[TheForge] chinese ASOs

[Chuck Robinson]

Hey Jerry,
I met John Allgood when he was the master smith at Williamsburg about 40
years ago.
When I asked him where they got the old colonial style anvils they were
using at that time, he said that they made up a wooden master and had the
foundry at Newport News ship yard  cast them.
Somehow the foundry people believed that the anvils would be show pieces, so
they cast them out of an alloy like monel,  as a  gracious gesture to
Williamsburg,
When I asked John If they weren't  just about worthless he said no, that
they pretty soft, but every so often they would beat them back into shape
with sledge hammers. He also said that the anvils  gradually work hardened
with use.
I wouldn't be overly concerned about hardening the anvil face. Grader blade
is usually made from 1095 or Vasco Wear, and like you said, they should air
harden sufficiently to work OK.
I think many smith's worry too much about having a hard enough face on an
anvil.
You're supposed to  hit the soft hot plastic billet instead of the anvil
face with the hammer.
It can also help to draw the hammer face a little softer.
Chuck