TOOLS OF THE TRADE – ANVILS
There is a huge range of tools used by the smith. Types and designs have been refined over the hundreds of years since the craft began and some designs have remained faithful to the originals from way back when.
The first tool that comes to mind when you mention the word blacksmith would be the anvil. Anvils have changed very little and come in an amazing range of shapes and sizes. A well designed anvil allows the smith to forge a vast range of shapes and forms. The size of the anvil dictates what size of work can be performed.
Anvils are usually mounted on wooden blocks, boxes or preferably, metal stands. They are mounted at a height that allows the smith to drag his knuckles across when walking past. The Hardy(square) and Pritchell (round) holes allow the smith to fit a range of tools for cutting, shaping and holding hot steel.
Anvils come in all shapes and sizes and made from different materials. There are not too many new anvils on the market, so the chances are that you will have to buy one secondhand. Anvils occasionally come up for sale at auctions and farm sales.
Anvils have been made in various ways over the ages. Some are cast iron, some are cast steel and some are billet steel. Steel anvils are usually the most resilient, although cast iron anvils with a hardened top cast into them are popular in some quarters.
When you are starting out blacksmithing you would need an anvil between 60 to 100 kilograms. You can also use an a.s.o (anvil shaped object) such as a piece of railway track or a block of steel sourced from a laser cutter or scrapyard.
There are three main designs in anvils. The London pattern, as shown in the diagram above, the double bick (german ) anvil and then a range of farrier anvils that come with side protrusions for forming horseshoes or steel tables offside from the main face. You basically need a mass of steel to strike upon at the end of the day. The pricing of anvils is a very contentious area. Some consider them a workshop tool and some a fashion statement or antique. That basically means, anywhere from $3 a pound to $5 a pound.