granite anvils ??

Dan Gray

Dan Gray

Joined
Jun 25, 2001
Messages
8,474
granite anvil?? I've heard of them
but I can't find one

any of you know where I can find info on them
:confused: Thanks
 
Thanks Mike

Mind boging IG:D
BLACKSMITHING in the VIKING AGE

TOOLS and MATERIALS Anvils: Most anvils discovered from this period are surprisingly small. The largest may have been up around 50 pounds, certainly no more than 100. Smaller ones were down in the 10 to 20 pound range, and some, such as those from the Mastermyr find, were only a pound or two. Shapes from actual finds or contemporary illustrations show that they used plate anvils (like the ones that Jock suggests, only with a spike welded to the bottom to hold it in place) block anvils, with spike, horned anvils such are used in Europe today, and various bicks and blocks. The alternative, recounted in the sagas, is a stone anvil, as heavy as a strong man could carry, which probably meant near 200 pounds. I believe examples in Iceland are basalt. (There's a lot of basalt in volcanic Iceland!) We've used a 20 pound block of polished granite at one of our reenactments for light knives and projectile points (Light = ½" stock or less) with some degree of success. As long as you didn't work the metal at black, or bounce the hammer off the face, it seemed to hold up just fine. How it would hold up day after day is another question. I would strongly suggest safety goggles if you're experimenting with a stone anvil, since the chipping could be rather spectacular.
Click to expand...

from the other

MATERIALS: The earliest anvils were stone and used for working stone.
Bronze age anvils were mostly stone but it would seem that bronze
would work, developing a very hard surface from work hardening.
Granite would have made the best stone anvil.

It has been postulated by historians that the earliest anvil was
meteoric iron. However, rare metoric iron would have been much too
valuable to use when a common piece of granite would do. The first
iron anvils would come with the iron age. For centuries anvils were
made of wrought iron with a thin layer of steel welded to the face. As
steel became more common these plates became thicker but were often a
cause of failure. Not until the 1800's did crucible steel become
common enough to use a plate thick enough to be reliable.

Today most good quality anvils are made of cast steel the type
dependent on the manufacturer. There are also a large number of cast
iron "shop anvils" sold. Cast iron anvils are worthless for forging as
they are dead (no rebound) and very brittle. by Jock Dempsey
QUOTE]
Thanks mike that's what I was looking for..
:)
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Dan: Whats next, a helmet with horns on it????:confused: :confused: Nah!! Just glue the horns to your head, no manmade object could penetrate that skull.
I can make the damascus for a sword.:D :D
 
start Hammering IG and let me know when it's done :D :D
your not going to believe what I'm going to use for an anvil next
:D :D it'll go to the Grave with me..:)
I'll take my Hammer too:D
 
Let me know where your tombstone will be. That way I can pour a can of Bud on it for you, after it is strained thru my kidneys.:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :D :D
 
A granite block is handy around the shop anyway, so it wouldn't hurt to have one.

I've been waiting for a good price on some stones on ebay. Actually, I've been waiting for one to show up that's close enough to go and get it and avoid shipping charges.

I have no idea how good it would be for an anvil, but they are wonderful for when you need a super-flat or super-hard surface.

By the way, the blocks I was looking at are all in the 25-100 pound range (9x12 up to 18x24) and ranged in price from $20 - $50 + s/h.

Dan
 
Dan
I haven't yet but I'm going to a head stone maker and see what I can find
you never know they may have 2nd's too:)
or a reprocessed stone

or maybe pick one up at night
at the local cemetery there're a lot cheaper that way.
JUST Kidding :D :D

I do use a piece to flat hand sand on and I smack
that thing pretty hard at times working on other things.
 
your not going to believe what I'm going to use for an anvil next
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OK...this is getting bad, first stone washed peckers and now this. No wonder we don't see Bruce Evans anymore. His wife won't let him play with us!:o
 
Dan , saw a granite "anvil" being used at a blacksmithing class - it was a piece of curbstone. The point being made by the teacher was that you don't really need much more than some charcoal, a piece of rock and a cheap hammer to do some respectable work.

Bob
 
Seen one in iceland, or what were believed by archeologists to be the remains of one. A steel anvil is far better :)
They were used in ancient times. I seem to recall they were used also in japan in early times.
Basalt would be a far better material. Much harder and denser than granite.
A granite slab would indeed be very useful for flat sanding...
 
Speaking of granite and sanding surfaces:

At a garage sale we found some cutoffs of granite from a counter top installation. It's about 1.25" thick and very flat. Good stuff. I've use it as a sanding surface. If Dan or someone wants a piece I can break some off and send it along. Sorry, I have no way to cut it so you'd have to figure that out yourself. You really would want a dressed edge to work to.

Also a good accurate flat surface is the slate from an old pool table, one of which was left in our basement when we bought the house. Jeanie is something of a pool table snob and this wasn't up to spec, so I dismantled it and hauled away all but the slate. It makes great workbench surfaces, very flat, no glare or reflection, very heavy and stable. I like it! Wouldn't work for an anvil though, too thin - again about 1.25".
 
he is right Bob.
Thanks Dave I have a 1" piece now and I've been
using it for about 6 years works great
I'm going to get a block of granite point being
I had read somewhere before that if the heats are right
and you can use granite to hammer on and if you
can do that you'll never hurt a steel one
because of improper heating at least.
the sign of a great Blacksmith was his anvil
with corners intact
this is just from reading not my personal opinion

I'll try anything once at least:)
 
To cut it just get the appropriate disc (stone cutting) for your angle grinder and do it. Use some serious protective stuff for eyes and breathing.
 
Originally posted by Graymaker
Dan
I haven't yet but I'm going to a head stone maker and see what I can find
you never know they may have 2nd's too:)
or a reprocessed stone

Click to expand...

reprocessed....

had me for a moment, I thought it read reposessed.
 
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