Nowadays, a good-quality blacksmithing anvil is getting harder and harder to find. That is due to various reasons, such as a lack of producing companies, shipping complications, costs, manufacturing concerns, etc.
You can find used anvils for $4-5/lb, whereas new ones usually cost around $10/lb, but don’t let that discourage you from starting blacksmithing.
The question remains, is it possible to do blacksmithing without an anvil? Although not ideal, blacksmithing can still be done without using the common anvil type. Because of its hardness and shape, the anvil is the preferred blacksmithing tool, but plenty of anvil alternatives can also serve you.
It is important to note that today’s term anvil is used mostly for London pattern anvil. An anvil can be anything you can put a hot piece of material on.
Next, we will discuss possible substitutes for the anvil and when you should use them. At the end of the article, we will also answer the related question on this topic.
6 Features to Look for in an Anvil Alternative
Before analyzing anvil alternatives, we must discuss the important anvil characteristics to make a proper decision. The most crucial ones are:
- Hardness
- Stability
- Material
- Size
- Portability
- Shape
Hardness
Hardness is probably the most important factor of all. It should be able to endure constant hammering without breaking. The face of the anvil should be the hardest as it will take the most beating.
Always check for dents, cracks, and chips before usage. When it comes to anvils, steel is a better material than iron. Early anvils were made from wrought iron, but after some time, they were slowly disappearing from the market as they are not hard as steel.
Stability
Stability is also an important factor to consider before choosing any substitute for an anvil. The larger and heavier the piece is, the more stable it is. That is why it is recommended to have a large piece. The more massive it is, the less it will move under the hammer striking.
On the other hand, make sure you do proper anchoring if the anvil is small. Keep in mind that there are different ways of anchoring, so pick the most convenient method for you.
Material
Material is also an extremely important characteristic. For example, cast iron is a terrible choice, while cast steel is excellent. In case you are using iron, make sure it is wrought iron.
Cast iron has been melted and cooled down afterward, while wrought iron has been heated up to high temperatures and then worked with tools. Wrought iron anvils (affiliate link) are much stronger than ones made out of cast iron. After every heat-treating process, it becomes a little harder. Because of its strength, it is a better choice for an anvil.
Differently, steel is an alloy that primarily consists of carbon and iron. Iron occurs naturally as an element, whereas steel consists of many different elements that aren’t found naturally on the earth. The carbon component is what differentiates the two. Though it only contains about 2% of carbon content, it makes significant physical changes. Steel is stronger and harder than iron; thus, it is the best material for an anvil.
Anvil Size
When choosing an anvil substitute, consider that size is a great factor. Size should be proportional to the project and the hammer size. For average blacksmithing work, the ideal weight ratio of the hammer to anvil is about 50:1. For example, a 3-pound hammer and a 150-pound anvil are excellent matches.
Although not ideal, large anvils can be used for small projects. However, it is impossible to use large projects on small anvils.
Anvil Portability
Except for size, the related factor is portability. Do you need to move your anvil frequently? That is also a very important question you have to ask yourself when choosing a proper anvil for your needs.
The most convenient portable anvils are 100 to 150lb (45 to 68kg). Anything heavier than that will be harder and more inconvenient to move.
Shape
The final feature to look for in an anvil alternative is its shape. Depending on what type of blacksmithing you plan on doing, you might need a flat or round surface.
You can find all shapes of DIY anvils for cheap online or other materials around the house.
What Can You Use Instead of an Anvil?
There are many different alternatives when it comes to anvils. In this article, we decided to show you the most common ones.
- ASO (Anvil Shaped Object)
- Railroad Track
- Piece of Scrap Steel
- Old Truck Axle
- Stone
6 Best Anvil Alternatives for Blacksmiths
1. Anvil-Shaped Object (ASO) Check on Amazon
Availability: Easy to find
Alternative Quality: Best
Cost: 50$ (Average price)
Recommended for: Cheap for beginners and medium-size projects
ASO is usually cast iron, the lowest quality material for an anvil. That is a popular blacksmithing term for Anvil Shaped Object. Anything that looks like an anvil but, in most cases, is badly manufactured. As we said earlier, cast iron is not ideal for anvils due to its brittleness.
If you are an aspiring blacksmith and have some money to spend, ASO is a good starting point. It will serve you well.
The problem with real anvils is that they are getting more difficult to find and also their prices are higher than ever. So, spending about 50$ (or less) is not a bad idea for starting purposes.
As you are getting advanced and work longer hours, you will need to get yourself a steel anvil (Amazon link) due to its durability and quality.
2. Railroad Track (I-Beam Anvil) Check on Amazon
Availability: Easy to find
Alternative Quality: Good
Cost: Mostly free
Recommended for: Jewelers and medium-size projects
Railroad Tracks are the most common anvil alternatives used by blacksmiths. They are usually made from medium steel, but that does not always have to be the case. Because of their hardness and strength, they are the most popular choice.
Keep in mind that railroad tracks are not always easily available. Do not try to find them on railroad property because you can get yourself into legal issues. You can find them at state sales, auctions, maintenance yards, scrap yards, and auto repair shops, or ask somebody who may have it.
We recommend using a cutting torch or cutoff wheel to cut a railroad track. A cutting torch is more effective, but feel free to use a cutoff wheel if you don’t have it.
3. Piece of Scrap Steel
Availability: Easy to find
Alternative Quality: Varies from Good to Excellent
Cost: Mostly free or very cheap
Recommended for: Beginners and medium-size projects
A piece of Scrap steel is probably the simplest alternative you can use for an anvil. You can easily find them at local businesses, construction sites, scrapyards, dumpsters, etc.
As you can see, you can find it in many different places. Due to its weight, it is a better option for some blacksmiths than a railroad track. Namely, it is much heavier than a railroad truck, sometimes even 2x heavier.
If you prefer, you can also find chunks of steel on Amazon for fairly cheap.
You can easily find a way to anchor it on a stump. It is also possible to build up a holding block. Scrap steel piece makes plenty of space for small projects. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a horn, but that may not be such a big deal.
It is important to know the kinds of scrap metal you use to determine what you can and can’t do with your anvil. There are many different types of metal, but these are mostly found in scrap metal:
- Aluminum
- Carbide
- Copper
- Iron
- Titanium
Aluminum is one of the most commonly found in scrap metals. You can find it in food wrap soils, storm windows, soda cans, and many other places.
Carbine is another metal that you can find in various scrap metals. It is also commonly found in drill bits or tool bits so if you have some of that, make sure you recycle them instead of throwing them away.
Copper is known to be highly valuable. It is the third most common metal in manufacturing and construction. It is found in kitchen sinks, electronic wiring, etc.
Iron is found in pans, swings, cast iron pots, and many outdoor furniture.
Titanium is one of the most valuable metals due to its versatility. It is commonly found in just about everything. It is also very corrosion-resistant.
4. Stump Anvil
Availability: Not easily available
Alternative Quality: Good
Cost: Usually between 15 to 100$
Recommended for: Jewelry work and small-size projects
Stump Anvils for heavy projects are almost impossible to find anymore. Instead, small variations are available. You can mount them on a stake plate or bench socket. For light projects, they can also be supported in a vice. Stump anvils usually weigh about 20 pounds.
Because of their size and shape, they are mostly used for jewelry work or some small blacksmithing projects. Keep in mind that you should limit your hammer size to the weight of the stump anvil. Don’t use a hammer that weighs more than 1/10 of the weight of the anvil.
5. Old Truck Axle
Availability: Not easily available
Alternative Quality: Decent
Cost: Mostly free or very cheap
Recommended for: Beginners and small/medium size projects
Believe it or not, an old truck axle can also serve as an anvil. It is heavy and solid, so it would be a nice piece to work on if you could anchor it on a big stump or set it in concrete.
If you have two truck axles, another one you can anchor sideways, it can substitute for an anvil horn. The good thing is that it has holes that you can use for punching, but overall, it is not a great anvil alternative, mainly because of its odd shape.
6. Solid Stone
Availability: Easily available
Alternative Quality: Bad
Cost: Free
Recommended for: Beginners and medium/large size projects
Stone is the oldest known anvil in history. For the longest time, blacksmith’s only choice was a stone anvil. There is not much that I can say about stone except try to find one massive piece of solid stone with an even surface.
Use a stone as a last resort if none of the alternatives previously mentioned is available for you.
How Can You Tell If an Anvil Is Good?
You have many different methods for establishing the quality of an anvil. Some of the most popular are:
- Rebound Hammer Test
- The Steel Ball Test
Testing an Anvil with the Rebound Hammer Method
You will need a 3-pound (or less) ball peen or smithing hammer and anvil to accomplish this test. Now, hold a hammer over the center of the face of the anvil. The handle should be parallel to the face. Be sure to use the hammer’s face, not the peen.
Simply drop the head and observe the height of the rebound. A good result is anything above 30% of the initial distance. Cast iron usually bounces around 10% of the initial distance.
You should never strike the anvil with a hammer because it won’t produce quality results.
Testing an Anvil with a Steel Ball
What you will need:
- Hard steel ball around1-inches in diameter (2.5cm)
- A ruler
- Anvil for this test
First, put the ruler on the face of the anvil vertically. Now, place a ball at around 10 inches high and drop it down. It is best to perform this test in a couple of different places and take the average result. Results will vary depending on the ball’s hardness, the mass of the anvil, and the surface of the anvil’s face.
Keep in mind that the steel ball test is a good rather than a perfect hardness indicator. Be careful not to throw the ball at the anvil. That will tell you nothing about the quality of the anvil. If you throw the ball, it will bounce much higher due to the increased energy. Basically, it is a pointless test if done improperly.
Related Questions
Why Are Anvils so Expensive?
Anvils are expensive mainly due to the lack of manufacturers and shipping costs. Demand is not high enough to encourage more production. Also, shipping is not so easy to do, primarily because of the weight of the anvil.
Why Do Blacksmiths Wrap Chains Around Anvils?
Blacksmiths wrap the chain around the anvil to silence it, especially smaller ones. Also, chains add weight to the anvil, to achieve better stabilization.
What Tools Are Needed for Blacksmithing?
Depending on the blacksmithing you plan on doing, you will need a good anvil (or one of the alternatives above), a blacksmithing hammer, and a blacksmithing forge.
You can find all this information here:
7 Knife-Making Power Tools for Maximum Productivity