An anvil is a heavy block of steel on which you shape glowing metal. It is central to every workshop: it absorbs the force of your hammer and reflects it back into your workpiece.
If you want to get started yourself, check out the different anvils that suit your work and skill level.
What do you use an anvil for?
You use an anvil to shape, bend, and stretch hot metal. You heat your steel in a forging furnace until it glows, place it on the flat work surface, and work it with your hammer. The mass of the block ensures that the blow stays in your workpiece and doesn't dissipate into the substrate.
The heavier the anvil, the more efficient that transfer. While your hammer comes from above, the mass pushes back from below, and it is precisely between these two forces that the steel deforms.
On such an anvil, you forge hooks, knives, tools, and ornamental ironwork, among other things. On the round tip, you can also bend curves, for example, for an eye or a horseshoe.
The components of an anvil
An anvil consists of a few fixed parts, each with its own task. If you know these, you'll immediately understand why an anvil is so versatile. The most important parts are:
- The face: the flat, hardened work surface where you make most of your strikes.
- The horn: the round tip with which you bend metal and form curves.
- The hardy hole: the square hole in which you place auxiliary tools such as a cutoff tool or a forming jig.
- The pritchel hole: the round hole with which you punch holes in hot metal.
- The cutting table: the softer surface between the horn and face where you cut without damaging the face.
The face is the most important part: it is hardened so that your hammer blows do not sink into the surface. The horn and both holes make the anvil a versatile workstation where you can bend, punch, and cut without changing workplaces.
Not every anvil has all parts: small models for jewelers sometimes lack the holes, while a full-fledged blacksmith's anvil has them all.
What is an anvil made of?
Anvil are usually made of cast steel or forged steel, and sometimes of cheaper cast iron. The material determines how hard the face is and how much striking power you get back. Forged anvils and cast steel anvils have a hard, resilient face that lasts for years.
Cast iron is softer and cheaper, but hardly rebounds and can be damaged by heavy blows. For real forging work, you should therefore choose steel, not cast iron.
An additional advantage: a forged anvil makes less noise than a cast one. Many good quality anvils have a hardened face with a hardness of around 50 HRC, which keeps the surface flat for a long time.
How heavy should an anvil be?
How heavy an anvil should be depends on the work you do. As a rule of thumb: the heavier your workpieces, the heavier the anvil. For most beginner projects, such as hooks, bottle openers, and small knives, an anvil between 20 and 50 kilograms works perfectly.
Those who forge larger pieces switch to heavier models. Traditional village blacksmiths sometimes used anvils weighing between 200 and 400 kilograms for rough work. More important than the number is that the anvil stands firmly: a block that moves with you costs you striking power. A heavier anvil naturally remains more stable under your hammer.
How do you recognize a good anvil?
You recognize a good anvil by its rebound: the extent to which it returns your striking power. Drop a ball bearing onto the face and see how high it bounces back. With a good anvil, the bearing bounces back a large part of the way, often 70 percent or more of the drop height.
That rebound means that the energy goes into your workpiece and does not dissipate into the block. Also, look for tight, undamaged edges and a flat face without deep dents. A hard face and a neat finish say more about the quality than the brand on the side. If you are in doubt between two anvils, choose the one with the better rebound, even if it looks a bit more austere.
Which anvil fits best in your workshop?
Which anvil suits you depends on your skill level, your projects, and the space in your workshop. If you're just starting, choose a sturdy steel anvil between 20 and 50 kilograms on a low, stable base, so you can practice calmly. If you've been working longer, a heavier model with a wider face will help you with larger workpieces.
At Parrot Shopping, you'll find anvils between 10 and 125 kilograms, selected for a hard face and good rebound. If you're not sure which weight suits you, we're happy to help, because we are your guide in the art of forging.
