anvil or other type of hammering surface.

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Hello all, still practicing and experimenting. was doing some welding and metal work and realize that my small bench vise doesn't have enough surface area to hammer on. should I pick up an anvil from harbor freight, or should I go to the scrap yard? I don't have a welding table, just a wood work bench. just doing small hobby projects. Thanks
Reply:Rail road track makes a good surface to beat on.  Almost anything is better than the HF cast crap.
Reply:If you can find a big sledgehammer head, like 12-16 pounds, that can make a right dandy anvil if sunk into a big log or stump.  I have several large, thick machetes that were forged on one by a 70+ year old Thai blacksmith from thick truck spring steel..  Although his hardwood log probably weighed over 1,500 pounds, LOL."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I would say any option you listed would be a good one.Just laying any piece of metal of some thickness on a wooden bench is great. You can use old rotors for bench blocks.
Reply:Check with scrap yard or steel supplier for a piece of 1'' plate or thicker. A heavy cutoff I beam is good too. Look on craigs list too under '' materials'' . The steel suppliers near me list goodies on there.
Reply:Dent resistance is half the battle,weight and/or resistance to rebound is also nessary.  I use a piece of railroad track with web cut out on one end.  Two Bois-d-arc logs back to back make's a sturdy base.
Reply:railroad tracks seem promising, I've got rail lines near me.
Reply:Probably not a good idea to take any of it if trains still use it LOL
Reply:I would look around at the scrap places. Most times they have stuff whether it's pieces of structural steel or old casting counter weights.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:A friend of mine makes anvils out of forklift tines.  He welds about 4 or 5 tines, each about 12-14" long, in stacked layers.  Not necessarily the best or prettiest "anvils" but he has hammered a lot of steel on them.  They're OK for someone just beginning in blacksmithing and needing something to get started with.  The tines are hard and suffice for the types of work beginners might do.  A nice radius on at least one edge makes them better.  They help fill in the time span while a new blacksmith is searching for his or her ideal conventional anvil.  He has even done demo's with the "tine anvils" and turned out some beautiful work.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmshopI would look around at the scrap places. Most times they have stuff whether it's pieces of structural steel or old casting counter weights.
Reply:I have a channel iron leg table with a 3/4 plate top I lay general stuff on that to flatten.
Reply:We got a old weight that I am pretty sure is cast about 14" cubed and that things has taken a check of a beating but it's been on the farm for close to 50 yearsMillermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Originally Posted by farmshopWe got a old weight that I am pretty sure is cast about 14" cubed and that things has taken a check of a beating but it's been on the farm for close to 50 years
Reply:Years ago before I finally found my "real" anvil, I torched out a horn and hardy hole in this chunk of i beam.  No rebound for smithing but great for general pounding on. :