Do you have an Anvil?

[leehljp]

What Anvil do you use, or what do use as an anvil substitute?

I have been looking at them for a couple of months and looked at the ones at HF, which I don't like because of the reviews of being somewhat "soft". I had a small anvil in Japan but left it there. It was too malleable for me. I used it to flatten brass after I cut .5 mm brass pieces from sheets. But using a hammer on it caused it to get dimples all over it from the hits. And I didn't have to hit hard to flatten the brass.

I am not needing a large one but something to beat or flatten things no larger than 1 inch or so. I just do not want something that shows dents from each hit.

LeeValley sent out a sale ad today that mentioned theirs was "hardened" which is what I would like but theirs was rather small.

What do you use or recommend?

[LCHIEN]

http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CHMQ8wIwBg

http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CGsQ8wIwBA

looks like if you want a good steel anvil not a cast iron one you're going to have to pay a lot, then pay a lot more for shipping.

Try this web page:
http://www.pronto.com/user/search.do...04384933&site=

[gerti]

I know next to nothing about anvils, even though I worked on Anvil the last few years... But in my case that is a pre-press software suite (PennySaver in CA and The Flyer in FL are produced using my software).

Maybe not sufficient in your case, but some bench vises come with an "Anvil section" like this one: http://www.grizzly.com/products/Benc...Anvil-6-/G7060 That way it can do double duty. Of course that is a whole different animal than a real Anvil.

[leehljp]

HIGH PRICES!
I would say "Thanks Loring", but "no thanks" at those prices!

Anyone know where I can get a foot of railroad iron?

[RodKirby]

Possibly: http://for-sale.yakaz.com/mini-anvils

[LCHIEN]

HIGH PRICES!
I would say "Thanks Loring", but "no thanks" at those prices!

Anyone know where I can get a foot of railroad iron?

without derailing the next train???

and here's a place dealing in used railroad rails.... hmmm, minimum order 20 tons. I guess that a bit more than a foot?

[LinuxRandal]

My anvil is an actual anvil from the estate of a former neighbor, who retired from the railroad around 1950. (his wife lived until 2001, just shy of 101)
I have a friend who travels to farm sales and such and buys them, so they are out there. (if you really want to get into it heavy there is a book just about anvils that gets high recommendations)

That said, Railroad track, is one thing used a bit (dad has one), as well as crane rail. So industrial supply/surplus places, Ebay, your local Railroad yard, CL, etc. might be places to check out.

[Warren]

I'm lucky enough to have railroad maintenance facility in my area. Never had a problem getting a cut off if I needed one. A steel fabricator might have cut offs also. I worked for a summer building sidings when I was a student and, if I remember correctly (small chance at my age) rail was sized by the weight per lineal foot. The stuff I usually worked with was light. I think 20 lbs. per foot. Hard to remember that stuff, it was fifty years ago.

Also, look around demo companies, you'll probably find some scrap you can take a torch to and cut to size.

Good luck.

[pelligrini]

I'll use the small flat area and the small horn that's on an old vice my folks had.

From what I understand, a decent anvil isn't cheap, especially if you want a really big one.

[sailor55330]

I have 3. All were made by my Grandfather, who was a master welder. 1 is cut from a peice of rail road rail that weighs about 30lbs, One is smaller and was made by him from scratch by welding and shaping old teeth from a dragline and some solid stock he got from the mines, and one is "miniature" for decoration. It's about 3 inches and sits on my desk. He was very good with his medium. I can remember growing up he had a true antique blacksmith's anvil that weighed almost 300lbs. It recently got sold at an auction were it only brought about $175, but it went to an Amish family who was intending to use it as it was meant to be used.

[chopnhack]

Maybe something like this is more in the price range?

http://www.amazon.com/Polished-Steel.../dp/B002Q86CXS

[dbhost]

I have an old (~1980 or so) machinists bench vise that has an anvil section that does what I need, but my needs are quite modest by comparison to many...

[cabinetman]

I've been using the anvil on the back of my vintage Superior machinist vise. Its got a large square area for an anvil. It works OK. I picked up the 15 lb anvil from HF, just to try it out, and it works great. Their site is temp down right now, but it isn't expensive. I'm thinking less than $20.

.

[cabinetman]

I have an old (~1980 or so) machinists bench vise that has an anvil section that does what I need, but my needs are quite modest by comparison to many...

I just saw your post. Which vise do you have?

.

[leehljp]

Maybe something like this is more in the price range?

http://www.amazon.com/Polished-Steel.../dp/B002Q86CXS

I looked at that and saw some other products - Square steel blocks that jewelers use as here. This might be what I go with.

The problem that I have with the HF and with the anvil part on many lesser expensive vises - they are too soft. When making pens, I often make segments and separate segments with brass. I cut brass sheets with shears and of course they deform. I need to flatten the brass but when the soft cast iron or soft steel gets small dents, it shows up on the brass as I try to flatten it.

I am looking for hardened metal that does not dent when it is hit with a hammer.

This has been a good thread!