Source for small anvil

Malpaso

Malpaso

Joined
Jan 17, 2000
Messages
129
Let me preface by saying I have no metal moving skills at all, this will be my first attempt at it. I was given three axe heads in a trade, and this is the worst of them. Someone apparently used it as a wedge, and completely deformed the eye. My thought is to get a propane torch to heat it and try to get it to some semblance of shape to try to hang a handle on it. I understand the need to keep the edge cool, so I was planning on wrapping it in rags and keeping them soaked in water.
My problem is I do not have an anvil to work on. I have no need for a full size anvil, nor the ability to transport and set it up. I was wondering where I should look for a small anvil that will suffice for this type of job. I've tried Craigslist, and I have no social media accounts.

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I don't do this much but to me it looks like you don't need an anvil.
You need a way to hold heat on the eye: a few fire brick and an oxy acetylene torch preferably with a big assed tip like a "Rose Bud" (not like in the movie).

It takes a fairly high capacity set up to drive a Rose Bud; little tiny portable tanks are not going to do it. Don't mess with this without taking a class in using oxy acetylene equipment.

And a large well anchored spike like post to form the eye around.

Be aware they also make heat barrier paste that you may want to put on the blade instead of or in combination with the rags. The rags may just dry out and catch fire :eek: :p :eek:

On second thought the core of that thing is going to get hot enough to draw the temper no matter what you wrap the blade in short of submerging it in water.

I might be wrong.:rolleyes:
 
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Well that changes the plan. I was hoping to do it by myself, I guess I need to find a blacksmith/bladesmith. May not be worth the effort.
 
Malpaso said:
Well that changes the plan. I was hoping to do it by myself, I guess I need to find a blacksmith/bladesmith. May not be worth the effort.
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Yeah . . . the propane won't get it much hotter than 1200° F assuming you are using one of the large tanks like for a grill (not the hand held jobs) and you have all day to heat it.

The rags burn around 500° F sure lots of water will help.

The steel needs to be well up in the 1600° F to start to think about moving it BUT the flame heat that it takes to get and keep that size hunk of metal that hot is going to be much, much higher. And lots of volume; not just one little flame. A rose bud has a whole ring of flames on it and sounds like a little jet engine. Fun to use (especially when it pops and goes out the first time and you find yourself running half way down the block to get away from it cause you think you are about to die).
 
If you want a decent old american axe to hang so bad that you would attempt this, please get in touch with me. I've got a few that I rescued laying around and can send you one if you'll cover the shipping fees.-I can't seem to PM you with your membership level--KV
 
kvaughn said:
If you want a decent old american axe to hang so bad that you would attempt this, please get in touch with me. I've got a few that I rescued laying around and can send you one if you'll cover the shipping fees.--KV
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That is very generous of you, thanks. Right now I have four, including this one, in various conditions. I am new to this, and using them all to learn. I thought, erroneously, that this was something I could attempt, and not ruin any more that it was already. I'm going to see if there are professional resources locally that can help me with this.
 
Don't bother trying to keep the edge cool. It will be a waste of time. Just heat treat it again after you're done moving metal. And a propane torch could certainly heat it enough. Just obviously not a little hand held unit like plumbers use to solder copper pipe. There are a ton of knifemakers using propane forges these days.
 
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