anvil weight

[Rick Leeson]

I have had great results producing heavy anvils for use under treadle-hammers, air-hammers, and JYH-hammers by using an 8-inch pipe with an 1.25-inch top plate welded on to mount the die.

I flip the column over, aim a forge burner into it, and cast it full of lead. Makes for a heavy anvil.

Lead weights .412 pounds per cubic inch as compared to steel at .284 pounds per cubic inch so this gives a much heavier anvil than using a solid steel shaft of equal size.

Square tubing could also be used too. I like to weld a few "half inch pegs" to the inside of the tube for the lead to grip. Also I only cast outside in the open on a clear sunny day. Don't want to breath lead fumes and don't want a water drop falling into the molten lead. A drop of water in molten lead can result in wearing the lead as this is a bad reaction. Eye protection is a must!

 

[Reg ELLERY]

Thanks for the tip. I have a loan of a rolling mill but want to build a hammer one day. Steel shaft can be hard to come by when scrounging. I don't like the price for new heavy rod stock.

I casted a coke can 3/4 full of lead as a non scratch rest and punch base. I used to use it for gluing clamp/weight. ( I removed the aliminium can )

 

[Bruce Bump]

Interesting Rick, Thanks for the tip. It may come in handy sometime.