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SilverFoxKnows

SilverFoxKnows

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Sep 25, 2002
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Where could I find a big hunk of steel to use as an anvil? I've priced real anvils and they aint cheap. I'd like to try my hand at forging with a really basic set-up. Scrap yards, wrecking yards, the dump? Anyone else done this? Where did you have the best luck? Thanks for any input.

Frank
 
Junk yards and scrap yards are a good place to look. I got a piece of rail road track at a scrape yard one time that I used to make armor with. I can't remember what it cost exactly but I want to say it was just a few dollars and I paided a few to have them cut it into about a foot section. I want to say about $25 total. That would be something good to start with in my opinion. It isn't fancy by any means but it gets the job done most of the time. What are you looking to do if I may ask? I know a couple of people that have just ordered a piece of 416 stainless steel and had it welded to a cheap thick piece of mild steel. You can sorta heat treat 416 with something as simple as a grill and a hair dryer. Hope that helps. Mark
 
a piece of railroad track would probably do you.

Believe if it's not hardened, can do it by building up fire aroudn it, with LOATS of charcoal or coal, as while they can get hot enough with forced air(see hair dryer, or actually something bigger probalby for that much coal), gotta burn a lot of calories to get that much steel hot. then can quench by using garden hose.

Not my idea, seen it somewhere else.

Only problem is that I'm not sure about later tempering it, as you'd be nicely brittle.

Heck, what you need to do, is go and buy a copy of Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife shop. WHich I actually have on shelf, but don't want to get up to find it. :) THis will get you started on knives cheaply.
 
Harbor frieght has 55lbs anvils for $50 they are not too bad the ones Ilooked at have a nice ring to them if you tap em with a chunk of steel....a quality most anvil users look for...
 
I have been pounding railroad Iron for years. Never worried about taking the temper out of the top of the rail. These rails that I have were around when the steam engines were running on them. With the weight of a steam engine giving them a pounding I'm not worried about breaking one. Two of mine came from the Rock Island Rail Road many moons ago. The smaller guage piece that I have came from a copper mine in Arizona. It's pretty old too. I've pounded steel with 8 and 10 pound sledge hammers before with no damage. The crown of the one that I use the most was worn pretty flat so it makes a good anvil.:)
 
Thanks for input Pappy, I couldn't for life of me remember if these were hardened enougn already. Was almost sure they were, but now that you confirmed that, I have absolutely NO idea what I was told was hardaned in fashion I described. :)

OH well, if you have some big steel thing tha tneeds to be hardened, there's how to do it at home. :)
 
Originally posted by Pappy
I have been pounding railroad Iron for years. Never worried about taking the temper out of the top of the rail.
Click to expand...
Here's a pic from the faq.
Don't know if this is part of a rail,
but I know it's just a chunk of metal.
kami8.jpg


I notice that Harbor frieght now sells a 110 pound cast steel anvil.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=46707
And a 55 pound "heat-treated" steel anvil.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42028

These steel anvils may be new.
I bought a 55# cast IRON anvil there last year.
 
I would recommend finding a piece of mild steel at a recycler or scrap yard that is say 4"x4" or 5"x5" and 18" to 24" long; this will give you an anvil that weighs from 65 to 90 lbs. Place it in a 5 gallon bucket and fill with cement leaving from 4-8" sticking out the top. Mild steel will eventually work harden some, but if you happen to "ding" it you can easily clean it up w/a file or angle grinder. This type of set up will work better for blade forging than most of the A.L.O (anvil like objects) that you find at Harbor Freight and the like ~ I really suggest that you don't buy a cast iron ALO. For a quick forge you can stack some fire bricks to form a trough, and have a piece of black cast iron pipe come in from the side or bottom. You can then use a hairdryer or a big squirrell cage fan to provide the air. My first forge as a kid was simply a hole I dug in the ground, a piece of pipe and a fan. I burned charcoal briquettes in it (lump charcoal works far better though).
Hit the flea markets regularly and you can find good tongs for 10 bucks or less. I also would suggest the "$50 Knife Shop" and especially Tim Lively's video HERE . Hope this is helpful. Stevo
 
Ripper, a big (12-15) sledge hammer head does indeed work pretty good for making smaller things and is a good suggestion. Heads without handles can be picked up at garage sales or flea markets for next to nothing. Just need to make sure you can anchor it so it soesn't "bounce". Also, I have heard very good things about Old World Anvils products ~ many smiths are saying that they are the equal of the Geman Peddinhaus or the English Brooks anvils at about 1/2 to 2/3's the price.
 
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