Blacksmith -how can I use these?

[xhead]

I picked these up at a farm auction (the nice brown coloured stuff) as well as a broken anvil!




The anvil shown has a 1.25" stake hole






The stakes standing at the back would need a 2.25 hole - too large for the average anvil I would think.

What would the stand be like to hold these stakes

 

[wyn]

Maybe they fit in a swage block.

 

[julianthegypsy]

They would fit in a swage block. Alternatively you could clamp them in the vice. There's some nice tools there! Incidentally, 51 kilos is a very small anvil, I'm surprised the hardie hole is as big as it is, they are usually smaller.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Ps. The anvil block is way too short, you'll be bent double. I don't know why anvils end up on these things, they were supposed to be for the swage block!

 

[pedrobedro]

The Hardy hole is usually about 1" and the tools have a taper on the shaft. The round Pritchel hole is for punching and other tools which don't need holding in a fixed position.

 

[xhead]

Ps. The anvil block is way too short, you'll be bent double. I don't know why anvils end up on these things, they were supposed to be for the swage block!

That makes sense, the next time I get a resonable piece of tree stump I'll put it on that.

For what I use the anvil for, its adequate - I would love to take up smithing as I now have the time and space - maybe 40 yrs ago.

 

[julianthegypsy]

That makes sense, the next time I get a resonable piece of tree stump I'll put it on that.

For what I use the anvil for, its adequate - I would love to take up smithing as I now have the time and space - maybe 40 yrs ago.

The anvil face should be at knuckle height when you're standing up straight, you'll find a huge difference in your work. I'd recommend keeping it as a hobby, that way you can enjoy it. Not so much fun when you have to swing a hammer from eight till five at my age anyway. Over thirty years ago, we used a 62.5 kilo anvil for travelling to farms shoeing horses, I had to load and unload it four or five times a day. I wouldn't want to do it now and what's left of my spine wouldn't either!

 

[xhead]

The anvil face should be at knuckle height when you're standing up straight, you'll find a huge difference in your work. I'd recommend keeping it as a hobby, that way you can enjoy it. Not so much fun when you have to swing a hammer from eight till five at my age anyway. Over thirty years ago, we used a 62.5 kilo anvil for travelling to farms shoeing horses, I had to load and unload it four or five times a day. I wouldn't want to do it now and what's left of my spine wouldn't either!

Thanks, I think I've got a couple of short stumps down the garden.

 

[outofthefire]

Ps. The anvil block is way too short, you'll be bent double. I don't know why anvils end up on these things, they were supposed to be for the swage block!

Odd isn't it. A lot of them anvils are found in schools (i've got two exactly the same) could be the reason for the short stands. There the right height for working with a sledge hammer but the anvils are way to light for that sort of work.

You want something like this to hold your stakes http://www.riogrande.com/Product/Fretz-Extended-Reach-Steel-Stake-Holder-for-Miniature-and-Forming-Stakes-H-1L/112662?pos=18 You dont need to buy something though there are loads of ways to make something similar.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Linky not working for me. It is odd, those things are still too low for anyone but dwarves, who were supposed to be good smiths, but still...
I used to strike for my boss years ago and we still used the anvil at normal height. The swage block worked well with a sledge when it was on its side, but that's another story. The boss used to give me a huge sledge because if I used the normal one he couldn't keep up. These days I can see where he was coming from

 

[Country Joe]

Linky not working for me.

Should be this, I think:-

http://www.riogrande.com/Product/Fretz-Extended-Reach-Steel-Stake-Holder-for-Miniature-and-Forming-Stakes-H-1L/112662?pos=18

All the Best,
CJ

 

[blacksmithstris]

Got the same anvil and stand in the school where I work part time, it has those characteristic chips on the edge also!!

 

[penfold]

Have a look in the catalogue at Vaughans; that lot would cost a bit to get new.

 

[xhead]

Odd isn't it. A lot of them anvils are found in schools

I got mine from a school that was shutting. The new school was offering 'food technology' and 'resistant materials'. The kids could plan a banquet but not fry an egg - use a 'vacuum former' but not do anything that might upset the god of 'Health and Safety'.

I resist the temptation to rant about modern education

 

[Bsmith]

Must agree with the members who say that the cast iron stand is no good. When used the way it is, the anvil will 'ring' and hammer will spring back too much, lump of wood end on is ideal for 'deadening' the anvil. Top of anvil at knuckle height as julianthegypsy says.

 

[blacksmithstris]

xhead, I could join you in the rant, though where i work it's less about the H&S and more about funding.

 

[xhead]

Just deleted another mini rant (that's 4). Its a lost cause. I'm sure if I let rip it would open a bucket of worms - keep schtum(sp?)

 

[blacksmithstris]

Gov't and Industry complains not enough of the right skilled workers, but at the same time we have our budget cut by a third this year... kids can design loads of stuff on the computer but unless they have a grounding in "making" in real materials they don't know what works in the real world... (mini rant, bucket o' worms.... sure this belongs in it's own thread...)

That size of stand, (however horrible) is probably about right for the kids at school though, young ones anyway!