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.

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.

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.

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.

Reference	URL
Glossary	https://harryandcojewellery.com.au/blogs/glossary/anvil
Wikipedia	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anvil
Wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104363
Knowledge Graph	https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/01pqct