Anvil

Structure and Placement of Anvils

• An anvil consists of a large block of metal with a flattened top surface.
• The face of the anvil is the primary work surface, made of hardened steel.
• The face should be flat, smooth, and rounded at the edges to avoid marks and cracks on the workpiece.
• The horn of the anvil is a conical projection used for bending and drawing down stock.
• Some anvils have a step between the horn and the face, used for cutting.
• Anvils should be placed near the forge to prevent heat loss in the workpiece.
• They need to be placed on a sturdy base made of impact and fire-resistant material.
• Common methods of attaching an anvil include spikes, chains, straps, clips, bolts, and cables.
• Traditional bases were made of hard wood logs or large timbers, while cast iron bases became popular in the industrial era.
• Modern bases can be made of steel, dimensional lumber, or steel drums filled with oil-saturated sand.

Types and Materials of Anvils

• Anvils are designed for specific purposes and tailored to meet the needs of different metalworkers.
• Examples include farrier anvils, general smith anvils, saw maker anvils, and bladesmith anvils.
• Different types of anvils may have variations in shape, such as rectangular blocks or those with a sloped brow.
• Anvils can be made of forged or cast steel, forged wrought iron with a hard steel face, or cast iron with a hard steel face.
• Some anvils have a smooth top working face of hardened steel welded to a cast iron or wrought iron body.
• The majority of modern anvils are made of cast steel that has been heat treated.
• Inexpensive anvils made of cast iron and low-quality steel are considered unsuitable for serious use.
• The largest single piece tool steel anvil that is heat treated weighs 1600 pounds.
• There are larger anvils made from multiple pieces, such as the mile long anvil weighing 6500 pounds.
• Anvils made from multiple pieces may not be heat treated or made from tool steel.

Additional Features of Anvils

• Some anvils have an upsetting block used for upsetting steel.
• Anvils may have a hardy hole for specialized forming and cutting tools.
• The pritchel hole is a small round hole used mostly for punching.
• Anvils can have multiple hardy and pritchel holes to accommodate various tools.
• Power hammer anvils are supported on massive anvil blocks, resting on a strong foundation.

History and Cultural References of Anvils

• Anvils were first made of stone, then bronze, and later wrought iron.
• Steel-faced anvils became popular to prevent deformation from impact.
• Regional styles of anvils evolved over time.
• Majority of anvils in the US are based on the London pattern.
• Anvils are often used as props in cartoons and referenced in TV shows, movies, and books.
• Anvil firing is a popular tradition in California, the eastern US, and the southern US.
• Anvils are featured in books like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Hobbit.
• Anvils are used as percussion instruments in various musical compositions.

Further Reading and External Links

• 'New Edge of the Anvil' by Jack Andrews
• 'The Complete Bladesmith: Forging Your Way to Perfection' by Jim Hrisoulas
• 'Anvils In America' by Richard Postman
• Wikimedia Commons has media related to anvils.
• 'Anvil' in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
• 'Anvil' in Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.).

Anvil Data Sources