I don't do any kind of smithing, I don't have any smiths in my sub box. This guy just randomly appeared in my recommended the other day and I FUCKING LOVE HIM !!!!!
That cuz he is so enthusiastic about his work! Some of the camera angles are kind of strange too, which makes his videos different than others. Believe me if you see other blacksmithing videos you will see what I mean.
Your knowledge is unreal. I try to get a little work in every day to improve my skills and thanks to you I am improving. Keep up the great work and teaching. You are a blessing to Smith work!
His damn expressions, his attitude, and confidence is so cheerful. I like watching him do his videos with a cheering face. I wish I had all that. Great vids
Alec, I wish I was younger, I'd love to get into Metal/Blacksmithing. I really enjoy your videos.....very fun, informative and inspiring! Take care and keep it up.
It's fantastic to see younger folks getting this excited about smithing. I came to the art late, but it's a blast to watch Alec's energy and excitement for what was, until quite recently, an almost dead art.
If you fill the legs 3/4 full with lead shot and fill the rest of each leg with 90w gear oil the sound from striking is quite deadened. The volume of the sound is reduced enough for someone to be able to hear a telephone ring during extreme exertion.
love your enthusiasm and helpfulness. Building a wood working shop in my basement and want to make decorative knife and tool handles and whatnot, also want to put a forge and anvil in my back yard for knifemaking, your channel is going to help a lot when I finally get up and running, thank you for that, it is very appreciated
You're so knowledgeable it's fantastic. This explains why my beginners anvil is made of mild steel. It is relatively small anyway, but this makes me feel better about its quality. I thought the supplier (harbor freight) just skimped out on better materials, but it actually has a good side.
I'm just starting and I'm now sooooo glad I bought one of these rather than getting a big boy anvil straight away. Not to mention the cost, I might even save an eye or other soft part of my anatomy - thank you!
really enjoy watching your videos Alec, Nice job as usual. I am currently apprenticing under a Master Smith in Saco Maine, and until I have the chance to complete my own shop, watching your videos helps keep the thought process going even though I am not near an anvil most of the month (I only get to visit the shop one or two days per month). keep up the good work!
I'm actually going to a junkyard Saturday to pick up a piece to make a striking anvil mine will be attached to the top of a large Maple stump I have never forged anyting and them I'm in the process of beginning this journey I have two old propane tanks I plan to make one of them into a forge it will be a single burner though because I'll be using a weed burner for the main gas feed I do not have a regular Anvil as I cannot afford one yet and we'll be doing this on quite the budget that means as much free stuff as I can possibly get. Another Hobby that I've been waiting to try for many decades. Great attitude great video
Ding that bad boy up! xD Great videos Alec! I started watching your videos yesterday and can't get enough. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge about the art of blacksmithing. These videos are a great source for teachers like me, who teach shop. We are jacks-of-all-trades but masters of none. I'm very impressed that you found your path as young as you did and pursued it vehemontly. Keep up the great work. Remember to use hearing protection. Save your voice and stay hydrated and safe :) Also, I wish that Sam would address to you once as "Mr. Frodo" when you talk to him saying his name ;'D
Alec, Recently happened upon your channel via the magic of TH-cam algorithms, and I am delighted by the videos I have seen so far. Wonderfully entertaining and informative, thank you for your efforts!
Alec, A couple of things, How about a demo on striking practice? I have thought that anyone going through the expense of taking your classes should prepare. Striking with a sledge is no easy task if you're not accustomed to it, especially if you are taking a full, over the shoulder, behind the back, end of haft grip, swing. I've split my fair share of cords of wood, and driven large stakes into the ground, and I have also broken two handles on sledges over the course of thirty years. An old truck tire with a spot of paint on it would make an ideal training and muscle building piece of equipment. (Don't they do that in Cross-Fit?) Just an idea! AAR
Albert Rasch as Hank Ford once said, "Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice." He forgot to mention limbing, bucking, dragging, splitting, stacking, and schlepping! From one kindred would to another, I believe we can forego the necessary training to be a striker since splitting firewood will quickly condition one's eye and muscles to hit where it's needed :)
I found a chunk of steel that size and shape yesterday, i have been looking for an anvil for a long time and i finally have something i can hammer on without denting it
Can find big chunks of mild steel like that at scrap yards too if you can't afford to buy and ship one. If the yard is halfway decent they will have different steel types in different piles.
Alex, I might suggest you incorporate a plate by the feet below the hearty hole to be used for upsetting...with the understanding that if you upset too much you get you steel stuck in your anvil. (Or just upset with hammer on hot steel...but you'll still need a plate.
Hello, Just a quick observation. If your strike is above the horizontal (on the striking face) on a full swing your shoulder is still in the blow when it hits. Not a good thing. Over time the shoulder joint and elbow will suffer and rotator cuffs are very very difficult to fix and even more difficult to do without. This is especially pertinent when swinging a heavy hammer/sledge. So it is very important as you point out to achieve the right height with your striking surface for your particular physique. Take care. Doug
My mind watching this video: AHHHHHH!!!! YOU DID NOT JUST DIRECTLY HIT AN ANVIL THAT HARD WITH A SLE....oh! He says it's mild steel! Well, very-good then! Whack the crap out of that thing! (Edit: In fact, ding that bad boy up!) This is the first I've heard of a striking-anvil. But the way you explain things, it makes good sense. I've seen smiths get around these constraints by either having specialize low-profile flatters and forming tools, or by forging using a swageblock on the ground, with the master working from his knees and the striker wielding a sledge with a much longer handle. But now that I see it, I think I really do like this solution. If you're ever starved for topics, and flush with resources, I'd love to watch a video demonstrating how to bolt such a structure so securely to a concrete floor like that.
Alec did mention "chemical anchors". I'd heard of the practice, but never by that term. Effectively, you drill a hole into the concrete and set an anchor in with super-tough epoxy or other adhesives, which are specifically formulated for strength, vibration resistance, temperature change, humidity and/or other needs. Tangent: Choosing the right type of anchor & adhesive combination is paramount in some applications. The incorrect combination was used in one of Boston's "Big Dig" tunnels, causing some concrete slabs to fall from the ceiling, crushing a car and killing someone. Fortunately for any Wile E. Coyotes nearby, no anvils are going to fall from the ceiling.
It won't take much of an anchor to hold that in place. Having said that, except no substitute for redhead anchors!! I used to work in a press shop installing Goss community presses and each unit is 9500 pounds and we only used 4, 5/8 anchors. One in each corner. Where most ppl mess up with anchors in concrete floors is not going deep enough. Drill till you go all the way through the concrete and all you have is enough thread to get the washer and nut on it and tighten the shit out of it. With 3 5/8 anchors put in right, you'd have a hard time prying that little anvil up with a bulldozer.
@@0num4 the old timers used to do the same by drilling a conical hole and filling it up with molten lead, though apparently this could get a bit dicey if the concrete was a bit wet! Now we have crazy polymers that apparently are stronger than lead and less likely to burn your face off, as you say!!
Oooooh! So it's mild steel! I want to build a teeny tiny model of a striking anvil and then a very small one I can use for jewelry smithing etc.! Although... what is a drift made from? Love your work! Very satisfying! Very educational! Keep on hammering, you're an inspiration!
Awwwww I want a rounding hammer! A small one. Like a 2 pounder. Anyway, I just got finished dressing my cross peen for the up coming forging season. I like in the Midwest region of the U.S. And it get cold and snowy half the year. My forge is outside so as soon as I touch my work to my anvil it is cold. I could preheat my andvil but swinging a ha,men in the cold sucks. I just got a new grinder, and I am more of a bladesmith than a blacksmith but I am going to entry and make one of those epic leafs you made.
Another great video Alec, I specifically like these type of videos. Mostly because I can't afford to buy, but I truly love to make for myself and again can't afford to make expensive mistakes. I you can make a video on how to make a proper Hardy hole, it would be helpful.
I have a friend that works at a metal recycling facility. They have a Hauge machine for cutting all that steel into bits. This machine has "teeth" that are changed on a regular basis. The "teeth" are big rectangular steel blocks about 70kg.. im thinking one of those would make a great strikking anvil, they already have two round holes, so making one square and im set :)
Ding that bad boy up!! I recently bought a foot of 2 3/4 inch by 5 inch wide block of mild steel for a striking anvil. your video helped a lot! thanks!
Thanks for this! I just bought a 2.5" slice of 6.5" round mild steel to make into a striking anvil, and was unsure about material and dimensions for the mount etc. I might have to find some timbers to install my anvil and its mount, as I'm working in a shop with a suspended slab floor that I don't want to penetrate. In any case, thanks for the tips!
Just an FYI for you Alec. Was talking to a blacksmith recently, and he mentioned both you and your striking anvil in the same sentence (positively BTW). You and your videos have a wider impact than you may realize. As an aside, is it affordable to get a hammer from you and have it shipped to the US??? Not because I need it, but just to be able to say it's one of yours and is forged. 😉
Loved the video I've been planning to get into blacksmithing for quite a while now but so far I haven't found anyone who would sell me an anvil, I've found a 30 pounds anvil and a 500 pounds anvil, couldn't buy either of them, but now I'm thinking I could just ask a friend of mine (who knows how to weld and had all the gear) to weld a reclaimed 1 ½" wrought-iron plate and this video is *REALLY* helpful, I'm looking forward to getting a gas Forge to ding that bad boy up, thanks a lot Alec👌
Interesting. Didn't know that these were a thing. I've always thought that an anvil needs to be hard and hefty in order to get some work done. Good insight, as usual!
the usual rule of thumb is '40 times the weight of the hammer head'. But with an anchored striking anvil you've basically turned the foundation of the building into part of the anvil.
I've been watching your videos for some time now I really enjoy watching what you do. My question is would a striking anvil be a better way to start out with then a regular basis anvil
You may have addressed this question at some point but why is it that smiths have large lengths of chain wrapped around their anvils? The obvious answer would be for winching it but then why leave it on the anvil, does the extra weight help reduce rebound or is there another reason?
Lyle Abraham it helps reduce sound. while the noise sounds great, it gets real annoying real fast to some people who are working for many hours straight. ☺
In making a new reinforced workbench. I'd like to get a striking anvil w/ hardy hole to bring to the top surface of my workbench when the project requires it. Are you still making them w/o stands? I'd like to weld a handle to it for ease of mobility
Enjoyed this video. Ding that bad boy up! Now that you have explained the purpose of it makes great since. Thanks for the walk around in your shop, love it. Cheers!
What do you use to fix your anvil if dented. I have heard a bunch of people adding weld to a dent, but do you have any suggestions of welding method or actual filler material for repair?
Hi Alec iv been following your channel for a while now and feel iv learnt a fair bit. just wondering if you managed to arrange sourcing the mild steel slabs to sell as I'm struggling to find something suitable. Thanks
Hi Alec, I have been following you for sometime now and after almost a year of scrounging materials i am almost in a position to make my own striking anvil and forge I have a couple of question though How do i create a drift hole if i have nothing to set my block of steel on to hit the drift? Am i best finding a piece of square steel the size i need and heat treating it or make my own? Thank you in advance, hope to hear from you soon Patrick
I have no idea why youtube recommended your videos, my craft is something completely different, i´m an electrician and have limited knowledge of metalwork, but it´s interesting none the less.
My kiln takes about 45 minutes to get to max heat. I made it from an 11 gallon air compressor tank. I only have 1 burner. Should I add a blower? What kind? Or 2 more burners?
I love your videos and your work im a avid follower! In this video you talk about no less than 3/16 wall on the legs but your anvil stand has 1/8 wall why the drop in size?
Hey Alec, I think I’ve heard u mention b4 ur anvils are soft? I’ve watched ur channel for over a year now and just now found this video lol. In ur opinion, would a fork lift tine be suitable for a striking anvil? Also for an ASO, would a forklift tine need to be heat treated in any sort of way after being built? And...... lol, now that u are in the states, are u still building belt sanders or plan to start building them again? I really like the size u were making in the uk.
Brother I’m just beginning. I like your hammers. What hammer and first set of tongs do you recommend? I mainly plan to use round bar stock or old files!
Hello Alec, I love your videos. I am curious about buying hammer's from you and about your bracelet. Please let me know if there is a way to buy either. Thank you
I did that exact thing to my little brother when using a sledgehammer and wedge on a log we were splitting. Straight into his elbow (inside) and hit an artery. Straight to the Doc we went. I was really worried about him.
Hey big fan I know for some 1 inch thick by around 12 inch wide and about 10 feet long mild steel could I cut it into plates and weld them together as you would like stacking Damascus to make a usable anvil ?
Great video, Thanks! Anyone know if a machine shop could drill the square hardie hole? My forge isn't big enough to fit the plate that I currently have.
Hello Alec My Name Is EDWARD I Am A Heavy Equipment For 30 Years I Love Working With Steel I Just Bought My First ANVIL It Is 235 Lbs I Like The Striking Anvil I Think I Shall Make One Or Buy One From You I Live In Upstate New York in A Small Farming Town I Am Also The Scoutmaster For Our Boy Scout Troop I Am Starting To teach BLACKSMITHING To The Boys Thank you For All The Great Videos Talk Soon EDWARD
, you seem to know more about steel than many ( so many different things you've done time and time again) Damascus brass blew me away,my celtic roots wants a ring lol Heres my questions... people use rail as there first anvils ,( breaking out) is the top of the rail and the flap bottom the same steel or hardness/rockwall? Instead of grinding a flat could I just flip it? I want to take 3 peices of rail ,2 for sides and one flipped centered for a flat top,weld and fill with lead. what's best rod? 7018,6010 or hyp? And how should I harden the rail steel or should I just leave it ? Sorry bout so many questions but b4 I go in ass up I'd like an opinion from someone with experience and knowledge... and from your great work to some fails you seem best to ask ... thanks in advance and may the hammer keep you happy 👍🔥⚒
I don't do any kind of smithing, I don't have any smiths in my sub box. This guy just randomly appeared in my recommended the other day and I FUCKING LOVE HIM !!!!!
same
Gay.
Same
That cuz he is so enthusiastic about his work! Some of the camera angles are kind of strange too, which makes his videos different than others. Believe me if you see other blacksmithing videos you will see what I mean.
Darn he's so cheerful. What an uplifting experience it is to watch this dude's videos.
Your knowledge is unreal. I try to get a little work in every day to improve my skills and thanks to you I am improving. Keep up the great work and teaching. You are a blessing to Smith work!
His damn expressions, his attitude, and confidence is so cheerful. I like watching him do his videos with a cheering face. I wish I had all that. Great vids
Alec, I wish I was younger, I'd love to get into Metal/Blacksmithing. I really enjoy your videos.....very fun, informative and inspiring! Take care and keep it up.
It's fantastic to see younger folks getting this excited about smithing. I came to the art late, but it's a blast to watch Alec's energy and excitement for what was, until quite recently, an almost dead art.
Hello sir. What you, Sam, (and anyone else involved) do for us is awesome! Thank you for it.
If you fill the legs 3/4 full with lead shot and fill the rest of each leg with 90w gear oil the sound from striking is quite deadened. The volume of the sound is reduced enough for someone to be able to hear a telephone ring during extreme exertion.
The Back Channel, we like it loud so when the wife calls or yells at you you can't hear and have a legit reason to ignore her. ;)
Also sand works well
Thnx mate, new sub and just getting started into creating a forge and anvil.. My journey has only just begun.
Bags from Australia
Hows your journey so far?
love your enthusiasm and helpfulness. Building a wood working shop in my basement and want to make decorative knife and tool handles and whatnot, also want to put a forge and anvil in my back yard for knifemaking, your channel is going to help a lot when I finally get up and running, thank you for that, it is very appreciated
You're so knowledgeable it's fantastic. This explains why my beginners anvil is made of mild steel. It is relatively small anyway, but this makes me feel better about its quality. I thought the supplier (harbor freight) just skimped out on better materials, but it actually has a good side.
I'm just starting and I'm now sooooo glad I bought one of these rather than getting a big boy anvil straight away. Not to mention the cost, I might even save an eye or other soft part of my anatomy - thank you!
really enjoy watching your videos Alec, Nice job as usual. I am currently apprenticing under a Master Smith in Saco Maine, and until I have the chance to complete my own shop, watching your videos helps keep the thought process going even though I am not near an anvil most of the month (I only get to visit the shop one or two days per month). keep up the good work!
Great teaching! The sharing of knowledge is what makes us great! Blacksmithing is truly addictive
I'm actually going to a junkyard Saturday to pick up a piece to make a striking anvil mine will be attached to the top of a large Maple stump I have never forged anyting and them I'm in the process of beginning this journey I have two old propane tanks I plan to make one of them into a forge it will be a single burner though because I'll be using a weed burner for the main gas feed I do not have a regular Anvil as I cannot afford one yet and we'll be doing this on quite the budget that means as much free stuff as I can possibly get. Another Hobby that I've been waiting to try for many decades. Great attitude great video
Ding that bad boy up! xD
Great videos Alec! I started watching your videos yesterday and can't get enough. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge about the art of blacksmithing.
These videos are a great source for teachers like me, who teach shop. We are jacks-of-all-trades but masters of none. I'm very impressed that you found your path as young as you did and pursued it vehemontly. Keep up the great work. Remember to use hearing protection. Save your voice and stay hydrated and safe :)
Also, I wish that Sam would address to you once as "Mr. Frodo" when you talk to him saying his name ;'D
Just want to say your videos are great. Your demeanor is inspiring. Looking forward to more.
You are AWESOME ! I have been learning so much by watching you. Your a true inspiration.
Alec,
Recently happened upon your channel via the magic of TH-cam algorithms, and I am delighted by the videos I have seen so far. Wonderfully entertaining and informative, thank you for your efforts!
+Madbear Forge Thank you so much, man!
Alec,
A couple of things, How about a demo on striking practice? I have thought that anyone going through the expense of taking your classes should prepare. Striking with a sledge is no easy task if you're not accustomed to it, especially if you are taking a full, over the shoulder, behind the back, end of haft grip, swing. I've split my fair share of cords of wood, and driven large stakes into the ground, and I have also broken two handles on sledges over the course of thirty years. An old truck tire with a spot of paint on it would make an ideal training and muscle building piece of equipment. (Don't they do that in Cross-Fit?)
Just an idea!
AAR
That gave me so many new ideas!
Yes they do, and it's awesome
Albert Rasch as Hank Ford once said, "Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice." He forgot to mention limbing, bucking, dragging, splitting, stacking, and schlepping! From one kindred would to another, I believe we can forego the necessary training to be a striker since splitting firewood will quickly condition one's eye and muscles to hit where it's needed :)
Make sure to let the air out of the tire.
Albert Rasch I
I found a chunk of steel that size and shape yesterday, i have been looking for an anvil for a long time and i finally have something i can hammer on without denting it
Can find big chunks of mild steel like that at scrap yards too if you can't afford to buy and ship one. If the yard is halfway decent they will have different steel types in different piles.
Need more striking anvils. These things are the essential tool.
great explanation of the parts of the anvil and why to have certain parts materials. great video
who would dislike this. this stuff is great.
Why is this not a thing I love this guy
I miss these old videos
Alex, I might suggest you incorporate a plate by the feet below the hearty hole to be used for upsetting...with the understanding that if you upset too much you get you steel stuck in your anvil. (Or just upset with hammer on hot steel...but you'll still need a plate.
Hello, Just a quick observation. If your strike is above the horizontal (on the striking face) on a full swing your shoulder is still in the blow when it hits. Not a good thing. Over time the shoulder joint and elbow will suffer and rotator cuffs are very very difficult to fix and even more difficult to do without. This is especially pertinent when swinging a heavy hammer/sledge. So it is very important as you point out to achieve the right height with your striking surface for your particular physique. Take care. Doug
I really enjoy all of your videos!
I would die for a hammer from you they are so well made and I love supporting the craft
My mind watching this video: AHHHHHH!!!! YOU DID NOT JUST DIRECTLY HIT AN ANVIL THAT HARD WITH A SLE....oh! He says it's mild steel! Well, very-good then! Whack the crap out of that thing! (Edit: In fact, ding that bad boy up!)
This is the first I've heard of a striking-anvil. But the way you explain things, it makes good sense. I've seen smiths get around these constraints by either having specialize low-profile flatters and forming tools, or by forging using a swageblock on the ground, with the master working from his knees and the striker wielding a sledge with a much longer handle.
But now that I see it, I think I really do like this solution. If you're ever starved for topics, and flush with resources, I'd love to watch a video demonstrating how to bolt such a structure so securely to a concrete floor like that.
Alec did mention "chemical anchors". I'd heard of the practice, but never by that term.
Effectively, you drill a hole into the concrete and set an anchor in with super-tough epoxy or other adhesives, which are specifically formulated for strength, vibration resistance, temperature change, humidity and/or other needs.
Tangent:
Choosing the right type of anchor & adhesive combination is paramount in some applications. The incorrect combination was used in one of Boston's "Big Dig" tunnels, causing some concrete slabs to fall from the ceiling, crushing a car and killing someone.
Fortunately for any Wile E. Coyotes nearby, no anvils are going to fall from the ceiling.
verdatum
It won't take much of an anchor to hold that in place. Having said that, except no substitute for redhead anchors!! I used to work in a press shop installing Goss community presses and each unit is 9500 pounds and we only used 4, 5/8 anchors. One in each corner. Where most ppl mess up with anchors in concrete floors is not going deep enough. Drill till you go all the way through the concrete and all you have is enough thread to get the washer and nut on it and tighten the shit out of it. With 3 5/8 anchors put in right, you'd have a hard time prying that little anvil up with a bulldozer.
v
@@0num4 the old timers used to do the same by drilling a conical hole and filling it up with molten lead, though apparently this could get a bit dicey if the concrete was a bit wet! Now we have crazy polymers that apparently are stronger than lead and less likely to burn your face off, as you say!!
Fascinating ... I have been wondering abut this for a while now... Cheers chap!
Oooooh! So it's mild steel! I want to build a teeny tiny model of a striking anvil and then a very small one I can use for jewelry smithing etc.! Although... what is a drift made from? Love your work! Very satisfying! Very educational! Keep on hammering, you're an inspiration!
Greetings Alec of the past! Goodness you've come a long way! Cheers!
Oh and Ding that Bad boy up!
Awwwww I want a rounding hammer! A small one. Like a 2 pounder. Anyway, I just got finished dressing my cross peen for the up coming forging season. I like in the Midwest region of the U.S. And it get cold and snowy half the year. My forge is outside so as soon as I touch my work to my anvil it is cold. I could preheat my andvil but swinging a ha,men in the cold sucks. I just got a new grinder, and I am more of a bladesmith than a blacksmith but I am going to entry and make one of those epic leafs you made.
Another great video Alec,
I specifically like these type of videos. Mostly because I can't afford to buy, but I truly love to make for myself and again can't afford to make expensive mistakes.
I you can make a video on how to make a proper Hardy hole, it would be helpful.
+Brady McPhail That's awesome to hear Brady!
I have a friend that works at a metal recycling facility. They have a Hauge machine for cutting all that steel into bits. This machine has "teeth" that are changed on a regular basis. The "teeth" are big rectangular steel blocks about 70kg.. im thinking one of those would make a great strikking anvil, they already have two round holes, so making one square and im set :)
To make a striking anvil, could you drill a hole and tediously file the square edges?
+Vladimir Menshikov it would take a long long time! Best option with limited tooling is to hot drift it!
Vladimir Menshikov He did a video of drilling and drifting the hardy hole. "Forging fifeteen anvils....." Something like that.
Ding that bad boy up!! I recently bought a foot of 2 3/4 inch by 5 inch wide block of mild steel for a striking anvil. your video helped a lot! thanks!
Thanks for this! I just bought a 2.5" slice of 6.5" round mild steel to make into a striking anvil, and was unsure about material and dimensions for the mount etc. I might have to find some timbers to install my anvil and its mount, as I'm working in a shop with a suspended slab floor that I don't want to penetrate. In any case, thanks for the tips!
Ding that Bad Boy Up!!
Loving this Channel....will get my own smithy set up one day.
Didn't know I needed a striking anvil, till I saw this.
C = Carbon Steel (Low Carbon/Mild Steel, Medium Carbon, High Carbon)
A = Alloy Steel (High alloy, low alloy/structural, quench/tempered struc, etc)
S = Stainless Steel
T = Tool Steel
Low Carbon Steel (aka Mild steel) = has 0.04% to 0.35% carbon.
Medium Carbon Steel = has 0.35% to 0.50% carbon content (for forging, casting
High Carbon Steel = 0.50% - 1.00% + (for tools, knives, etc)
(Metallurgy Fundamentals 5e)
-Carbon Steel is "less expensive than alloy steel. Has fewer alloys, fewer special properties.
I very much enjoy your videos. You've got a very positive attitude, which is a pleasure to watch. Keep up the good work!
Just an FYI for you Alec. Was talking to a blacksmith recently, and he mentioned both you and your striking anvil in the same sentence (positively BTW). You and your videos have a wider impact than you may realize.
As an aside, is it affordable to get a hammer from you and have it shipped to the US???
Not because I need it, but just to be able to say it's one of yours and is forged. 😉
i wish this dude was my teacher for every subject
Really love this kind of content. Thanks man.
Loved the video
I've been planning to get into blacksmithing for quite a while now but so far I haven't found anyone who would sell me an anvil, I've found a 30 pounds anvil and a 500 pounds anvil, couldn't buy either of them, but now I'm thinking I could just ask a friend of mine (who knows how to weld and had all the gear) to weld a reclaimed 1 ½" wrought-iron plate and this video is *REALLY* helpful, I'm looking forward to getting a gas Forge to ding that bad boy up, thanks a lot Alec👌
Thank for an informative lesson 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Nice. I been wanting to make one. Thanks for the video. Great job as always!.
btw the amp stand looks great!!!
Interesting. Didn't know that these were a thing. I've always thought that an anvil needs to be hard and hefty in order to get some work done. Good insight, as usual!
the usual rule of thumb is '40 times the weight of the hammer head'. But with an anchored striking anvil you've basically turned the foundation of the building into part of the anvil.
Really liked your insight into this!
"...and if that were to land in someone's femoral artery, that's a problem."
Laughed SO flippin' hard! XD
Wow live that build!! You have great energy and people skills!! Keep up the good work! You just got a new sub!
Cowboy boots, huge buckle, and inches. You must have been in Texas a long time!!!
I'm a beginner's blacksmith and I'm a girl I like your videos and your tips thank you^_^;-)
I've been watching your videos for some time now I really enjoy watching what you do. My question is would a striking anvil be a better way to start out with then a regular basis anvil
You may have addressed this question at some point but why is it that smiths have large lengths of chain wrapped around their anvils? The obvious answer would be for winching it but then why leave it on the anvil, does the extra weight help reduce rebound or is there another reason?
Lyle Abraham it helps reduce sound. while the noise sounds great, it gets real annoying real fast to some people who are working for many hours straight. ☺
Great videos. Very interesting. Thanks.
ding that bad Boy up. catching up on your videos. I hope to get into smithing in the near future and this is turning me on.
Thanks for the video! You should make a video on how to make tongs!
thanks for the tip about the SAND!!!
Wanna start blacksmithing and need some training or advice on how to start a company to then do this as a career. I'd love to learn from you brother.
how do I get one of those decent bracelets ? I'm not a blacksmith , but enjoy watching your videos. let me know ....
I want one of your hammers to use here in Arkansas. They are brilliant!
Hehe that's for me, I like looking through your eyes. Mind if do it again when you get it on.
In making a new reinforced workbench. I'd like to get a striking anvil w/ hardy hole to bring to the top surface of my workbench when the project requires it. Are you still making them w/o stands? I'd like to weld a handle to it for ease of mobility
Look on Etsy
Enjoyed this video. Ding that bad boy up! Now that you have explained the purpose of it makes great since. Thanks for the walk around in your shop, love it. Cheers!
I use rr track as a striking anvil, it’s already mild
Love the videos !👍
What do you use to fix your anvil if dented. I have heard a bunch of people adding weld to a dent, but do you have any suggestions of welding method or actual filler material for repair?
Are you doing another run of hammers anytime soon? Thanks for the excellent videos!
Hi Alec iv been following your channel for a while now and feel iv learnt a fair bit. just wondering if you managed to arrange sourcing the mild steel slabs to sell as I'm struggling to find something suitable. Thanks
Hi Alec,
I have been following you for sometime now and after almost a year of scrounging materials i am almost in a position to make my own striking anvil and forge
I have a couple of question though
How do i create a drift hole if i have nothing to set my block of steel on to hit the drift?
Am i best finding a piece of square steel the size i need and heat treating it or make my own?
Thank you in advance, hope to hear from you soon
Patrick
do you just weld the edge of the top plate to the one below it, or to you put spacers in and do a full layer of weld?
I have no idea why youtube recommended your videos, my craft is something completely different, i´m an electrician and have limited knowledge of metalwork, but it´s interesting none the less.
My kiln takes about 45 minutes to get to max heat. I made it from an 11 gallon air compressor tank. I only have 1 burner. Should I add a blower? What kind? Or 2 more burners?
sand filled legs I've heard of. but how about soaking the sand with oil? (as long as the welds are water/oil tight)
I love your videos and your work im a avid follower! In this video you talk about no less than 3/16 wall on the legs but your anvil stand has 1/8 wall why the drop in size?
I like the video you asked for a comment I think this would fit the criteria
If you fill dents with welds doesn't that make a hard spot that could break?
Hey Alec, I think I’ve heard u mention b4 ur anvils are soft? I’ve watched ur channel for over a year now and just now found this video lol. In ur opinion, would a fork lift tine be suitable for a striking anvil? Also for an ASO, would a forklift tine need to be heat treated in any sort of way after being built? And...... lol, now that u are in the states, are u still building belt sanders or plan to start building them again? I really like the size u were making in the uk.
slammin vid dude
Brother I’m just beginning. I like your hammers. What hammer and first set of tongs do you recommend? I mainly plan to use round bar stock or old files!
I didn't know you had students. wish I had something like that here in missouri u.s.
Julian Stone I’m going to start smithing soon and I live in the UAE, I can’t even find the proper kind of steel for a striking plate.
Hello Alec, I love your videos. I am curious about buying hammer's from you and about your bracelet. Please let me know if there is a way to buy either. Thank you
Do you have more details on the Die Anvil (Brian Brazeal) How you made it? Weight? Dimensions?
Great vid Alec #dingthatbadboyup
One request-a walk around about your forge. Keep them coming.
Now that's a striking anvil.
I did that exact thing to my little brother when using a sledgehammer and wedge on a log we were splitting. Straight into his elbow (inside) and hit an artery. Straight to the Doc we went. I was really worried about him.
Hey big fan I know for some 1 inch thick by around 12 inch wide and about 10 feet long mild steel could I cut it into plates and weld them together as you would like stacking Damascus to make a usable anvil ?
I WANT THAT SLEDGE!!! So awesome! By the way, "Ding that bad boy up!"
Y am i just seeing this now i need one of them so bad alec ur the man
Nice and informative, I was asked to make the basis of one for someone, and now I know what it's for.
Thanks for the video's.
Great video, Thanks! Anyone know if a machine shop could drill the square hardie hole? My forge isn't big enough to fit the plate that I currently have.
Hello Alec
My Name Is EDWARD
I Am A Heavy Equipment For 30 Years
I Love Working With Steel
I Just Bought My First ANVIL
It Is 235 Lbs
I Like The Striking Anvil
I Think I Shall Make One Or Buy One From You
I Live In Upstate New York
in A Small Farming Town
I Am Also The Scoutmaster For Our Boy Scout Troop
I Am Starting To teach BLACKSMITHING To The Boys
Thank you For All The Great Videos
Talk Soon
EDWARD
, you seem to know more about steel than many ( so many different things you've done time and time again) Damascus brass blew me away,my celtic roots wants a ring lol
Heres my questions... people use rail as there first anvils ,( breaking out) is the top of the rail and the flap bottom the same steel or hardness/rockwall? Instead of grinding a flat could I just flip it?
I want to take 3 peices of rail ,2 for sides and one flipped centered for a flat top,weld and fill with lead. what's best rod? 7018,6010 or hyp? And how should I harden the rail steel or should I just leave it ?
Sorry bout so many questions but b4 I go in ass up I'd like an opinion from someone with experience and knowledge... and from your great work to some fails you seem best to ask ... thanks in advance and may the hammer keep you happy 👍🔥⚒