Anvil Advice

[usmc4295]

I just inherited an old Columbian Hardware Co. 200ish pound anvil and the top has seen a lot of use over the last 90-100 years of it's life on my grandparents farm. It has some serious hammer marks in it and I was curious about getting the top remilled to a perfect flat. I'm just starting on my journey from a modern steel worker to old school blacksmithing. The anvil was the first step. My furnace is the next. I blasted the top face with walnut to remove paint and rust, then sprayed with a primer revealer and then block sanded to show imperfections. This is the results.

 

[bob15]

I would use/keep it as-is. I think re-surfacing it would ruin it

 

[M_George]

Just keep the milling to a minimum. The hardened steel surface is what makes it work as an anvil. Loose that and you have 200 lbs of cast iron.

 

[jumbojak]

First find out what you can't do on that anvil, due to the condition of the surface. You'll probably be surprised by how much work it can put out. Hammer marks and all. Do you have a photo by chance?

 

[Woody610nb]

The Essential Craftsman has a lot of videos about anvils. he is and older contractor that has many videos that are very informative and easy to watch. Here is one on anvil repair;

 

[M_George]

Woody610nb, that is the best video on repairing an anvil yet. I would trust his method.

 

[usmc4295]

The Essential Craftsman has a lot of videos about anvils. The is and older contractor that has many videos that are very informative and easy to watch. Here is one on anvil repair;

Thank you Woody610nb. I'm about to check out that link right now. M_George: The entire anvil is cast steel from the information I've been able to gather. Not tool steel topped cast iron. Which is why I was considering getting the hammer marks milled out. Again I'm brand new to blacksmithing but I've used a hydraulic auto-hammer at work hundreds of times and everything I know about that is the anvil side is the finished side of whatever we were making, not the hammer or strike side. That's why I had concerns about the low spots and hammer strike marks. Jumbojak: The picture of the anvil face was in the original post. Did it not show?

 

[Seppala]

Try doing some actual forging on the anvil before you do any refinishing work. Experienced blacksmiths can work around a somewhat worn anvil such as yours.

 

[jumbojak]

[Qoute]Jumbojak: The picture of the anvil face was in the original post. Did it not show?[/QUOTE]

I can see it now. That looks like a fine anvil to me. The edges are chipped here but I wouldn't make any changes for the time being. If you need a square edge for whatever reason you can make one that fits in your hardy hole.

In the end it's your anvil but I'd give it some hammer time before doing anything potentially drastic. Build a dirt bag forge, grab a bag of charcoal and start swinging!

 

[leg17]

Don't mill it.
Just smooth out the edge chips and go on.

 

[Brad54]

Agreed with the guys here about leaving it alone.
It's an anvil. They aren't perfectly smooth.
You don't do "finish" work on anvils--you use hand files for that. It's not like shaping sheetmetal.

Break the sharp edges on the chipped sides, and start working with it.

Also, don't EVER hammer cold steel on an anvil... that's how they break.

-Brad