V-grooves ground in the face are also offered. Specialty anvils such as the Farriers anvil sometimes have a bulge to one side of the horn for forging caulks. It includes "Acme" (probably Hay-Buden) steel faced wrought iron anvils, "Steel Face Cast Anvils" and "Chilled Face Cast Iron Anvils." Weights range from 220 pounds to 20 pounds. In 1985 the same catalog was reprinted a second time in cooperation with A.B.A.N.A. In 1984 the Mid-West Tool Collectors reprinted the 1915 Sears, Roebuck and Co., Tools Machinery Blacksmith's Supplies catalogue. Reprints of catalogs such as old Sears and Roebucks are also a good source of anvil data. This catalog also included a variety Blacksmith's hand tools and forges. "The face is made from one piece of high grade tool steel, accurately ground and tempered. Industrial Supply Corp., Richmond, VA, 1955 catalog, page 172 lists Fisher "Eagle" Anvils from 50 to 700 pounds, Old industrial catalogs will often include photos and specs of the anvils they carried. The most beautifully illustrated book about Blacksmithing that I've ever seen. Then try Eric Sloane's A Museum of Early American Tools, pp.90-93 Early, Colonial, Stake, Nailers.Īnd for a classic of custom design see Otto Schmirler's Start with Bealer's classic The Art of Blacksmithing, p.65 Medieval Anvils, p.66 The London Anvil and nomenclature, p.68 A Liêges anvil. Today there are still a number of manufactures making anvils but in small quantities and there are still organizations and individuals that make anvils to suit themselves.Īny book on blacksmithing will give the shape and basic nomenclature. Other than this brief period anvils were made in a great variety. Most anvils were made in the London pattern or it's modification the American pattern (narrower waist, mass moved into horn and heal). To mount it, you could either drill out the base if you have the right tools for the job, bend nails over the base or, if it has holes, use a chain like I did for my Quick Mount Anvil.First, one should recognize there is no "standard" anvil.ĭuring the early part of the twentieth century, shortly before the automobile and other technical advances put the American Blacksmith out of business, anvils were made in great quantity and under great competition. The advantage of I-beam is that it has a wide, flat face that can be drilled out to create your hardie and pritchel holes. I was in Columbus picking up some stock at Kroot Corporation and noticed some sections of I-beam lying around the warehouse. Nothing beats a real-time conversation with a person.Īnother idea is to look up your local steel supplier and see if they offer I-beams. To save on shipping costs, it's better to find a local supplier and go down in person. They might not have the length you want, though. Railroad suppliers are another place to look. Some sellers will cut it to length for you. Pieces of track can be purchased on eBay for very little money. It doesn't have the ever-useful hardie or pritchel holes, but for a beginning blacksmith, it does the job. I mentioned in an earlier post that I came across a piece of railroad track that a friend was willing to part with for free. The anvil is shaping it at the same time as the hammer. When you're hammering a piece of steel, you're actually working it from two sides at once. You're looking for a material hard enough and heavy enough to take the blows sent through the steel your working. If you have the capital for it, you can't go wrong with a Peddinghaus.įor the frugal blacksmith, there are plenty of options out there for makeshift anvils. There are wonderful anvils available from the upstart Nimba and the tried and true Ridgid/Peddinghaus. If you know the size and manufacturer you want, narrowing your search is easy.īrand new anvils can be prohibitively expensive for the budget-conscious blacksmith. If you're running out of ideas, a variety of anvils are also available on eBay. These are both excellent places to look in your area. Ideally, we could all find an excellent deal on a vintage anvil at a flea market or farm auction.
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