silversmithing anvil question

Stainless steel anvil, forged steel anvil, chrome anvil, silversmith
steel anvil, iron anvil, jeweler's bench anvil, reloading anvil...
jeez... there are way too many anvils! I'm so confursed! lol...

So what's the best type to get? All I want to do is pound silver
wire with a patterning hammer and/or work harden the wire.
--
Linda

in article RiISa.110365$H17.34173@sccrnsc02, bluemaxx at
wrote on 21/7/03 10:34 AM:

Stainless steel anvil, forged steel anvil, chrome anvil, silversmith
steel anvil, iron anvil, jeweler's bench anvil, reloading anvil...
jeez... there are way too many anvils! I'm so confursed! lol...

So what's the best type to get? All I want to do is pound silver
wire with a patterning hammer and/or work harden the wire.

Case hardened steel is best. Basically it means that the outer layer of
steel is hardened and won't readily dent. If the steel is not case-hardened,
you will get lots of little impressions on your work surface, these will
transefer to your silver.

I have an anvil, but find that my steel hammering block (about 4 inches
square) that sits conveniently on my jewellers bench is the hammering
surface I use the most.

To keep it from rusting, I made a leather pouch and rubbed in sewing machine
oil. I live near the coast and things tend to rust easily, so when I'm
finished working for the day, I pop the block in the bag and it never rusts.
I also made leather hoods for my beloved steel hammers. Once a year I re-oil
the leather.

--
Marisa (AU)
ESBC

On Mon, 21 Jul 2003 02:34:25 GMT, "bluemaxx"
wrote:

Stainless steel anvil, forged steel anvil, chrome anvil, silversmith
steel anvil, iron anvil, jeweler's bench anvil, reloading anvil...
jeez... there are way too many anvils! I'm so confursed! lol...

So what's the best type to get? All I want to do is pound silver
wire with a patterning hammer and/or work harden the wire.

Again, go to IJS. If all you want to do in pound on it, just
get a steel hammering block. (It's just a square piece of
steel about 4" x 4" and maybe 1/2" thick. Much cheaper
than an anvil.)
Barbara
Dream Master
www.dreamweaverstudio.com

"We've got two lives, one we're given,
the other one we make."
Mary Chapin Carpenter

On Mon, 21 Jul 2003 12:35:22 GMT, Marisa Cappetta
wrote:

in article RiISa.110365$H17.34173@sccrnsc02, bluemaxx at
wrote on 21/7/03 10:34 AM:

Stainless steel anvil, forged steel anvil, chrome anvil, silversmith
steel anvil, iron anvil, jeweler's bench anvil, reloading anvil...
jeez... there are way too many anvils! I'm so confursed! lol...

So what's the best type to get? All I want to do is pound silver
wire with a patterning hammer and/or work harden the wire.

Case hardened steel is best. Basically it means that the outer layer of
steel is hardened and won't readily dent. If the steel is not case-hardened,
you will get lots of little impressions on your work surface, these will
transefer to your silver.

I have an anvil, but find that my steel hammering block (about 4 inches
square) that sits conveniently on my jewellers bench is the hammering
surface I use the most.

Probably a stupid question, but where would I get one of these? (I'm
in Sydney)

Actually, NOT a stupid question. A stupid question is Mr Hardware
Store Employee: "Uh....what's an anvil?" And then there's the Large
Hardware Chain who hide from customers...


To keep it from rusting, I made a leather pouch and rubbed in sewing machine
oil. I live near the coast and things tend to rust easily, so when I'm
finished working for the day, I pop the block in the bag and it never rusts.
I also made leather hoods for my beloved steel hammers. Once a year I re-oil
the leather.

Thanks for the tips!

Thanks so much, Barbara - and Susan and Marisa. )))))
--
Linda

"Barbara Otterson" wrote in
message ...
: On Mon, 21 Jul 2003 02:34:25 GMT, "bluemaxx"

: wrote:
:
: Stainless steel anvil, forged steel anvil, chrome anvil,
silversmith
: steel anvil, iron anvil, jeweler's bench anvil, reloading
anvil...
: jeez... there are way too many anvils! I'm so confursed! lol...
:
: So what's the best type to get? All I want to do is pound silver
: wire with a patterning hammer and/or work harden the wire.
:
: Again, go to IJS. If all you want to do in pound on it, just
: get a steel hammering block. (It's just a square piece of
: steel about 4" x 4" and maybe 1/2" thick. Much cheaper
: than an anvil.)
: Barbara
: Dream Master
: www.dreamweaverstudio.com
:
: "We've got two lives, one we're given,
: the other one we make."
: Mary Chapin Carpenter
: