[TheForge] Anvil design (was: slack tub)

[Bruce Freeman]

Better than that, we could redesign the anvil.  No reason to have an anvil =
sitting there like a lump on a stump.  Why not have it be a multiple-use =
tool.  That's what the London-pattern anvil was created for, so let's just =
extend the design.

I've read how some blacksmiths would tip their anvil onto its heel to make =
the horn stand straight up as a cone.  Problem is, most horns aren't round =
in cross-section.  So the first thing is to make the horn round in =
cross-section AND make the heel of the right length so that when you tip =
the anvil onto the heel, the horn points straight up.

I've also heard it said that all surfaces of the anvil can be used - the =
sides for a broadly curved (or flat, in some cases) surface, the faces =
under the horn and under the heel, even the sqare edges around the legs.  =
In other words, let's design in some elements of the swage block into the =
anvi.

Now if we step back a bit and consider the anvil stand to be part of the =
anvil "tool" we can modify its design to make it easier to turn the anvil =
into different positions.  There are probably a lot of ways to do this, =
which I won't elaborate on here.  Anyway, we could make it possible to =
flip the anvil completely over.  You could have a London pattern anvil on =
the top surface and a European anvil pattern on the bottom.  Why not? =20

Have at it!

Bruce
NJ

>>> blacksmith@about.com 11/14/02 09:35AM >>>
We could always bring up which way the anvil horn should point (Chris is =
wrong by the way), or whether borax is better or worse than EZ-Weld.

Phil