Mini 4140 anvil question

[running bird]

I’ve been needing a decent flat surface for working nickel/copper/brass/silver sheet and have been considering making two mini anvils. I don’t need anything crazy in mass since my plan is to mount these on a heavy duty vise or set them in a block of wood/log or cut them to fit in the hardy on my anvil. I have some mild steel plate I use now for this purpose but I’d rather have something made out of better material. McMaster has 4140 round bars and square bar, was thinking of getting a 3”x3” round bar and a 3”x3”x3” square bar (they would be around $30 each and I’d like to have both shapes).

Would these sizes be good for what I’m looking to do or will I really need something with more mass?

What kind of temps/times would I be looking at for heat treating these kind of sizes? I have parks 50, canola oil, and water. Looking around I see most people suggest water but the post anvils they’re making are much larger than what I’m planning so I’m not sure if that means I should use something else. And as far as decarb, how much material should I expect to be grinding off after? I have some stainless foil on hand if that’s necessary.

Thanks
Kevin

 

[Blankblank]

I think you can get away with oil for that size. Provided you have enough of it.

As far as big enough for your purposes. Youre probably the only one able to answer that. But i think 4140 would work well. I think if the tolerances are good putting it in the hardy hole would work well.

I don't think you would have much more decarb than if you were hardening 5160, or 52100.

 

[running bird]

I think you can get away with oil for that size. Provided you have enough of it.

I have 5gal of parks 50 (might be more than that can’t remember how much I’ve added). It’s kept in a mortar ammo can, it’s roughly 3’ tall, little more than a foot long, and probably 4” wide. The ~4” width concerns me a little bit because that doesn’t leave me too much space if the anvils are 3” wide…

I don’t really heat treat anything but knives and the occasional chisel so I have no experience with bulkier pieces.

 

[Blankblank]

I have 5gal of parks 50 (might be more than that can’t remember how much I’ve added). It’s kept in a mortar ammo can, it’s roughly 3’ tall, little more than a foot long, and probably 4” wide. The ~4” width concerns me a little bit because that doesn’t leave me too much space if the anvils are 3” wide…

I don’t really heat treat anything but knives and the occasional chisel so I have no experience with bulkier pieces.

I think that could maybe be enough. I would defer to what someone who has done something like this chimes in with, if they do.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

There are bench anvils like you want available for reasonable prices.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

What you need is a hardened bench block. Amazon and most jewelry suppliers sell a 4"X4"X3/4" plate for $20.
They are smooth and polished and made for planishing and flattening things.

 

[running bird]

What you need is a hardened bench block. Amazon and most jewelry suppliers sell a 4"X4"X3/4" plate for $20.
They are smooth and polished and made for planishing and flattening things.

There are bench anvils like you want available for reasonable prices.

Awesome!

I assumed I’d be saving money making something like this myself… I’ve never even heard of a bench anvil but that’s exactly what I’m looking for! Thanks guys