Forklift Tine anvil shaped object ideas

[Heavymetalmechanic]

My younger sister has been an active member of a medieval club for some time now, she has built her own armour and weapons with the help of a local smith. She has decided that she would like to pursue it further and has asked me to fabricate a temporary ASO (anvil shaped object) for her to use until she can afford to purchase a proper one. Used ones are proving very hard to locate. It will not see any heavy use forging but will need to be solid and safe.

I am working with her on a design that will fill her needs with a minimum of machining. I have access to a telehandler fork/tine that is 8" wide and 3" thick as well as heavy I-beam. I also just aquired a used 7"x12" bandsaw, that after some TLC will be very helpful in this. I have a MM211 welder on 230V, and all the other tools I need aside from a milling machine.

My questions are:
- is it safe to use the fork as a striking surface?
- has anyone tried this?
- if you are in Southern Alberta, do you know anyone wanting to part with an anvil?

I am trying to get my hands on a length of heavy railway rail but have not had any luck.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I would think a forklift fork is okay, they are able to lift a lot of weight and will bend considerably so I don't think there would be an issue of brittleness...

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

Thanks EOC, that's pretty much what I figured. I'm going to try the rebound test tomorrow.

 

[larry_g]

http://www.stagesmith.com/gallery/shop_projects/anvils/index.html

Check out the above site. Ernie is a known anvil builder in the Seattle area.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

Thanks Larry, those are some great ideas. I have access to blade and bucket edges from excavators and graders, it sounds like that might be my best choice for the flat top.

 

[drivesitfar]

I've heard from several knife makers that you can make an anvil out of forklift forks. they also are able to make knives out of RR spikes.

here's a couple pictures of a RR tie that i bought as is to bang on. i also have this tin knocker's anvil on an old car or tractor axel. i had a couple Peter Wright anvils, but since i'm not pounding on hot metal yet I usually sell them to buy a bigger vise or another tool.

i'll check with my shipping companies and see if they have a reasonable rate to ship 100-200 pound anvils and vises to Canada because I've had several Canadians drive down to Seattle to pick up one that i'm selling.

good luck and it sounds like a fun project.

 

[rancherbill]

I look on Kijiji once in a while. There are no deals, they go for $4-5 dollars per pound.

Buy an anvil at Princess Auto when they go on sale. This one is not on sale, but they always seem to be doing special buys etc.
http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/Vises/24-lb-Cast-Iron-Anvil/3460028.p

Rail is hard to find, but I got mine for free. I was in the right place at the right time, asked, and they gave me a 3' piece.

 

[longlivepunk]

Kijiji here in Edmonton has a few for pretty decent prices right now. Might be worth looking into.

 

[TheEquineFencer]

I know a machinist that built an anvil, it was about 1200 pounds when finished. It was built out of Forklift forks he machined and welded together, then machined back down to the shape of a regular anvil. It all looked like one piece of steel and would ring when you hit it. I asked him when it built it, the reply "when I was younger and dumber, with a lot of time on my hands."

 

[kelpaso1]

Have you tried the Ogden rail yard? I would go there and go to the locomotive shop and ask around.

I used to go down there on my lunch hour and watch the trains. Even got to drive a locomotive once with my then 7 year old daughter a couple hundred feet. That was waaaay cool

 

[zkling]

If all she is using it for is cold forging what you have should be more than adequate, mount it to a large block of wood. I have met few people that are into that stuff and they have an entire assortment of smaller anvils. Two common ones are what looks like a large metal bean on the end of a stake (vertical). And a large round drop with a half sphere machined into the center. I think what they do and use for armor is more in line with what the auto body shaping/bumping guys use.

 

[TheEquineFencer]

If all she is using it for is cold forging what you have should be more than adequate, mount it to a large block of wood. I have met few people that are into that stuff and they have an entire assortment of smaller anvils. Two common ones are what looks like a large metal bean on the end of a stake (vertical). And a large round drop with a half sphere machined into the center. I think what they do and use for armor is more in line with what the auto body shaping/bumping guys use.

A large Oak log, one with a neat fork, makes pretty cool mount, just cut it out with a chainsaw.

 

[kkroger]

I have used a 2' long chunk or railroad iron for a long time.
Haven't worn it out yet...

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

Thanks guys, we will see how this all turn out.