[TheForge] Re: frozen anvils and hammer dies

[Roger Olsen]

Somehow my virus net caught the beginnings of this thread so I don't know
what all has been said but I would like to add that I live in an area that
has weeks around 0 degrees at a time and cold waves that move in that have
brought down the temps to 30 below zero.  At tailgate sales around Montana,
Idaho, Alberta, and British Columbia it is not uncommon to see broken anvils,
usually the heel from the hardy hole back and swage blocks with a broken off
corner.

Everyone I know has learned to routinely preheat their anvils and hammer
dies.  The usual and preferred method is to light the propane forge and slide
in  a piece of stock about 5/8 or 3/4 by 4 inches or so wide and about 16
inches long,  let it soak a good core heat and then bring it out and just lay
it on the anvil.  Hammer dies and swage blocks have those magnetic engine
block heaters from the automotive store on them all night long,  one on the
waist of an anvil at bed time will work well for an anvil as well.

Roger Olsen

still on the East slope of the North Cascades
______________________________

GHS wrote:

> I have wondered myself. It might just be that when someone breaks an
> anvil, they look for a reason.
>
> Rather than blaming structural flaws or misplaced blows, they choose "
> Hey, it was MIGHTY D^%##%$ COLD"
>
> I would be interested in some good science on this one.
>
> Mike Graf
>
> xlch58 at swbell.net wrote:
>
> > I had always heard the issue was potential damage to the anvil, not just
> > losing heat in the work.   I tend to preheat my anvil even though it
> > doesn't get that cold in Texas.  Easy enough to do.
> > Charles
> >
> > Grover Richardson wrote:
> >
> >> So, a cold anvil is only .04494382 colder than the warm anvil.  That is
> >> about 4.5%.  Measurable, but not metal threatning<G>.  Yes, it will
> >> have a
> >> (possibly noticeable) effect.
> >>
> >>
> >
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