Anvil, not your everyday variety

I saw that anvil and these guys in action earlier this year at the CBA Spring Conference. Cool guys and lots of cool stuff.
 
Very useful for drawing steel out, and profile shaping.
Not all that different from many Japanese sword anvils. They move the steel over the anvil, while the hammer always hits in the same place ( exactly like a power hammer), instead of moving the hammer up and down the billet ( very wasteful energy wise).

It has often be noted on these forums, that an anvil with more than a 3" wide face is too wide. Many swordsmith use a 3X3" raised block in the center of their anvil to do 90% of the work on.

Stacy
 
It has often be noted on these forums, that an anvil with more than a 3" wide face is too wide. Many swordsmith use a 3X3" raised block in the center of their anvil to do 90% of the work on.

Stacy[/QUOTE]

Stacy, you're sure right about the 3" thing. I've always wanted, and finally found and bought, a 500 # PW. After working it over (had to put a new face on it) I found it nearly impossible to do blade work on it. I had an old anvil from a 100 # Little Giant, and put a 1" square bar on the bottom side of it, and can now drop that into the hardy hole. That anvil is 3" X 6", and works really well for blade work.
 
Yes, a drop in raised anvil block is very useful. It can be as simple as a big hardie block (like yours), or have a plate base and side lips that let it saddle on your anvil. What ever way it fits, it has to sit flush to the anvil face, and have a fair mass of its own.

Look at some of the video clips of Japanese and Chinese smiths making a sword.
They get much more value for the energy put into forging.
They sit down while forging usually. Often in a pit ,with the anvil set on the floor. ( I began sitting as a necessity due to a bad knee, and could not believe the improvement. I use a bar stool. I sometimes grind sitting ,now, too. )
They have the anvil higher than we usually do.
They let the hammer do the work, not the arm.
They work a small area at a time.
They use a much smaller anvil face.

Here is a lengthy thread that is really worth the time to scroll through it of how Rich Chen does his blades (borrowed from SFI).

Stacy
 
bladsmth said:
Yes, a drop in raised anvil block is very useful. It can be as simple as a big hardie block (like yours), or have a plate base and side lips that let it saddle on your anvil. What ever way it fits, it has to sit flush to the anvil face, and have a fair mass of its own.

Look at some of the video clips of Japanese and Chinese smiths making a sword.
They get much more value for the energy put into forging.
They sit down while forging usually. Often in a pit ,with the anvil set on the floor. ( I began sitting as a necessity due to a bad knee, and could not believe the improvement. I use a bar stool. I sometimes grind sitting ,now, too. )
They have the anvil higher than we usually do.
They let the hammer do the work, not the arm.
They work a small area at a time.
They use a much smaller anvil face.

Here is a lengthy thread that is really worth the time to scroll through it of how Rich Chen does his blades (borrowed from SFI).

Stacy
Click to expand...

I sit when i grind and love it.
 
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