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83K views 188 replies 51 participants last post by  Bruteleenandrane 
#1 ·
Anvil stand

Anvil stand
workspace for blacksmithing

After taking a blacksmithing class I realized there were no way back for me, I needed to have this possibility in my workshop, the ability to make, repurpose, restore tools for woodworking on my own, to forge the blade, then give it a handle or a body and finally make shaves with it, is for me the feeling of a full circle. Ohhh yes and then it is just another chance to learn new, to open new paths and get a wider perspective, so yes the child in me are fully alive and still endlessly curious.
This will not be a blacksmithing blog series, but blacksmithing from a woodworkers perspective, a how I get started and the tricks I learn to make a woodworker able to forge his own tools and finish them up.


The small gas forge on top of my stove.
My first thought was to build a soup can forge since I have a MAPP gas burner, but after finding a fair priced gas forge from DEVILS FORGE, I decided to go the easy way and not spend my time on building a forge and
figuring out how to construct a burner and the dangers that could come with it… Coal was not possible since my shop is in a domestic building in the center of Copenhagen.
(I also choose the gas burner because I can also use it for a Raku kiln that's on my to do list).


So while waiting for the forge to arrive I visited my once again generous friend Flemming who said I could borrow this anvil and tong he had in the house and not used.
(It is a better quality and I like it better than my small cast iron anvil).


Being a city woodworker I have little acces to lumber, so I decided to do reversed woodworking.
Bought a bunch of roof batterns, since they are dead cheap and easy to get.
Now waiting for a click on mount for a gas bottle to arrive…


So a stand for a tapered anvil…


Ohhh yes and I also managed to get two gas bottles at a fair prize (half the retail price), I can only use the small size since it is a workshop that are three steps under the terrain… Hmmmm that's what the law say and so I better follow it, also it holds enough gas for at least a full days forging, so that should be more than enough for my use.


So back to reversed woodworking…
Making roof batterns into a solid wood block.
Kind of stupid, kind of foolish but…
So I cut them up in pieces that fit the height I want on the anvil.
It should be that your knuckles touch the surface when your arm hang loose.


That's it!
Kind of.


At this point I realized it would be more easy to make the tapered hole for the anvil before putting the stand together.
So I made a drawing of the anvil, then folded it on the middle and could transfer the angle to the wood.


Then sawing from both sides.


Cleaning up a little and thinking of an old friend.


Like this we have half the hole.
Two more and we are there.


Get it?


Easy to make and a perfect fit.


Glue.


Glue and screw.


Layer on layer and a block of wood are a reality.


Now metal band around to secure it and hold the beating that will come later.


I used the construction type, it is again cheap and easy to get.


And easy to mount.


Anvil stand.
Nice and simple.


I think it fits in here, kind of like home from the beginning.


Now some leather details…
Cutting a few strips.


Mounting it on the sides.
Just loose loops, different sizes.


Like this the tools will be where they are needed.


Like this.


That's it; anvil on stand, I'm pleased with the result.
Flemming passed the shop today and were so pleased with it that he gave me the tong and anvil as a gift.
I am a lucky man.
Think Flemming will enjoy some blacksmithing here also. ;-)
Now I just wait for that gas click on thing to arrive…

Hope this post can inspire others to make their own tools, after all this is why I take a detour out the black road now.

Best thoughts,

Mads
 
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#5 ·
Very nice, very human scale, very fitting, ........ very, very Mads!

I like it a lot Mads. Just be careful and don't burn down the cutest little shop in Denmark.
 
#10 ·
The inside corners of the wood will split & it will go round with use … sorry. You should have just made a rectangular hole, that tapered hole will focus the force on splitting the sides. Your 'anvil' looks like a hardy hole tool for a real anvil. Hope it works, but don't get you hopes up. Nice shop tho.

M
 
#13 ·
Hi,
Font Line Illustration Drawing Parallel

Perhaps this can be some inspiration for the origin of the shape…
The early Viking anvils looked like this, so I think I will call it my Viking anvil.
(Truth is I have no idea, it was a gift from a friend and I love it). ;-)

kærlighedsbamsen, I looked online and found this type used both by smede, gørtler and blikkenslager, so I think we can't put a trade on it, I will use for all that's possible. Don't expect too much, I have so many unfinished project now that I will find little time for forging and I have no production plans, just joy and fulfilling a old dream.
helluvawreck, I also like the soul of that anvil, it have a history in it I think. Thanks.
MadMark, I think it's too big for being a hardy hole tool, but I don't know, as you can see in the photos above there are a long history here in Europe on these anvils, so I hink there can be many answers to the origin. Not sure I understand your point about the hole, if I made a square hole the splitting force would be even bigger as I see it since it have no base… But I did think of this force and that was why I put the metal band around the stand. Time will tell, I do think it will hold up with the little use I am planning for. My hopes are high, I hope for a happy life full of surprises, smiles, worst case is I spend seven usd on wood I can use in the stove. (Anyway hanks for your concerns).
English, yes that's what I think also, elegant, thank you.
Jim Rowe, laughs, no I am Mr. carful so I did buy one of those also, you can see it on the picture in the comments.
CFrye, you always make ME smile, thanks.
shipwright, I did give it a few thoughts… wood, fire, wood fire, firewood… But I will put metal sheets on the floor and be careful so do not worry, the tools should be safe. ;-) I like your way to say it; human scale, I feel the same, it fits a calm man.
lew, Yes I think I was lucky at the end…
Jim Jakosh, thanks Jim, I am lazy so that helps finding the easy way… laughs.
Mark Wilson, yeps and even on fire now!
Thank you all for your lovely words.
Best of my thoughts,
Mads
 

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#17 ·
I like how you engage in two different, but similar worlds - blacksmithing and woodworking. That is really cool.
Reminds me of reading somewhere about how, in frontier towns, the blacksmith's and carpenter's shops would be situated near to each other. They would often make the parts of different tools for each other and, between the two, they could make nearly anything the townsfolk needed. The carpenter would also sometimes double as the town's under-taker, as he would make the coffins!

Awesome shop as well!
 
#18 ·
Viking anvil it will be. ;-)

Sky Pollution Fixture Wood Waste

A short road tour to the junk yard today, knife steel and floor plates…

handsawgeek, thank you. For me it was also like that, the one and the other was so close that I felt they needed each other and since there were no blacksmith in my street I had to wear both caps. ;-) Not sure I will be undertaker… It will take to long to cremate in my little forge.
Best thoughts,
Mads
 

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#19 ·
I congrat me… just saw it was my blog nr 300. ;-)
Perhaps I have to stop feeling guilty I don't spend enough time here with my LJ friends.
Thank you all for making me want to come back,
Mads
 
#25 ·
Love your anvil stand and also your knife forge Mads, very well conceived and made. Your idea of doing the full cycle of creating your tools and then making things with them is very appealing. If I had any energy I would probably jump into this myself, even though I would be greatly fearful of burning down my shop as I tend to be a little absent minded at times. At least it will be much fun to see what you will create with your new found blacksmithing skills.
 
#26 ·
Hi,
Mike, laughing here, I can just imagine you running out the shop screaming fire or having your coffee in the garden while smoke comes up from the workshop… No pls stay on woodworking and gardening, then. ;-) Thank you.
chrisstef, smiles, thanks thats wonderful, then I better just keep up, doing the mafe things, what ever that is, laugh.
Tony_S, sometimes I think that's all I am, soul, sometimes I wonder where the heck I am going, but then just follow it… Life is such a wonderful miracle that it don't need to make sense, it is sense in it self. Thanks.
Big smile here,
Mads
 
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