Vent: Spent $300 on a new anvil stand and it was a total game changer

I was using a big old tree stump for years, and my work always felt a little off, like the hammer blows weren't solid. Last month I finally built a proper steel tripod stand filled with sand, cost me about $300 in materials and a weekend. The difference is night and day. My anvil doesn't ring anymore, just a dead thud, and the rebound is so much better. I can't believe I put up with that wobbly stump for so long. What's the best anvil setup you've ever used?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_david1mo ago

Yeah, that solid connection makes all the difference. I went a similar route but sunk a massive I-beam into a concrete block in my shop floor. The anvil is basically part of the earth now. You don't realize how much energy you're wasting until there's absolutely zero give. That stump was stealing a good chunk of your swing.

oliverr101mo ago

Part of the earth" sounds like you're forging Excalibur.

emery_miller201mo agoTop Commenter

That's a solid setup from @the_david. Something people forget is how the anvil's own ring changes with a mount like that. A stump can make it ring like a bell, but bolting it dead to concrete or steel really dampens the sound. It's a lot easier on your ears over a long day at the forge.