Structure and Parts of an Anvil
– An anvil consists of a large block of metal with a flattened top surface.
– The face of the anvil is the primary work surface and should be flat, smooth, and rounded to avoid marks and cracks on the workpiece.
– The face is hardened and tempered to resist deformation and maximize energy transfer.
– The horn of the anvil is a conical projection used for bending and drawing down stock.
– Some anvils have side horns or clips for specialized work.
– The step is the area between the horn and the face, used for cutting to prevent damage to the anvil face and cutting tools.
– An upsetting block is sometimes added to the anvil for upsetting steel.
– The hardy hole is a square hole for specialized forming and cutting tools.
– The pritchel hole is a small round hole used mostly for punching.
– Some anvils have multiple pritchel holes for added flexibility.
Placement and Types of Anvils
– Anvils should be placed near the forge to prevent heat loss in the workpiece.
– They need to be placed on a sturdy base made from impact and fire resistant materials.
– Common methods of attaching an anvil include spikes, chains, straps, clips, bolts, and cables.
– Traditional bases were made of hard wood logs or large timbers, while cast iron bases became popular in the industrial era.
– Modern bases can be fabricated from steel, dimensional lumber, or steel drums filled with oil-saturated sand.
– Anvils are designed for specific purposes and different types of metal workers.
– Examples include farrier anvils, general smith anvils, cutler anvils, chain maker anvils, armorers anvils, saw maker anvils, coach maker anvils, and more.
– Saw maker anvils have a harder surface for hammering on steel for saws.
– Bladesmith anvils are rectangular with a hardy and pritchel hole, but no horn.
– Different styles of anvils include Bavarian, French Pig, Austrian, and Chinese turtle anvils.
Materials and History of Anvils
– Common blacksmith anvils are made of forged or cast steel, forged wrought iron with a hard steel face, or cast iron with a hard steel face.
– Cast iron anvils are not suitable for forging as they crack and dent easily.
– Anvils with a smooth top working face of hardened steel welded to a cast iron or wrought iron body were historically used.
– Anvils have a projecting conical horn for hammering curved workpieces and a heel at the other end.
– They may also have a hardy hole, pritchel hole, and a softer pad for chisel work.
– Anvils were first made of stone, then bronze, and later wrought iron.
– Steel became more readily available, so anvils were faced with it to give them a hard face and prevent deformation.
– Regional styles of anvils evolved over time from the simple block used by smiths.
– The majority of anvils found in the US today are based on the mid-19th century London pattern anvil.
– Modern anvils are generally made entirely from steel.
Anvils in Popular Culture
– Anvils are depicted in the coat of arms of the Tohmajärvi municipality.
– Anvil firing, using gunpowder to launch an anvil into the air, is a popular tradition in certain regions of the US and England.
– Anvils are commonly used as props in cartoons, such as Looney Tunes and Animaniacs, for comedic effect.
– In an episode of Gilmore Girls, anvils are referenced as falling out of use on a general scale.
– Anvils are featured in books like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Hobbit, where dwarves use them for metalworking.
Anvils in Music and Media
– Anvils have been used as percussion instruments in famous musical compositions, including works by Louis Andriessen, Kurt Atterberg, and Benjamin Britten.
– The Beatles’ song ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’ prominently features an anvil, played by their roadie Mal Evans.
– Richard Wagner’s opera Der Ring des Nibelungen uses 18 tuned anvils in scene 3 of Das Rheingold and anvils in act I of Siegfried.
– Anvils are used as percussion instruments in various musical compositions, including Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3 and John Williams’ scores for Jaws and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
– The anvil is used as a percussion instrument in Carl Michael Ziehrer’s composition ‘Der Traum eines österreichischen Reservisten’.
– Anvils are often used as props in cartoons like Looney Tunes and Animaniacs for comedic effect.
– In an episode of Gilmore Girls, anvils are referenced as falling out of use on a general scale.
– The show Animaniacs frequently includes gags and references to anvils, even featuring a kingdom named Anvilania. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anvil
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An anvil is a metalworking tool consisting of a large block of metal (usually forged or cast steel), with a flattened top surface, upon which another object is struck (or "worked").
Anvils are as massive as practical, because the higher their inertia, the more efficiently they cause the energy of striking tools to be transferred to the work piece. In most cases the anvil is used as a forging tool. Before the advent of modern welding technology, it was the primary tool of metal workers.
The great majority of modern anvils are made of cast steel that has been heat treated by either flame or electric induction. Inexpensive anvils have been made of cast iron and low-quality steel, but are considered unsuitable for serious use, as they deform and lack rebound when struck.
The largest single piece tool steel anvil that is heat treated is 1600 pounds. This anvil was made in 2023 by Oak Lawn Blacksmith. There are larger anvils that are made out of multiple pieces such as “The mile long anvil” made by Napier which weights 6500 pounds. This anvil is not heat treated or made from tool steel.
