Basic Anvil for Forging

[HHazeldean]

Hi There,

I am thinking of making a simple forge for experimenting with some knives and other bits and pieces. Before setting anything up, however, I would like to know where I can get a simple anvil cheaply.

What else could I use as an alternative.

Cheers

HHazeldean

 

[_scorpio_]

sledge hammer head.

 

[HHazeldean]

Would that work??

I have never thought of that. Would have to be bigger than average or would a normal one work.

 

[DaveBromley]

you can also use a cut down section of rail track

Dave

 

[_scorpio_]

well, you only need something hard under the bit of metal you are hutting with the hammer... i have heard of a few people doing it, and i have had a go at forging using a claw hammer and a small lump hammer as an anvil.
or you could get a thick bit of steel and attach it to a log...

 

[_scorpio_]

rail track isnt really as easy to find as a hammer though...

 

[HHazeldean]

Where could you get rail track?

 

[launditch1]

There is a danger in using a sledgehammer head in that you will be using a hammer for the forging, both will be hardened and tempered so there will be a risk of chips flying about if you miss what you're forging.You shouldnt really hit hardened steel against hardened steel.
Any solid lump of steel will do...railtrack has been mentioned, large sections of spindles from machinery, an upside down 56lb Avery weight..any scrap yards near you?
When i started out forging i used an old cast iron weight off a tractor.
*warning*its addictive!

 

[HHazeldean]

I have a large scrapyard about 15 mins walk down the road. I have seen people using scraps of spring steel from vans for blades. Would this be OK for a few first attempts. What steel do you use?

 

[yomperalex]

I want to have a go at this over the summer holidays, I'm thinking of sinking a sledge head into a log.

Alex

 

[foxtrot]

Depends on what you call cheap - try Machine Mart.

 

[HHazeldean]

That is when I was thinking of doing mine as well. I don't really have the time until the summer hols to do anything major like that.

 

[launditch1]

Ive used old springs for blades and steel strikers before, a simple spark test can determine if its med/high carbon.Basically the more it sparks when you grind it the higher the carbon content.
I almost always use old springs and old files for knives ect..

 

[launditch1]

Depends on what you call cheap - try Machine Mart.

One of these?http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/11-5kg-cast-iron-anvil/path/vices I wouldnt bother!Its an ASO (anvil shaped object).It will dent easily and bits break off.

 

[HHazeldean]

What do you use an 'anvil' launditch1

 

[launditch1]

What do you use an 'anvil' launditch1

A 110 year old Mousehole forge anvilGot it at a little village auction for pennies.
Shame your so far away from me as ive got an assortment of steel id let you have.

 

[lannyman8]

i had this very same problem and was looking for ages, i ended up going to the local metal suppliers and had an offcut of I beam for £5, weight about 60kg, works a treat but rings realy loud....

check out the groups section, go into the smithing group, i have some pic's there....

regards...

chris.

 

[HHazeldean]

I think i'll probably try the scrapyard for some metal both for anvil and for some steel to forge.

Cheers for the help by the way - appreciated.

 

[santaman2000]

Check the auto-body repair shops as well. They use forming blocks made of bar stock and might even have a set of stakes of various shapes. I doubt they would let you use theirs but they could tell you where they get them. For that matter you can probably get bar stock at most any good size DIY or hardware store.

 

[Everything Mac]

Sounds to me like you need to do a fair bit of googling mate.

There has been a couple of threads on here about this very subject. And over on Britishblades.com for that matter.

Basically the alternatives are - in order of preference:

Rail road track. - (RRT) - this makes a very good portable anvil and is IMO the best alternative.
Fork lift tine - again a good alternative.
Sledge hammer head - for knives you only need a small area to hit on so these are fine. - avoid hitting the face if you can but wear eye protection anyway (no matter your choice of steel)
caterpiller track - like the fork lift tine these are rare but are good steel.

I - beam - a decent sized bit will work well and they come in cheap.
A block of any old steel - depending on size these are as good as any of the above. though they tend to be more pricey.



As for making knives - don't expect to be knocking out amazing stuff right away. -If you have never done any forging I suggest you start small. - make a few nails or just play about with mild steel until you get the hang of it. - Even now I still find you tube "how to" videos very useful and these helped a lot when I was starting out.

As for material for knife making you have several choices from the scrap pile - no particular order:

Old files - these tend to be W1 or W2 steel - very tough and make very good blades
Spring steel - either coil spring or leaf spring - both good steel. In my experience they harden better when using a water quench but I'd stick with an oil quench for a while first.

- harder to come by but old ball bearings are fantastic for blades. - made from a very hard wearing steel these are extremely tough (as I found out today oddly enough)

All the best

Andy