EV Anvil (exhaust valve)

Hi guys,
Must say that anvils are very popular tools these days and here is mine, which I 'made' 35 or so years ago.
Drilled hole in my great grandfather's workbench (which is by the way full of worms and more than 120 years old
but it's made of oak and still solid.) and inserted exhaust valve from auxiliary engine of some small ship.
Head diameter is 100 mm and that's more than good for all my hammering jobs.
I don't make horseshoes, nor anything similar for which I need strange shaped anvil.
Regards
LMMasterMariner

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Thanks LMMasterMariner! We've added your Anvil to our Anvils category,
as well as to your builder page: LMMasterMariner's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-anvil-40"> <img src="/uploads/201001/homemade-anvil-40.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-anvil-40">Anvil</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/LMMasterMariner">LMMasterMariner</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/anvil'>anvil</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/exhaust'>exhaust</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/valve'>valve</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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not sure what is meant by an anvil, or is it just something to hammer on?

Ed. I'll offer an explanation which may be of use to others as well. Any hard object becomes an anvil when another object is placed or laid on it and struck with a 3rd object the 3rd object becomes a hammer regardless of shape or weight this is also true of an anvil. A person could place a nut on any surface then strike it with their fist the surface is the anvil and the fist is the hammer
I often use the counter weight on my forklift as an anvil when I need a very large hard surface to assist in shaping sheet metal also I often use 2 hammers by holding 1 as a back up while striking with the other the back up hammer is at that instance an anvil.
If the object being used as an anvil also has a particular shape that something is formed into over or around then it could be called a die as well
LMMasterMariner's use of a large diameter exhaust valve is just one more example of the many things which can be utilized as beneficial simple tools readily at hand

Hi Frank,
Many thanks for an excellent explanation.
Regards
LMMasterMariner

I'm going to go out on a limb here and speculate that the valve came from an engine that had 4 valves per cylinder and the pistons were at least 350 mm in diameter probably idled around 300 RPM and ran at no more than no more than 1000 RPM under full load I won't speculate on the number of cylinders since it could have been anything from an inline 6 cylinder to a 24 cylinder "V" type How far am I off?

Gosh, what a lineage of tool life, and from a your Great-Grandfather.
I see worm holes, but I don't see hammer marks on the bench, great way to protect this old surface and patina.
Thanks for posting this.

Hi Frank,
I have no idea how big was that engine. I collected that valve from the vessel which I visited on her call to my home place 35 years ago. Can't even remember the name of the vessel so I can't find the details of the engine. Nowadays everything gets bigger and the main engine of my last vessel have 2 stroke main engine of 72240 kW. (@104 RPM). Exhaust valve of that engine would be little bit too big for anvil in my workshop. I could take discarded exhaust valve of aux. engine (4000 kW @720 RPM) from that vessel to replace my anvil, but already had enough weight in my luggage.
Regards
LMMasterMariner

Ed,
I am just hobby machinist, not hobby blacksmith and this anvil served me well for the last 35 years.
Material of that valve is excellent but still there are some marks on it.
BTW, there are round bench anvils around. One of them can be found at Benchtop Anvil - Potter USA
USD 95 but no longer available and mine one came for free.
Regards
LMMasterMariner

Hello metric_taper,
Thanks for the comments. I can't remember that I have ever missed the anvil or work on the anvil. No hammer marks on the bench, but if you zoom in the picture, there are numerous marks done when cutting something on that bench. Some old paint on it also. Worm holes are still there but all worms were killed during fumigation. I have another work bench which is much younger but in worse condition than this old one.
Regards
LMMasterMariner

Thank you LMMasterMariner, A nice easy addition to the Shop . I have some Old Valves laying around . I will have at least one Exhaust Valve Anvil by the end of the day tomorrow. Nice Post
Another example of an Anvil is the Wheel with the Crown on it on an English Wheel.

Bruce C did you notice that his valve has a 100 mm head that is close to 4 inches in diameter just checking not many of us have valves that size laying around

Ah Ha ., I never got around to learning the Metric system and rely on the I Phone to convert important Things. Thanks for bringing that to my attn. I will still make a small one . But I'm sure if I look around I'll come across something larger , heck I went to a Hot Rod meet the other night and there were a set of Pistons on Pallets that were so big that each one used its own pallet . Rumor had it they were checked out by some one and were being shipped overseas to be reused. I heard maybe in a Cruise Ship. Thanks for the input ., B.:headscratch:

Maybe I could be wrong but is a valve the right kinda metal to hammer on ,as an ex truck driver at one company I worked at one of the fitters a real likeable fellow lost an eye using a self made punch made from a valve from a truck .Not trying to cause any I'll formed talk like I asked is a valve suitable material just as for what reason I am not sure but when as a young,Un I was told not to strike two hammers together any thoughts or am I barking up the wrong tree . This by the way is a great website I learn so much at every visit.

Probably not in the seance or trying to hammer out a knife blade or beat a plowshare tip to an edge but he says he has used it for many years so I doubt that any truly hard hammering has occurred.
I once knew a guy who had an optic lens from a Navy vessel it was shaped almost perfectly hemispherical he made jewelry and used it as his anvil
No one that I know who works with steel would ever consider using glass as an anvil but he used it to shape the gold wire frame broaches that he made

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bigron271

Maybe I could be wrong but is a valve the right kinda metal to hammer on ,as an ex truck driver at one company I worked at one of the fitters a real likeable fellow lost an eye using a self made punch made from a valve from a truck .Not trying to cause any I'll formed talk like I asked is a valve suitable material just as for what reason I am not sure but when as a young,Un I was told not to strike two hammers together any thoughts or am I barking up the wrong tree . This by the way is a great website I learn so much at every visit.

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Good point!!! and thanks.
I did some light hammering on that anvil and my biggest hammer is just 1 kilogram. I used so many fuel injector nozzle needles as center punches and they are brittle. Many of them parted at hammer striking point. And yes, broken pieces are flying very fast. But safety first. Safety googles must be used all the time in the workshop, especially if you are not the only one working there. Also have one chisel made from valve spindle, but striking part of that chisel was annealed. Done on board by fitter. I don't believe that this size valve can be broken with 1 kg hammer but I will definitely anneal it, just to be on safe side. Thanks again.
Regards
LMMasterMariner

Congratulations LMMasterMariner - your Exhaust Valve Anvil is the Homemade Tool of the Week!

This is one of the simplest tool builds we've ever seen: drill hole, insert valve. This trick won't really work with common smaller engine valves, and even for a larger valve, its low mass will limit its effectiveness as an anvil.

Nevertheless, this is a very clever idea, and apparently a very rare one. It's trendy now to incorporate large engine parts into decor, but examples of using such components as useful tools is difficult to locate.

Some other nice picks from this week: a Tailstock Lever Modification by olderdan, a popular Railroad Track Anvil by Carlos B, a Vise by Tuomas, a Lathe Truing Tool by Canobi, a Small Tractor Crane by Barefootbilly, a Tailstock Center by jjr2001, a Arduino Diagnostic tool by rgsparber, and a Workbench and Tool Chest by markfitz.

You'll be receiving a $25 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon, PayPal, Giftrocket, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and gift card choice and I'll get it sent over right away.

More importantly, this is your...

:rocker::clapping::thumbsup:Third Homemade Tool of the Week win!:thumbsup::clapping::rocker:

You're in good company with these 15 other winners of the 3-Time Tool of the Week award: rossbotics, mr95gst, Paul Jones, Christophe Mineau, immortalx, scorch, Brendon, Frank S, mklotz, Vyacheslav.Nevolya, brianhw, jjr2001, Tuomas, olderdan, tonyfoale (all award winners are listed here).

We've added the bronze wrench-on-pedestal award to your postbit beneath your avatar:

https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...OfTheWeek3.pnghttps://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...eWeekIcon3.png

Congrats again and nice job!

Here are all of your Homemade Tool of the Week winning tools:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-lathe-reverse-tumbler"> <img src="/uploads/169157/homemade-lathe-reverse-tumbler.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-lathe-reverse-tumbler">Lathe Reverse Tumbler</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/LMMasterMariner">LMMasterMariner</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/lathe'>lathe</a>, <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/modification'>modification</a>, <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/gears'>gears</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-lathe-chuck-brake"> <img src="/uploads/170021/homemade-lathe-chuck-brake.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-lathe-chuck-brake">Lathe Chuck Brake</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/LMMasterMariner">LMMasterMariner</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/brake'>brake</a>, <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/chuck'>chuck</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-anvil-40"> <img src="/uploads/201001/homemade-anvil-40.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-anvil-40">Anvil</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/LMMasterMariner">LMMasterMariner</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/anvil'>anvil</a>, <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/exhaust'>exhaust</a>, <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/valve'>valve</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Well done. And really great idea!

Congrats !!

, And I second Wearing Safety Glasses when swinging a Hammer in the or out of Shop.

Jon,
I really didn't expect to win a tool of the week award with this tool which I 'made' but I am very happy with your choice and I am also very happy to be in the same company with these very special people ( rossbotics, mr95gst, Paul Jones, Christophe Mineau, immortalx, scorch, Brendon, Frank S, mklotz, Vyacheslav.Nevolya, brianhw, jjr2001, Tuomas, olderdan, tonyfoale ).
Thanks again / Best regards
LMMasterMariner

There were other excellent entries this week, but you won this one because, although I imagine this has been done before, this build is rare enough that previous examples are difficult to surface on the internet. However, I did find a great deal of information on unusual anvils, non-traditional items used as anvils, musical anvils, and even examples of anvils used in opera performances.

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I used railroad rail had two pieces about 12" long one piece I turn rail over and used the base for a flatter hitting and the other piece use the running surface for hammering out the shape.

LM
A very nice and a great idea. Now to find a very large valve.
Thank you
Nelson

Yes, this is a smart idea utilizing big valve as a small anvil, for working with light stuffs..sheet plate hammering etc.
For something to be an anvil, it is considered to be considerably heavier than processing part....

I would love to own a valve that size, indeed that is a good anvil.

I just use a piece of steel plate that’s something like 18”x30”. I just lay it on my work bench directly over top of the 2x I beams the hat support the top. The entire bench is made from ordinary gth construction grade pine. Hammering anything metal without it just results in double the work because it just bounces.