Small Radius oil cup anvil

[Philip Davies]

This is very good, especially your make do and mend philosophy. But, pardon me, Frank, you WELDED it to your table? If you don’t own an anvil, would it not be better to have a bolster on your bench, with a hardy hole cut in it, so that you could insert other anvil tools that you might make?

[Frank S]

This is very good, especially your make do and mend philosophy. But, pardon me, Frank, you WELDED it to your table? If you don’t own an anvil, would it not be better to have a bolster on your bench, with a hardy hole cut in it, so that you could insert other anvil tools that you might make?

You are correct Philip, for most cases having a hardy hole or even a pattern of holes to bolt tools or fixtures to is a far better way.
the table top at the time was just a slab of 1" plate steel weighing about 500 lbs tossed atop of a pair of work horses that I was using to cut things out of the plate to become other tools or parts. it is far better to be able to grind off a weld than to have a permanent hole cut in it, as it takes a lot less time to grind off a weld than weld up a hole and grind that flush should I require that section of the plate for something else later.
I keep thinking that one day I will carve out a shape from a piece of 4 1/4" thick plate that I have in the shape of a Peter Wright, but I just can't bring myself to making the first cut in the piece of steel. It is 13" wide and 11 ft long and as sure as I cut something out of it I will need it for something else

[Philip Davies]

Before you make yourself an anvil from that massive piece of steel, I recommend you go on YouTube and have a look at GS Tongs. His anvils are combination swage blocks and anvils and are very versatile.

[Frank S]

Before you make yourself an anvil from that massive piece of steel, I recommend you go on YouTube and have a look at GS Tongs. His anvils are combination swage blocks and anvils and are very versatile.

In the mean time I mostly use what ever is handy all an anvil is, is a mass that is more than the material needing to be worked.
I have this for when I have some heavy hitting to do it is something out of an old cotton mill. I had a 12 ft long 3 1/2 " steed rod bolted to it. My neighbor gave it to me to get it out of his way and because I needed a length of 3 inch or larger rod to make something out of. The top roller of my plate roll is made from that shaft.
I still have a 4 ft section left
the top and bottom flanges are about 12 x14 and 1 1/4inch thick


the block is about 16 inches tall