I have an 80 pound anvil (old horse shoers) that I want to make a stand for. I have seen everything from steel platforms to “middle” hardwood blocks. I may want it mobile, on “retractable” casters, but that is not as essential as stability overall. Is there a role for a substantial hardwood block between the bottom of the stand and the top steel plate that the anvil bolts to? Thoughts on how wide the base needs to be (presume square base). I am 5’7". Thoughts of the most useful finished height of the top of the anvil? Use: normal pounding of steel to flatten and shape. I do have a forklift to move when needed, as the finished product will be heavy. Also lots of adjustable stands for holding long work in place. I do have a hydraulic press also, but I still find use for the anvil.
this is my stand. The legs are 2 1/2 inch square tube filled with sand, the top is 1 1/2 inch plate and the sides are 3/4 inch plate. I filled the whole thing with scrap bolts and lead. I used the bar and the bolts that are on top of the anvil to make wedges that squeeze the anvil. I also used a really good adhesive to glue it down. Helps with ring. For height, a good starting point is to measure from the ground up to your knuckles when your fist is clenched. Make sure you’re standing up straight and don’t forget to wear your boots. That’s where I messed up lol
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Rusty,
That is a great build! It looks like mass is important! I’ll skip the wood in the middle part.
Thanks!
Nice old vise, by the way!
Carl
Yeah you really want as much beef as you can get so it doesn’t walk around on you. Stick to 3 legs so it won’t ever wobble and keeping it elevated is nice because you can get your toes under it. About 4 inches off the ground is all you need. Filling the stand with something like lead or sand helps with both weight and ring. Using really heavy plate like I did isn’t necessary, I just happen to have a lot of it. And if I remember right the legs stick out around 10 degrees from vertical.