Author Topic: AN ANVIL FOR A FRIEND  (Read 6874 times)

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Offline Greybuff

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AN ANVIL FOR A FRIEND
« on: March 28, 2018, 08:03:24 pm »
A friend of mine wanted to get into blacksmithing but needed an anvil and he had what i wanted so I built him one. I started out with 2 - 4" forklift forks and square tubing and about 15lbs of 7018 welding rod. I first cut the short end of the fork to the length of the anvil face. Next I cut the second fork to the shape of an 'L' using the short end for the bottom and the long side for the upright. Then using the thickest remaining pieces I cut them for the upright for the 'horn' end of the anvil. The remaing pieces were used to form the middle section and additional uprights for each end. I cut one of the remaing pieces from the tapered end to make the horn. I than cut 3 pieces about 4" long to make the feet of the anvil and the base for the "hardy" hole. Tack weld the pieces together to form the anvil and then using a gas forge burner or a weed burner pre-heat the whole thing to 300 - 400 degrees. Then all you need to do is start welding, alternating form corner to corner etc. Once its welded up turn it over, cut the legs at the right angle to get the height that you want and then weld the legs and feet on. Once that is done roll it back over and weld on the 'Hardy". For this I used a length of 2" receiver. The nice thing about the reciever material is that you can weld up different 'hardy" tools (shape) for whatever it is that you are working on. Then start grinding, grind just the face and top of the horn (un-ground = weight).
The entire anvil and leg assembly weighed in right at 215LBS.
This anvil is similar to a 'bridge or railroad anvil'. Fork lift forks can usually be gotten for FREE from a forklift repair shop. Total cost was about $25 (I am a great scrounger).
Thanks to Kevin H. For uploading pics for me. 

Offline osage outlaw

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Re: AN ANVIL FOR A FRIEND
« Reply #1 on: March 28, 2018, 10:27:12 pm »
I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures.  It sounds interesting.
I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline KHalverson

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Re: AN ANVIL FOR A FRIEND
« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2018, 11:24:24 pm »






Offline Swampman

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Re: AN ANVIL FOR A FRIEND
« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2018, 06:34:43 am »
That is really nice.  You are very talented.  I am sure your friend will have a lot of fun with that.
« Last Edit: March 29, 2018, 04:39:49 pm by Swampman »

Offline osage outlaw

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Re: AN ANVIL FOR A FRIEND
« Reply #4 on: March 29, 2018, 06:45:58 am »
That's awesome!
I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline osage outlaw

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Re: AN ANVIL FOR A FRIEND
« Reply #5 on: March 29, 2018, 07:13:44 am »
What did you use to cut the forks?
I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline Parnell

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Re: AN ANVIL FOR A FRIEND
« Reply #6 on: March 29, 2018, 07:25:10 am »
Very clever.  A forklift repair shop...hmm.
1’—>1’

Offline Greybuff

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Re: AN ANVIL FOR A FRIEND
« Reply #7 on: March 29, 2018, 08:49:57 am »
I used a water cooled horizontal band saw. Years ago when I was building a power hammer to sell, I cut 5" forks with a horizontal band saw that was not cooled. It takes about 10 minutes to make 1 cut. I used a plasma cutter to cut the shape of the horn.

I also built a striking anvil (also used as a base for an anvil made from forks)  using the short section of 2 - 4" forks welded together. I than took it down to a shop that does water-jetting and had a 1" hardy hole cut in it. If anyone is interested I could ask Kevin to post pics of that anvil.

Offline GlisGlis

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Re: AN ANVIL FOR A FRIEND
« Reply #8 on: March 29, 2018, 01:06:06 pm »
that is pure beauty
your friend is really lucky !!  :OK

Offline bubby

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Re: AN ANVIL FOR A FRIEND
« Reply #9 on: March 29, 2018, 09:51:41 pm »
Outstanding!!
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline KHalverson

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Re: AN ANVIL FOR A FRIEND
« Reply #10 on: March 30, 2018, 06:54:22 am »
I keep coming back to look at this.
wish I would of had something like this when I started out.
i started with a chunk of rail road track.

very ingenius and cool.
Kevin

Offline BrianS

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Re: AN ANVIL FOR A FRIEND
« Reply #11 on: March 30, 2018, 03:57:47 pm »
Excellent

Offline ssgtchad

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Re: AN ANVIL FOR A FRIEND
« Reply #12 on: April 02, 2018, 02:50:20 pm »
Drooling :o I'm soooo jealous right now! Nice work
Always learning something new.

Offline Pappy

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Re: AN ANVIL FOR A FRIEND
« Reply #13 on: April 02, 2018, 03:01:20 pm »
Very nice work, that is a fine looking Anvil.
Pappy
Clarksville,Tennessee
TwinOaks Bowhunters
Life is Good