Thread: Cold weather forging

Thermal shock. It could likely crack and chip. But you also have to be careful when warming it: you could inadvertently temper it, which is what often leads to the edges of the face getting chipped round on older anvils. Too much hot steel for too long is bad for an anvil.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

What can happed to an anvil? can you crack it if cold?

Yes, depending on your definition of cold.
If it's freezing -25 celsius, steel becomes fairly brittle.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Yes, depending on your definition of cold.
If it's freezing -25 celsius, steel becomes fairly brittle.

The question is .......... are you a fair weather forger ? How is the weather ? Inquiring minds and all that ............

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

The question is .......... are you a fair weather forger ? How is the weather ? Inquiring minds and all that ............

No worries Jimmy.

To help refine the subject matter a bit: anvilfire guru An anvil as described is more likely to break when there is damage present but not necessarily noticed. The author's comment about modern cast steel anvils should not be missed.

Cracking or spalling has numerous variables that have to be considered, not just ambient temperature.

I use unhardened 4140 for my anvils so heat treatment concerns are non existent in my case. They probably work harden over time, but there is not much that I can do by hand to cause them to deform when striking hot steel and I have no concern about the heat they take. Some days of forging needed a water soaked rag on them to help cool them off.

I believe a hardened anvil is more likely to crack or spall than a softer one especially when colder temps are in play. If you have a hardened anvil, by all means keep the temperatures you warm the anvil to, below a normal tempering temperature to retain the hardness you paid for.

Brings up a question,I bought a 150lb peter wright anvil at a gargage sale last year,75 bux,I sold it to a guy off the back of my truck before I drove off, I had no use for it.
Were these anvils hardened when made? or just cast.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Brings up a question,I bought a 150lb peter wright anvil at a gargage sale last year,75 bux,I sold it to a guy off the back of my truck before I drove off, I had no use for it.
Were these anvils hardened when made? or just cast.

I hope you made a nice profit on that! Peter Wrights are fine hunks of steel. (full disclosure, the anvil that is currently freezing its arse off in my garage is a Peter Wright so I may be a bit biased)

My understanding of this - and I certainly stand to be corrected - is that the body was cast in one or two pieces, and then a hardened face plate welded on. I know that's one method of manufacture, but I'm not 100% sure that's the process PW used.

Originally Posted by Cangooner

I hope you made a nice profit on that! Peter Wrights are fine hunks of steel. (full disclosure, the anvil that is currently freezing its arse off in my garage is a Peter Wright so I may be a bit biased)

My understanding of this - and I certainly stand to be corrected - is that the body was cast in one or two pieces, and then a hardened face plate welded on. I know that's one method of manufacture, but I'm not 100% sure that's the process PW used.

Made a major profit,just have no use for an anvil.
I live in farm country and go to barn sales all the time,I see lots of anvils for sale.

,,,,,,is working the BBQ grill in 60 degree weather

Originally Posted by Hirlau

,,,,,,is working the BBQ grill in 60 degree weather

Maybe that's what was on these guys' minds the other night...