My uncle insisted I needed a 50 pound anvil to start, but my tiny 15 pound one from the flea market got me through my first year.

He's been forging in his Kentucky shop for 40 years and said anything under 50 pounds would 'dance across the floor' and be useless. I found a small, rusty Peter Wright at a market in Cincinnati for $80 and decided to try it. It's bolted to a big stump and has been solid for every knife and hook I've made so far. Did anyone else start with a lighter anvil and have it work out fine, or was my uncle right for bigger projects?

3 comments

3 Comments

smith.elliot25d agoMost Upvoted

Your uncle's advice is good for heavy work... but a small anvil on a solid base is perfect for learning the basics.

alicer5325d ago

My grandpa had a tiny cast iron anvil he kept on an old tree stump in his shed. He taught me how to shape simple hooks on it when I was maybe ten. That little thing weighed next to nothing, but it was bolted down tight. I learned more about hammer control on that stump than I did later on a full sized one. The right setup makes all the difference.

nancy_wood25d ago

Disagree with you @smith.elliot, a bad tool teaches bad habits from the start.