Blacksmithing anvils and anvil substitutes

[@trevormarchant5706]

I work for a railroad contractor, we have tons of scrap rail that we give away to people for this very purpose or for a drag behind their tractor if it's 8ft long

[@BlackBearForge]

That is good to know. Is there a specific way for people to get in touch with the right people in their area?

[@trevormarchant5706]

Railworks, is a US and Canadian railroad contractor with offices all over. I suspect you would want crane rail or "big" rail. Just look them up and call and ask

[@BlackBearForge]

Thank you.

[@Sconbuck]

Hey any chance you could get me a few pieces for rail I live in ontario canada

[@tonynewman777]

In Fort Worth area I believe it's Burlington northern... What department would I ask for?

[@WilliamHearnTOEFL_Tutor]

You say at one time you thought to teach classes but that didn't work out. Well . . . these videos have been the best teacher my 15 yr old son and I could have asked for. Thanks for passing down your experience and knowledge.

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks. Know I can reach so many more people by video is one reason I never really got serious about teaching classes.

[@deltabrogden3350]

You mentioned that classes didn't work out earlier in the video. Yet, you now have a class of students very different than you imagined. And, you are a great teacher. Very natural and knowledgeable. Well done! Great video! Very helpful! And by the way, have you considered developing a class that helps others get started? A place to start blacksmithing? In today's world, you would find your experience and style of teaching to be highly effective. Consider it a possibility...

[@chuckintexas]

I couldn't agree with you more. Simple, clear and straightforward, without the _silliness_ we have to suffer from so MANY Y-T content creators ! Well said !

[@thadstuart8544]

i have never tried to blacksmith. But, i just ordered a Vevor 132 pound anvil which gets decent reviews. it cost $272 including tax and shipping. I'm excited to learn. You are an exceptional teacher. I'll be watching many of your videos. For me, i cant justify buying one of the new USA anvils because it wont be used everyday. Thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@BrassCatcher365]

I can confirm, ask the maintenance crew for old track! Throw in a case of beer and they might even slice a piece off to your liking! The RR are always throwing out old track anyway.

[@dannyfoster1623]

I injoy watching Black Bear Forge I have learned quite a bit from watching his videos. Please keep up the good work and teachings. You have taught me more then all the books that I have read and more than most of the blacksmiths that I have visited.

[@retandom]

I can’t be the only one who likes this mans videos before even watching them because I know it’s gonna be good.

[@leonardmettlach2614]

My first anvil was a 12" piece of rail track but i welded it directly over one leg of my metal table , it worked very well being welded to the table helped alot

[@craigmurrayauthor]

I so admire and appreciate it when experts show us what can be done on the fly or the cheap. Love the fact you explain the pros and cons without saying, no, can't do it. Was on another channel and buddy was going on about how you can get a cheap anvil for $1200. WTF? Glad to see a number of comments including one who's grandpa was a blacksmith farrier and mostly used an old rail

[@shadowcastre]

Very well done! I really appreciate the approach you took to anvil alternatives. My own intro into blackmithing was delayed considerably because the advice (being told) by those in the profession and on forums, that you can't forge on anything but a real anvil. It took me about a year before I ran into people who showed me the alternatives. At the 2 year mark I was able to purchase my 1st anvil, a brand new cast steel one. Finding a good used anvil, reasonably priced was like pulling hens teeth. The antiquers have Ruined the anvil market in my area. Since then, anytime I meet someone interested in Blacksmithing, I make suggestions to them on anvil alternatives like what you presented. A real anvil will come later. Thanks for the awesome video...

[@BlackBearForge]

I am afraid anvil prices will continue to go up. Blacksmithing is becoming more popular all of the time. The good news is that means that people are making new forges, anvils, vises and other tools again

[@vidard9863]

The single most important step with anything is to get started. Not get started right, or smart, just starting.

[@ewsblacksmithing]

I love going back and rewatching your older videos and seeing how far you have come. You are leaps and bounds ahead of me before this video and seeing you progression over the years, gives me hope for me and my channel. Keep it up

[@prestonklima7756]

TFS is Texas Ferrier Supply. They are local to me and I have one of thier 2 horn 100 lbs. anvils, and I'm definitely happy with the purchase.

[@sanpogiri]

Started out with a piece of train track and it works, more or less. I found a lot of energy seems to be lost in flex if you're working on the edge. Then a good buddy had to close up shop, at least temporarily. I now have his 175 pound steel anvil. I've worked on it before so I knew what he was loaning me. Friends don't get much better than that.

[@BlackBearForge]

There are good reasons our predecessors improved the anvil design into what we see today. 175 is a good size.

[@kendalkenny1843]

Good deal hope he doesn't ever want it back...

[@scottjosen2606]

I'd been pondering what would be my first anvil...A buddy if mine is likely this state's #1 train enthusiast and told me to kinda drop his name at a RR museum but I hesitated for some reason. I bought a cheap cast iron anvilette at a discount tool place and set it on a lighter by the fire bit. Pretty poor but the guys each got to strike hot metal. I'll leave that one out there for them to hack on. This morning I helped an 80 year old buddy move some very heavy petrified wood to new house and I asked if he had an anvil laying around, but guy said he did and he did! I picked up a KL cast steel made in England 70kg for 77c/lb. Cleaned it up with flapper in angle grinder and it's factory faced with a plate. It's already an heirloom and has such a beautiful ring to it. Thanks again for posting these exceptional videos!!

[@BlackBearForge]

I saw the photo you sent, Nice anvil find

[@joeconiglio]

Thanks Black Bear Forge. Very informative.

[@vincentcarter1538]

I'm a machinist, 30 years now I've always wanted a anvil. I still haven't been able to get one. I learned a lot from your video. Thanks for your informative video.

[@theeggman7242]

Thanks for the very informative video. Your effort is genuinely appreciated.

[@davidfriend1919]

wow , you covered all there is to know , and then some .. holy cow ..

[@donaldnaymon3270]

Great video. Great information. Thank you for sharing.

[@curtissmith5875]

Great advice and knowledge. Thanks for sharing

[@mattnobrega6621]

This is a great informative video. Thank you for the basic mini lesson.

[@daveyjoweaver5183]

Great Video and I've been looking for an anvil cheaper than a car. I've seen some old anvils in very bad shape going for $300-$500 but I mean rough. I had a old 60lb. Anvil I lent to a guy along with my portable forge and even a few tools and hammers. Never saw him again after a few months. It was my Grandfathers anvil so that hurt. I work in furniture so this anvil was perfect for making hardware, rat tail hinges and the like. So the search continues but here in Lancaster County Pa. There are lots of auctions and many farm auctions. Just about every farm had an anvil I remember as a kid. So you gave some very good info greatly appreciated. My mentor in furniture making worked in a carriage shop, black smithing end for 6 cents an hour. He was born in 1889 and died in 1981. But in watching and listening I learned enough to get by. I always wanted to build a forge. I have learned much over my 69 years in watching and asking a few question. And I have learned watching you so Thank You kindly for sharing your skills in the mastery of blacksmithing. I often say that everyone is an artist in some respect. And there are those as yourself who love and respect the skill of the art, which it truly is. With many many antiques in this area and restoring and making period furniture, I have run across so many beautiful iron works of the highest quality. As you well know, ones spirit can be seen and felt in a finely crafted work of art. More than just practical but artistically crafted. Peace! DaveyJO in Pa.

[@ruatarengsicolneyrengsi8924]

I admire your familiarity and intimacy with the anvil. And your exposition is packed with solid information. Great stuff. Thanks for sharing.

[@jacoklopper4772]

Im working a lot of overtime to buy a propper anvil! Cant wait to have it and start

[@djmjr77]

I was able to buy some decommissioned fork lift tines for about 30 each.. this was prob 3yrs ago. As far as I know they are some form of tool steel. I cut it at the thickest part and right under the bend. The 90 bend kinda makes a horn to use. Sitting upside down its about 20 inches long and about 5 inches wide. Ground and polished to a shine. The thing weighs at least 75lbs. Makes a great anvil backed by some 4x4s on end tied together.

[@RandalLovelace]

The link is amazing, I've looked around already for anvil cost, and these prices are really good for the quality (and new) anvil.

[@blademan175]

I had multiple anvils when I was younger, including a 130 lb Peter wright, but since retiring and moving I now only have a 55 lb trip hammer die I use that belonged to my grandfather. He was a blacksmith pre and post WWI in Ohio. He concaved 1 end of it to form wagon tires and act as a horn.

[@StubbornWorkshop]

I live in Southeast Idaho, and Railroad track shows up at the scrap yard ALL the time. I literally just walked by a dozen pieces of track 5 feet long. This was the smaller track though, but it would still work better than a rock! All you have to do is wait a month or two, go to the scrap yard once a week to check, and some of that big rail will show up for sure! ......also, yes, I'm kind of obsessed with the scrapyard....

[@BlackBearForge]

I have to stay away from scrap yards, ro much stuff follows me home.

[@carsonmcmahon8830]

Very much enjoyed your video. If there was one thing to add, people wanting to go the $200ish route might search eBay for specific steels. Just make a list of 10 or so tool steels and search those. You will often find short drops of billet in the $3 a pound range. Add to the price 10 hours of wearing out rocks on an angle grinder and having 1" hardy hole cut through with a torch and you may have something you won't ever get rid of.

[@BlackBearForge]

Between Ebay and the local salvage yard there is lots available that is big and solid for not much money (compared to a conventional anvil). Although I don't know if I would mess with cutting in a hardy hole or just weld on a big section of square tube to use as a hardy hole.

[@christela8054]

As I am not a rich man, I use an old Lug nut from an freightliner as an anvil substitute. Wish I could send you a picture but I use it for making arrowheads ,blades . I am relatively new to metal works but it's portable and can be mounted into a tree stump , so I can cold hammer on the fly, or in conjunction with a forge. It heated up a bit , so i leave the bolt out for air flow.

[@davidpaschall7791]

This is really one of your best video.

[@olegpetelevitch4443]

Thank you top info just bought one !

[@Turin-Fett]

As a full time welder I had the skill and the tools to take some RR track (which I came up on when a warehouse nearby was having their old tracks replaced) and weld it to the top of a stand I fashioned out of some sch40 steam pipe and an old plough disk. I cut and ground a nice horn on the front, though it's still flat on top and not very useful, and I drilled a 3/4" hole in the heel for punching (also made a small hot cut hardy to fit in.) I welded some 1/2" to the web of the track to add some beefiness to the ASO and spent a couple hours grinding down the top of the track to make a nice flat face (the very old rail was rounded off heavily on one side.) I have made a lot of leaves, corkscrews, bottle openers and even some bench legs on that little "anvil" of mine. Yet I feel that I become more serious as a blacksmith, I need to get more serious in the tools that I use. Right now i'm looking at buying a "mid-grade" anvil from either Emerson, TFS or JHM in the 120-200lb range to upgrade my shop. They range in price from about $700-1200

[@hermpflug8342]

New come to the trade. So personal Opinion might not mean much, but sure appreciate your time and knowledge. your are an excellent trainer. many thanks.

[@BlackBearForge]

Welcome aboard!

[@thekchile]

I am no blacksmith, but as a woodworker it is nice to be able to just be able to do some basic forging, I got a nice piece of railroad track on a train museum, they always have more track than they can put on their yard

[@jessehannah2989]

That peddinghaus no 12 is my dream anvil

[@markmoreno7295]

I have one that I bought before prices began to rise. They are fully forged, and the top half is then forged welded to the lower half. The face is hardened using electricity. It came direct from Germany. If you get, even a used one, it is worth it. Reffinghaus is also good.

[@stustudy2475]

Man its a shame you never did teach. You do a great job. Love the channel.. love the vid. Great info

[@BlackBearForge]

Thank you. I wouldn't rule it out in the future, but it would need to be someplace set up for it.

[@thomasarussellsr]

@@BlackBearForge If you haven't checked into it yet, check with your local junior college if there is one. They might consider starting a blacksmithing course if they had a qualified person like you to teach the hands on part and could find someone to teach the theory section in a classroom (if you weren't so inclined) [or they needed someone with paper credentials, if you don't have them].

[@keithtaylor6069]

So helpful. Thanks so much,. My dad had an old Anvil I got a hold of it but somehow my brother ended up with it which is fine he just lives a few steps away from me at least it's still in the house. I'm going to look around I bet people around here have no idea what they have hidden in their garage but again thank you so much very awesome video

[@thomasarussellsr]

Awesome video. Glad I went back and looked up some oldies.

[@forMacguyver]

Just finished watching. I kind of figured it would be a while before I can get a nice proper anvil. That's ok though I don't mind starting a little more primitive\basic to learn\see how to move metal. Big ole hunk of steel will do for now. Thanks again John, I really appreciate the help.

[@JimmyDoesYoutube]

18:21 and........ hes a hardcore 1337 gamer, nice setup, dual PC/Monitor and laptop so you can keep gaming even when nature calls. No downtime with this man during RAID; Very well done sir.....18:48 Professional pan in, nice, nice; expert in video editing and on his KZbin game. All this AND a Master Craftsman, very inspiring. Just found this channel and you have inspired me to become a Black Smith 👍 👍

[@NestorIrizarry-rh8ks]

Thanks for the information . 👍

[@rustamgani3284]

Great lesson! Thanks!

[@shepardsforgeh2031]

I just wanted to take,a,moment and,thank you,for all the vidio and information you are passing on to us newbies! Sincerely heath at Shepardsforge

[@BlackBearForge]

You are most welcome

[@therandomguy1315]

Why so many commas

[@shepardsforgeh2031]

the random guy why do you care? Find a hoby or be a book editor.

[@Nightman2152]

I have the forged steel one you showed on ebay. I haven't used it yet but I figure it's enough to get started I got it second hand but it's in great shape. Gravel is coming for my blacksmith area next week! I don't know how many hours of anvil talk I've watched on KZbin. Glad I finally made it to yours. I know of a used peter wright for 3$ a pound but it's smushed pretty bad. I still think about it when I go to bed at night though. Thanks for posting!

[@bonzaibarty]

Good video! Thank you,!

[@bentoombs]

Great info. my anvil is a Charles Zolty 1902 Trenton 100 lb I found for about 5.50 a pound. Thank you

[@patrickkelly9721]

Recently bought an 18" length of, what appears to be, medium-sized railroad track for $20. Even being later in life, I'd like to give metal shaping a go. If nothing else it will be a better surface than I have had in the past to smack metal for projects. One of my sons is interested in this too. He has problems getting hired so this might be an option.

[@BlackBearForge]

Lots of people start out with a section of rail. Mounting it as solid and immovable as possible will help a great deal.

[@Isaiah-ft5nx]

Thanks for the video!! Sorry to hear your classes didn’t work out, you sound like you’d be a great teacher or mentor.

[@brettnewman7390]

Scrap sections of I-beams work great for a cheap anvil. They’re much wider than rails and easier to anchor down. I have one. I do come across foundry anvils every once in awhile. I think they’re for long work like swords? I think you can get them cheap because they’re so heavy and hard to move.

[@killman369547]

i got myself a nice 50lb one to start. it's new and i have to surface it properly with a flap disk before i can use it. addendum: i picked it up at princess auto (canada's harbor freight BUT with *less* chinesium) it's a good anvil, solid cast steel.

[@jasonsummit1885]

I actually have two railroad rail anvils that were made on a milling machine, got both of them at yard sales for about five bucks each.👍😁(I use them most every day)

[@goshnodo]

I live in Alaska, my Anvil is built out of a train bumper from the Alaska Railroad. it's about a foot and a half thick, needed two tanks of oxygen to push through on the torch.

[@johndilsaver8409]

I did not realize there are that many sources of newly manufactured anvils. That's good to know. I think possibly one or two of the ebay items you viewed were ongoing auctions where the final price might well be higher than the current bid at the moment you looked. I bought my well-used Hay Budden on ebay over 4 years ago, love it, and prices just keep going up. Thanks again for your videos.

[@BlackBearForge]

I am sure some of those on ebay were auctions, but some were also buy it now prices. I mostly wanted to show that they are on there and its worth taking a look.

[@florpaltep]

Nice watching on you sir

[@michaelvaughn2287]

I paid a machine shop $120 6"r x 12"l 4041 round stock works great . 30 years ago people would pay to take them off their hands .

[@willnotcomply1328]

I was given multiple pieces of RR track. I live by Norfolk Southern line and when they did a bunch of repairs they were all but begging me to take it. I haven’t tried to make an anvil yet, but I am getting a forge for Christmas and am in dire need of an anvil pretty quickly.

[@1873Winchester]

The brand everyone knows and wants in Finland is Lokomo. And in Sweden it's Kohlswa. Don't think either of them exist anymore. A pristine looking Lokomo 150kg or 300lbs is for sale for 1250€ and I found the same anvil sold for 650€ in an auction, some guy was lucky there I think.

[@forge52100]

For years I used a couple of Harbor Freight cast steel Russian anvils. Took a bit of work to clean them up to where they were usable, and they were pretty soft, but better than cast iron or mild steel. Shame they are no longer available, they were 110 pounds and rite at a 100$. After nearly 15 years of bladesmithing I finally broke down and bought a new one, a Reffinghause 330 pounder. What an awesome anvil.

[@BlackBearForge]

I would be quite happy with a big Refflinghause, they are outstanding anvils. But I doubt I will be trading anvils out anytime soon.

[@forge52100]

My biggest problem down here is that good anvils are hard to come by. Ran across a lot of sway backed and beat to death anvils they wanted top dollar for, to the point it's not much price difference between them and a new one. Apparently up north they are easier to come by. A fellow smith had gotten one and working on it is what convinced me to get one. They really are great anvils.

[@nicholaskillmeier4895]

I have a 200+lb Peter wright and a 170lb Mouse Hole both in great shape. My favorite anvil is a 200lb 5x14x12 block of mild steel I got from a steel supply for like pennies on the pound. It was a torch cutoff, but I don't care because that's just better grip on the stump i have it mounted on. I use it almost daily and haven't put any significant dents or chips in it, and if I do, it's 10 minutes with a flap wheel to take care of it.

[@KLP99]

This is my first video from you, and I'm now subscribed with all notifications.

[@BlackBearForge]

Welcome aboard!

[@KLP99]

@@BlackBearForge Thank you. I recently bought 2 sections of rail from a national chain who sells to the public here in Utah. Then a few days ago my son-in-law, who is a self-employed remodeler, got several I-beams. I bought 2 of them and plan to make them into a very heavy stand for either a bench vise and grinder, or a couple of anvils I'll be making. I'm may have bitten off more than I can chew, but I need the challenge. My desk job has made need a bit soft. I'm just 14 months out of triple bypass surgery and starting to feel well enough to do things I've been meaning to get to. If that was the only surgery I'd ever had... Dad used to say, "life's hard. Then you die." And my son, "life's hard. It's harder if you're stupid." Add they're both true. Thank you for your videos. They're inspiring, too.

[@dirkventer8112]

First anvil i had when i was a kid was a big hammer head turned on its side and welded to a mild steel plate with four holes to mount on something like a stump i just used it on the floor my dad welded it on the plate

[@fajile5109]

Always wanted the one with the shelf after i seen it.

[@TheLoneWolfForge]

Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge John. I'm pretty sure your 308 lb anvil is a Hay Budden. Some of them were made for hardware companies and might be what you see stamped on the other side.

[@BlackBearForge]

That sounds very much like what I have. I was sure the hardware company didn't make the anvil.

[@jamesbrandon8520]

That’s what I have but 150lbs and in worst shape by far

[@5x535]

It looks like a Hay Budden to me too John. It would have the narrowest waist of any Peter Wright I have ever seen. It has the elegant lines of a Hay Budden.

[@jamesbrandon8520]

I agree the horn has a shape like no other

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks, I should write that down somewhere before I forget

[@SquirrelsForAll]

Great video, thanks!

[@diggingga6197]

I have a couple railroad anvils(no horns),A 1930's anvil vice(vice is long gone)Steel and pretty heavy for its size.I also have a 1912 vice anvil(i mainly bought it since it was a nice piece to have around)i use it to true up stuff since its flat compaird to the railroad anvils but i think its cast iron and no ring to it what so ever i also have the solid cylinder hunk of metal about 9 inches long and probably 4 inches in radius and it worked well for a while though i had to put it in a vise to hold it. But i must say all of the stuff now is far better than the 2x2 inch of steel i started out with lol. Thanks for sharing,your knowledge is a blessing.

[@BlackBearForge]

Sounds like a fairly good collection of anvil like things to work on. That chunk of 4" round set in a stand of some form would be pretty solid.

[@diggingga6197]

ill get my dream anvil some day!Its a hobby for me but i would like to grow with it a lot more though.I have almost everything else that i need.When i do get a traditional anvil ill probably use the others when i have a friend over to let them learn some blacksmithing.

[@mathewhorney3303]

Great video ! Thanks for the information. 👍

[@TheJCJexe]

Wow, some of these prices holy cow. That simple railroad rail sounds more and more enticing to get.

[@BlackBearForge]

Since this video was done there have been some new budget friendly anvils showing upon the market. Such as this 66 pound anvil from Vevor s.vevor.com/bfQxZJ Should be much better than a chunk of rail.

[@TheJCJexe]

@@BlackBearForge Ah, very nice! Now that's a price I can afford and seems like the perfect Anvil for starting Blacksmithing. Thanks!

[@brianaugust6549]

To my h to see a real black Smith and to share some of knowledge massive

[@user-z3r0187]

Just make life easy and visit any machine shop around you and explain what your doing. Ask if they have any steel remnants that you can look at and hopefully you'll get to browse around. They usually have lots of pieces stocked up somewhere. Alot of times they will have mild steel and even heat treated pieces.

[@advance9572]

Thank you for sharing.

[@rickeycallen]

The main reason for rebound in your anvil is for longevity of work, it takes away the effort of raising your hammer all day long, so basically if you're a hobbyist blacksmith ANYTHING will work, but if you're planning on forging all day. You need an anvil to not destroy your body

[@BlackBearForge]

You are interpreting rebound differently than I tried to explain it. It isn't about so much helping lift the hammer back up as it is reflecting energy back into the work. If your work piece absorbs all of the energy from the hammer blow rebound doesn't do anything. But it is very unlikely that the work will absorb all of that energy. If the energy is absorbed by the anvil it is lost, but if the anvil reflects that energy back into the piece you are working on there is more effect on the work being done and you can get more work done with the same amount of effort. You can certainly get by with very little, but you just have to put more into it.

[@rickeycallen]

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with You at all, just tossing out different perspective more for people to understand that they in no means as a hobbyist blacksmith have to buy an anvil

[@rickeycallen]

I love your videos and learn a ton from You, I appreciate it tremendously!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks. While I agree that a hobbyist doesn't need a classical anvil, I would also suggest that the closer to that ideal size and form you can achieve, the easier it will make your experience, bit in learning and physically. Even a few hundred years ago those smiths that were stretching the boundaries of the known world made due with very small blocky stake anvils. But the smiths in permanent shops had anvils very similar to what we know today.

[@rickeycallen]

Agreed

[@cactusbobaz]

Thank you soooo much. Great video!!!!!

[@BlackBearForge]

You're welcome

[@brucel.stanton3241]

This was very helpful! Thank you so much!

[@wyattkindler496]

If I were to recommend an anvil brand to someone it would have to be Refflinghaus. They are cast steel, made in Germany and sold in the US. They seem to be the highest quality, though the price also reflects that.

[@BlackBearForge]

You are correct and I had meant to include the Refflinghaus anvils in my discussion.

[@jamesbrandon8520]

This is the anvil brand that I want I might even get the hornless anvil I already have a Hays Budden 150lb anvil but not in the best of shape

[@haneybyhisspirit]

Great job in sharing your knowledge and wisdom.. Good video with a clear presentation of the information.

[@unrussleablejimmies4428]

Wow i missed out on maybe meeting you on person, i lived in colorado 2 years ago and was looking for people to learn more about blacksmithing. Never made it any further south than the spings though. So glad i found your video!

[@jr602908]

My first anvil was a 1"x4" block of steel, then a rail track anvil, upgraded to a 100 Columbia, sold it for a 100lb Emerson. Now I'm using a 50kg Church Window Anvil from Old World. I am looking at the delivery of a TFS 200lb smithy special for my larger work. Everything was bought with money generated from my blacksmithing and bladesmithing work. However, despite the anvils I have purchased I find myself using the massive 110lb 4140 block (I made it to look like a sawyers anvil) a lot of the time.

[@BlackBearForge]

Sounds like you have plenty of options. Thats a big hunk of 4140.

[@tonynewman777]

Video very useful... I enjoyed looking on the Internet probably old world looks to be Good quality fair price

[@RoaringBrook50]

When you switched to the computer room with the coffee cup, I got some strong Ron Swanson vibes. Now I can't not hear Ron when you talk...LOL Love you videos by the way, take care.

[@juiciestknives4992]

This is my first time seeing his videos...I was instantly hit with holy shit I thought ron swanson was just a character.

[@undeadOtter]

Just found your channel, I am glad I did. You have some good info

[@BlackBearForge]

Welcome aboard!

[@TheRustyGarageandHomestead]

Thank you John

[@BlackBearForge]

You are welcome

[@drason69]

I have seen videos about forging kuhkri knives on sledge heads set in concrete. I don't have a link, but a search for "forging a kuhkri" should get you there. I forget the Asian country where the video was made. It was very impressive

[@JRMease]

Big Blu Hammer also sales there own Germany style two horn anvil. I would think they would be of high quality. There hammers are.

[@shepardsforgeh2031]

I've been using a 77lbs nc bigface farriars anvil which is cast steel for the last year and had,done sooo well by be. It's not great but,it dora,what I need. Will be upgrading this year tho I think!

[@BlackBearForge]

Sounds like a good start. I have always thought the farriers anvils looked springy but not solid. Certainly OK for smaller forgings but possibly a problem for larger work.

[@andresmedina9967]

Nice information. Thaks for sharing

[@georgemaerkle3427]

Great video👍 How about making a video on how to resurface an anvil. Also would love to have you do a video tour of your shop; tools machinery etc. Keep up the great work👍👍

[@BlackBearForge]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/n57Nl5-kjqqVnZY

[@whilomforge3402]

I just got a cast H13 anvil from a gentleman that owns a foundry. It’s only 85 lbs, but I cannot wait to forge on it.

[@BlackBearForge]

85 pouinds is a respectable size for lots of work.

[@whilomforge3402]

Black Bear Forge I had a 250 pound papa rhino, from incandescent forge, but I unfortunately had to sell off most of my equipment last year due to a bit of a financial emergency. I’ll take anything at this point to get back in the forge! Lol.

[@johnowens132]

Love you man from dublin ireland

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks

[@cliffordjones460]

Got a peace of 440C rd scrap 6"dia x 4" piece, I know 440C can be hardened upward to RC 58-60, any thoughts of using this as a anvil? I cant find anything on using 440C as a anvil. I know may not be cost effective but got it for free.

[@BlackBearForge]

You could just use it as is for a small anvil. Otherwise I think trying to weld it into an anvil shape then harden and temper properly may be more trouble than its worth.

[@aaronkokesch3593]

I ended up getting a piece if modern rail track from a co-worker and a forklift tine that was take out of service do to wear. Wondering if its better to flatten out the mating surfaces and forge weld the tine to the top of the track or just weld the pieces together? Not sure if forge welding will be an advantage. This will be my makeshift anvil till I can afford a real one. My thought process is in doing so, it will add mass and make my substitute a little more productive.

[@BlackBearForge]

That would be a difficult forge weld unless you have a really big forge. I think I would just weld up with multiple passes.

[@aaronkokesch3593]

@@BlackBearForge that is sort of what I was thinking. I may try. I was also wondering if a sledgehammer would be sufficient force to hammer the pieces together or if a hydraulic press would be needed or a large power hammer to make the forge weld really stick well. But then will the thin web section bend from the force. Maybe I am just over thinking it. Thank you very much for your insite and response. I very much appreciate all your videos. I just finished recovering from covid and watching your videos, especially all the hook of the week videos helped pass the time with the 11days I was sick from work

[@BlacksmithTWD]

Sure, for forge welding you can use a sledgehammer anvil. You won't be striking that hard, and the chance to miss is minimal. However I wouldn't advice to use a sledgehammer, or any hammer that could be hardened as an anvil, since if you strike a hardened hammer on another hardened hammer, chips may fly off that can cause severely injuries. It's like someone is shooting bullets through your shop. At all times avoid hammer on hammer contact when striking hard. You had another video about blacksmithing rules, I only have 1 rule for blacksmithing I don't stray from : safety first.

[@rbfcaf]

I got my hands on an old Vulcan 90 lb for $155. The top has bad nicks and the horn is broke but I have learned a lot on it.

[@BlackBearForge]

As long as it has enough flat face to work on it should be a workable anvil until you blacksmithing ambitions out grow it.

[@cmasailor]

great video, thank you

[@americanfreedom2324]

I'm still looking for that affordable Little Giant power hammer. Funny, I don't think there is such a thing.

[@christianmiracle6054]

You can also weld 4 pieces of steel 2 to 3 inch thick of steel plates to make an anvil

[@shadetreeforge]

My current anvil is cast steel, Russian made Central Forge 110lb From Harbor Freight of all things! it's quite durable I have it on loan to the local blacksmith club and needless to say it has held up well. Cost $100.00 + tax! the only drawback is the horn it needed polished as it was rough, and it's duck billed

[@BlackBearForge]

How old of an anvil is that? I have heard they are no longer available.

[@shadetreeforge]

I forgot to mention why I bought this one, Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil (SOFA) has several of these in there U-forge area where they teach beginning blacksmiths and if they can take that kind of abuse it's more than enough for what I use it for...

[@jackdawg4579]

I have 3 big lumps of mild steel, 30kg , 60kg and a big donut that is 105kg. These are my main go to anvils. I have a nice cast steel anvil, but it is only small at 25kg, and the only time I use it is when I need to use the horn. I dont notice any difference at all between my mild steel lumps and the big anvils at the blacksmith club, except maybe my big donut is hard to beat when flattening something large!. (450mm across).

[@rickeycallen]

Jack Dawg there really isn't any difference, Joey van der steeg did a video on it, it's obviously super nice to have an anvil but the basis is only because there are tools made specifically for ready made anvils, if you take a block of steel and put anvil tooling holes in it, it's just as good and WORLDS cheaper than the new fad thats caused anvils to become so ridiculously overpriced

[@TufStockdogs]

Good job buddy we all needed to know about different anvils I am lucky I am going to just stick with my NC anvil I used alot farrier work.

[@Smiltstomb]

I have a really old tractor weight that bounces great its odd not even vaguely anvil shaped but it works really well. I'm just not sure what sort of metal it is.