A talk with an old farrier in Boise changed how I see my anvil stand.

I was at a swap meet in Boise last month and got chatting with a farrier named Frank about his mobile rig. He said, 'If your anvil isn't sitting on something that can move with it, you're losing half your power to the floor.' I always had mine bolted to a big oak stump. I tried his idea of a sand-filled steel tube stand, and the rebound is way better now. Has anyone else switched from a solid mount to something with a little give?

4 comments

4 Comments

shane_carter2mo ago

Well, my old stump just got called out.

sullivan.quinn5d ago

Had a buddy from my welding group try this exact setup last year. @shane_carter his welds on the tube failed twice before he got the sand packed tight enough. He finally tacked a cap on, filled it through a hole, then welded that shut while vibrating the whole thing with a palm sander. Said the rebound was night and day compared to his old railway tie.

jennybailey2mo ago

Wow, that's a cool idea. I've always used a big log too, but now I'm wondering if I'm losing power. A sand filled tube makes sense to soak up the shock. Might have to try building one this weekend.

vera292mo ago

Actually the sand doesn't soak up shock, it adds mass. The extra weight keeps the post from bouncing back so your hit transfers more energy into driving it down. A log moves too much.