Farrier's anvil good for bladesmithing?

PIndelicato

PIndelicato

Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Messages
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I found what looks like a fair, but not 'smokin', deal on a 75 lb farrier's anvil. Would this be a good choice for bladesmithing work, or should I keep looking for something larger?
 
Sam's right, it'll get you started. As a relatively new guy myself, I got a 110lb anvil for a good deal. I wish all the time that I had a bigger one, when your wailing on a piece of round stock to get it flat, it bounces pretty good. That said, 75lbs isn't too bad, just realize you will want to upgrade it down the road so it might make sense to hold out for a bigger one. But if it's what you can afford now and you wanna get started, go for it! Nothin' like bashin' a piece of steel.

Syn
 
I am not a forger, but what is wrong with a small anvil if you give it a heavy base?
 
If its a good deal get is. It will give you years of service, and when you up grade you will probably get every thing back you spent.
 
A heavy base will make a big difference, no doubt. You can really only add so much weight there though. Any anvil is a good one to start on, just one of those things where bigger is usually better is all. Of course, the one you have and use is better than the biggest baddest one on the block that you can't afford, so you do what you need to to get something to beat on.

Syn
 
I second the heavy base/lighter anvil. My 100+ pounder Vulcan sits chained to a 400# flat anvil (used for ornamental iron work,not bladesmithing). It is rock solid for all forging,PLUS it can be unchained and used as a portable anvil on a wooden base for demos (portable).
Stacy
 
blacksmith's rule of thumb

50# of anvil for 1# of hammer

That said if you are not forging, this anvil will work.
 
I'm still looking for one big or small. And Sam's right it will get you started. And if you ever get a big one you can always sell that one to another knife maker starting out. :thumbup:
 
Thanks for all of the input, I appreciate it!

I'll mull it over for a bit and see if it's still available. If it was a screaming deal, I'd just get it now, but with AZ summer rapidly approaching I can't see myself standing at a forge in the heat anyway, so I can be patient for a while.
 
hehe, yeah I hear that man, it does get pretty darn hot at the forge. My shop regularly hits at least 100.

Syn
 
I wonder if someone did a study of bladesmiths and stock removers, and where they lived if that was a corresponding factor as to forgers living in colder areas and stock removelers living in warmer climates :p .
 
In the summer time here, ambient temps often don't drop much below 100! The good news is that we have 6-9 months of lovely weather for forging (speaking without any experience of course...)
 
Here's a picture of some old fart just after he got set up to do the forging demo at the Oregon Show. Never did weigh this anvil but I believe it to be around 110 pounds. I've got it set up with 3 concrete piers that bolt to the anvil base. Believe each pier is 50 pounds. I got this anvil mainly for doing demo's but it would works fine for doing both knives and axes full time. I've never used an anvil over 150 pounds and have never felt the need for anything bigger.

ray.jpg
 
I have a 75 pound Peter Wright on a good stump, and a 125 pound peter Wright on a great stump and an ASO on a moderate stump. A good heavy mass firmly attatched to the bottom of an anvil that doesn't compress much makes a world of difference. Get the anvil, firmly attatch it to 200 pounds of Concrete (with bolts and straps so you can remove it) and it will act like a 175 pound anvil with a very small face

good luck

-Page
 
Sounds like everyone covered what needed to be said, but yes, grab it when you can. I like the concrete idea. If my anvil wasn't bolted down to a huge maple tree stump on wheels, I would go with the contrete.... though I am already hammering on a 300 pounder.
 
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