![The 5 Best Anvils [Buyer’s guide + Reviews]](https://meeppa.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/best-blacksmith-anvil.png)
Sometimes getting the best anvil for your general blacksmith work may be a bit challenging. This is because there are many brands and manufacturers of the product in the market.
Basically, this is a tool made in many styles with different sizes and from a variety of materials. Mostly it is made from hardened tool steel with a balanced shape and various working surfaces. There are many types of Anvils tailored for a specific purpose or to meet the needs of a certain smith.
To identify the best anvil, it is advisable to understand the kind of design, shape, and size you want. This is because they constantly change their styles and types. They also offer different purpose and are made with a specific range of weight.
The 5 Best Anvil on the Market
Euro tool Flat 3- 1/2 Pounds (Best Blacksmith Anvil)
Used to perform delicate jobs, this is a very high-quality steel made product. It is nicely polished and good looking. It is made with the perfect size and weight for the heavy duty jewelry jobs. The product weighs 3 1/2 pounds and it is very versatile.
Its ability to stand up these tough jobs that require hard striking using a heavy hammer has proved that the product is strong built. Shoemakers use anvil when making shoes.
It is mostly used as a bench block when shaping metals, bonding wires, and crafting of metal objects. This is easy tools to use. It is durable and the majority of users prefer using this tool because it is affordable, strong built and versatile.
Overall, this equipment is safe to use and it is highly recommended by many people who have used it before. Can be used by shoemakers, blacksmith, knives makers and individuals with their own blacksmith shop.
Features:
It is made with cast steel
The dimensions are 6 ½ inches x 3 ¾ inches x 2 ½ inches. It has a bigger surface to work on.
Weight; it weighs 31/2 pounds which is very much enough to get the job fully done.
Pros:
- Corrosion and rust free
- Suitable for shaping and bonding wires and crafting metals
- Durable as it is made from cast iron
- Great value for your money
- Easy to use
Cons:
- A little bit heavy compared to others.
Happy buy Single Horn Anvil 66Lbs Steel Anvil (Small Anvil)
This is another highly used anvil in the blacksmith industry. It is definitely a good starter product. Its face is a 54 hrc hardened. It has enough room and weight to forge metals.
The anvil is absolutely lightweight and only weighs 66Lbs. It has horns which taper down to around 6 inches. One type of horn is cone shaped with round edges while the other horn is square shaped with hard edges.
Made with cast steel, the tool has a soft working surface. It is well known and used for flattening, forming, reverting and forging metals.
Features:
Rockwell hardness is 2 inches long equating to 52 millimeters.
The Handy hole dimensions are 0.9 inches x 0.9 inches which are approximately 22 x 22 millimeters.
One flat horn, one round horn, and well-polished surface
The base size dimensions are; 10 inches x 7 inches which equates to 254 x 177.8 millimeters.
Pros:
- Easy tool to use
- Rust and corrosion free
- Nicely polished surface
Cons:
- Some customers complain its heavy
NC Big face Anvil (100Lb Anvil for Sale)
This is an amazing anvil for the amateur blacksmith. It is absolutely a tough tool for a light job. It is made of turning cams that are used to bound steel metals. The tool is lightweight and stands out with a height of 9.5 inches.
The anvil has an incredibly huge face. Great for knife making and general blacksmithing. Absolutely durable and can withstand different conditions. Also, it has the ability to withstand corrosion and rust.
The anvil is a top quality tool and mostly used and made in the USA. It is made from the steel material which makes it look appealing and strong. This is an easy to use tool which is highly affordable.
Features:
Its horn is 10.25 inches while the hole is 1.0 inches.
Has turning cams used to bend steel and a 3-inch tapered heel.
The punching hole is o.5 inches
The face of this anvil is 4 inches by 16.5 inches while the base is 11 inches by 9 inches.
Its height is 9.5 inches.
Pros:
- Very easy to use
- This is a rust and corrosion free product
- It is durable
- Well polished surface
- Ability to withstands very tough conditions
Cons:
- Some users have complained that the base is not stable
Grizzly G7065, 55-Pound – (Knife Making)
This is a perfect tool for home use. Sturdy and great for smashing metals to form tools such as knives and metal tools. It has better size for all the craft projects that you may think of. For first time users, this is the best item for practicing and making knives.
Made of steel, it has a great workbench for light work. Grizzly G7063 is a solid little product that does not take a lot of space at home shop.
This item is not that heavy, it only weighs around 24 lbs. It is easily fitted in workshops and moved around with ease. Like other metals, it is also strongly built and can serve you for a long time.
Simply this is a top performing product that is crafted from quality and durable materials.
Features:
The packaging dimensions of this anvil are 7.5 inches x 12 inches x 5.5 inches.
The overall height of this product is 5 – ¾ inches.
It is 24lbs in weight.
Pros:
- Durable
- Cost-effective
- It is easy to use because it’s lighter and has excellent dimensions which make handling it quite easier and hustle free.
Cons
- Not the best tool for heavy jobs
Olympia Tools 38-789 9Lb. Hobby Anvil
Olympia tools and products normally stand for quality. This product is sized perfectly for table use and works for small projects. It is a solid flat with a better ground flat surface that has a hole for punching.
As indicated, it works smart for small jewelry jobs such as the making of small knives, spoons, and long forks. Made of iron, the product, therefore, is not meant for heavy duty hammering. It will dent if you strike it using steel.
The horn is rounded and big enough to be used on rings bracelets and chains. It has a fine weight. The four mounting holes under the base of the tool enables easy attachment to the bench or block.
Features:
It is made from rugged cast iron.
Its face measures 5 ½ inches x 2 inches.
The length of the horn measures 3 ½ inches.
The product overall depth is 9.4 inches while the height is 7.1 inches and the width is 4.3 inches.
Pros:
- Compact size which is ideal for hobbyists
- Designed for small jobs like hammering and forming
Cons:
- It is very soft, sloppy and rough in the edges
- Not good for heavy duty jobs
Tandy leather mini Anvil (Craftsmanship Anvil)
It is well known for leather work and light metal jobs such as jewelry making. Made with four holes on the base for mounting on the bench. This is a two pound cast iron. It is compact in size and easy to use.
It offers quality work even though it is small. It seems very well made and works as it should. This tool cannot withstand the heavy hammering since it is made from cast iron. This is because cast iron is a weaker metal when you compare it with steel.
The anvil is although tough with a smooth flat top. The toughness and smooth flat surface work perfectly when setting the rivet and snaps. It is advisable not to use steel metal on hammering it. It will dent easily.
Features
Dimensions: it has a length that measures 5-1/4 inch, width of 1-7/8 inch and height of 2-1/2inch.
Smooth flat surface
Weigh: 2 pounds
Four holes at the base for mounting the tool
Pros
- Attractively finished
- Sturdy construction
- Free of unusual surface aberrations
- Compact size
Cons
- The stability of this product is not that good
Buyers Guide
To a new person in the blacksmith industry, all anvils will definitely look the same or have the same look. It is actually a big lump of iron which has pointed ends. In a real sense, they are not the same and don’t actually look alike.
These tools are sophisticated and come in various sizes with different materials and in different styles. They are made from very hardened metal steel with very a attractive and balanced shape of a different surface.
According to the needs of the blacksmith, there are actually various types of anvils to choose from. But before choosing one, there are common factors to consider: they include the following
The Rebound
The efficiency of the Anvil lies on its inertia. A good anvil allows the smith’s hammer to rebound with the same energy as put by the blacksmith when striking down.
The higher the inertia, the more efficient it is to cause the energy of the striking tools to be shaped and transferred to the workpiece.
The higher the rebound the stronger your anvil.
Size
The size of the anvil matters a lot but when looking at this factor, then you have to think of the following;
Financial feasibility, transportation to the shop and the size of the shop can give you the exact size you want to purchase. If the shop is small, then go for the smaller one and if you don’t have the means of transportation also go for the small one.
The type of items you will be making also becomes the determining factor of how big or small the anvil will be. For big products, consider getting a heavier anvil and for the lighter products, then get the light one which is also cheap.
Type
There are five types of anvils, namely;
- Farrier; they have less mass distributed to the heel and the horn while more mass is distributed to the body under the face.
- Forging; they are the general shop anvils used for the general work.
- Sheet metal; they are used for bench work and light forging.
- Bench; they are smaller anvils whose weight ranges from 5 to 50 pounds. They are used to support work which is to be hammered.
- Jewelers; they are finelly finished and made of forged steel with squarish bodies.
Because of the end products that will be created from these types of anvils, they vary so much in both the type and size.
Price
To determine the price of the anvil, it will also depend on the blacksmith’s needs. You can buy either a new anvil or used one depending on your needs. But most importantly purchase the product considering your pocket.
Price is also determined by the financial status of the blacksmith. With less financial resources, one should opt to go for a cheaper one and with enough resources, one should opt for the highest quality possible whatever the price.
Wear and Tear
The wear and tear of the anvil is mostly checked on the face of the anvil. The body should be very much free from cracks and the edges should not be chipped off. They should also not be rounded badly because any mess will show up in the products as stamps.
When going to buy the anvil then you must follow a few steps and things to note including the following;
- Enough Cash
Carry with you enough cash and ensure you have carried extra in order to be on the safe side.
- Figure out what it is made of
The first thing to consider is what it is made of and in most cases, steel material is the most considered because it is strong material. You can also choose iron materials even though they are not that strong.
- Visual inspection
Check the anvil over, this is to see whether it is chipped off or swayed. Sway is when this product’s face has been used until it has become concave. This can be not only the use but also poor material used.
- Testing
The testing of the anvil can be done in two ways, ring, and rebound.
Ring; you take a hammer and gently hit on the face and if it rings like a bell when it is made of poor material and not good. Cast iron with a steel face cannot sound like a bell. This is just an indication, not a rule.
Rebound; this is the amount of energy the item will reflect back at the user. It gives an indication of faceplate issues and problems if they are there.
After accomplishing the above tests and you are totally satisfied that you want to get the anvil and it is in perfect order, then you can comfortably pay for it. You can easily get from a local dealer or import from the main manufacturer.
What Anvil is best for me?
There are many designs for anvils tailored for specific purposes to meet the needs of a particular smith. They are of different types and getting the best depends on what type of blacksmith you are dealing with.
For instance, various types of anvils are specifically made for general smiths, farriers, cutlers, chain makers, armorers, coach makers, saw tuners and so many other types of metal work.
To get the most suitable anvil, you will choose from the various types that suit the metal work you want to accomplish.
Types of Anvils:
- Forging Anvils
These are also known as a general shop or blacksmith anvils
Features:
- They are the heaviest ranging from 75 to 500 pounds or 35 to 230kgs
- More mass in the body which is under the face and very little distributed in the heel and the horn.
- These are designed for heavy forging.
What to consider in selecting forging Anvils
- Weight and size
This type is very heavy and big in size. If the scale of your work is huge and requires heavy tools, then the forging type is the right for you.
Due to its heaviness, portability is an issue so if you want the one that you can move with around then this one will not be okay. This is because of its size and weight.
- Quality or material
These are basically made from cast steel metals which are ideal for heavy work or any other blacksmith job.
The quality is simply determined by the type of material used and this can also determine its durability. The best anvil is the one with the best quality and right material for the manufacturer, sounds pretty simple but that’s the plain truth.
- Style
Forged types are of different. Depending on the type of work you are doing, you can either use the single-horned with a rectangular heel or double horned with tapering square.
- Farriers Anvils
These are highly specialized anvils.
Features:
- They are slightly heavier having weight from 50 to 150 pounds or 30 to 70kgs.
- High proportion of the weight mass in the horn and enough in the heel for balancing reasons, but very little in the base.
These types have special features like clip horns that are used in forming the toe clip and in turning cams.
They are too springy for forging work. The available farrier anvils are hardened ductile iron or cast steel.
- Jewelers Anvils
These are made in the old style.
Features:
- They are not such heavy but light with their weight ranging from 0.3 to 5 pounds or 0.14 to 2.3 kg. They are the lightest of all the types.
- Have slender long bricks and squarish body.
They are made of cast tool steel or forged and very finely finish all over the surface. For small work which requires less energy, they are highly recommended.
Choosing the best type for you will be determined by the items and products you will be making.
- Bench Anvils
These are small size anvils that are generally used to support any work that is to be hammered.
Features:
- Weight ranges from 5 to 50 pounds or 2.3 to 23 kgs. They are not heavy and light compared to most of the other brands in the market.
- They can also be a block of steel.
- Majority of these are made from a rail and structural steel
For supportive work, then these anvils are the best but for other jobs which are either heavy or too small, then it is not ideal.
- Sheet metal or stake Anvils
These brands are generally used for light duties, not heavy work. They are designed to be supported in bench socket or stake plate.
Features:
They are fairly light ranging from 5 to 100 pounds or 2.3 to 45kgs.
They are in various shapes and sizes
The blowhorn type is the most common and also the beak horn is used widely. They can be used for bench or heavier jewelry work.
Conclusion:
As highlighted above, these products are of many types, shapes, and styles. The type of anvil to use depends on the type of work being done. They normally come in different types which ranges from the heaviest to the lightest.
They also differ in purposes, weight, and designs. It is therefore important to know all these factors before choosing. The work they do also vary from the heaviest to the lightest.
Either in the shop or at home the factors above must be considered in order to get the best anvil you want.
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