Rail Anvil With Horn Blacksmithing (reclaimed Railway) | eBay

500mm long including the horn. Weight 25kg. 140mm tall.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Brad93]

You'd have to forge it flat , as most will have some curve in them and the shorter one or two will usually have a centre bolt hole in them to locate them on the axle pad .

I'm assuming if he is making anvils he has a forge

 

[ELL]

I'm assuming if he is making anvils he has a forge

No, I don't have one. Just a horizontal bandsaw and angle grinder at the moment.

 

[Brad93]

No, I don't have one. Just a horizontal bandsaw and angle grinder at the moment.

I have to ask, why do you need an anvil then?

 

[ELL]

I have to ask, why do you need an anvil then?

I don't. I'll be making them to sell.

 

[Erie Fred]

I don't. I'll be making them to sell.

So how do you know if they are any good ?

 

[ELL]

So how do you know if they are any good ?

They're pieces of metal which are going to be used to put hot metal on and hit with a hammer. It's not exactly precision engineering. I won't ever claim it to be, and most people are intelligent enough to know that.

 

[Kram]

What size and wieght do you imagine your anvil products?

 

[ELL]

What size and wieght do you imagine your anvil products?

About 15-20kg at the moment.

 

[Erie Fred]

They're pieces of metal which are going to be used to put hot metal on and hit with a hammer. It's not exactly precision engineering. I won't ever claim it to be, and most people are intelligent enough to know that.

Woah !
Have you seen how picky anvil people can get ?......

 

[Kram]

I'd suggest building a forge as that would be the best way to convert available metals like track, into a good usable product.

 

[jimbo84]

You'd have to forge it flat , as most will have some curve in them and the shorter one or two will usually have a centre bolt hole in them to locate them on the axle pad .

Get one from an old scaffolder's lorry, it'll have been over loaded that often it'll be bent flat.

 

[DAPPH]

Get one from an old scaffolder's lorry, it'll have been over loaded that often it'll be bent flat.

The rear leaf spring set off a Mighty Antar MK1 ballast body towing out fit would have been ideal about 16 leaves ,5 inches or more wide , stacking up to around 18 inches thick .... A hellofa job to replace a set even in the workshop with a handy over head crane .

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

They're pieces of metal which are going to be used to put hot metal on and hit with a hammer. It's not exactly precision engineering. I won't ever claim it to be, and most people are intelligent enough to know that.

Blasphemy! My Peter Wright will be an heirloom!

Seriously, not worth your time when Vevor are selling *decent-ish* anvils at that weight for £60. They really do need to be a single piece or steel/iron (whether monosteel or forge welded) - the quality of an anvil is measured on it's rebound, and yes, it's immediately obvious when using one if it's not a solid lump.

 

[DAPPH]

I've never understood why people especially in the USA wrap chain s round their anvils to deaden the noise & response .
It means there is no resonance so the hammer blow is a dead weight smash rather than a number of micro vibrations which kind of shot pene the steel or iron being forged & makes it stronger IMO.

 

[hotponyshoes]

I've never understood why people especially in the USA wrap chain s round their anvils to deaden the noise & response .
It means there is no resonance so the hammer blow is a dead weight smash rather than a number of micro vibrations which kind of shot pene the steel or iron being forged & makes it stronger IMO.

Because it deadens the noise

I use an anvil all day, every day.
The one I have chosen for that is half aluminium/rubber sandwich. It sits on a rubber mat.
On an aluminium stand.

Mainly for weight reduction but it's not got much ring to it.

The ring is lovely when you walk past a blacksmith's forge and spend 10mins watching.
Gets tiresome by about 11:30am Monday.