Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Compiled FAQs, Articles and Glossaries at anvilfire.com

Alphabet Soup

Acronyms related to the metalworking industry. Includes many association links.

Anvils Our collection of anvil articles.

Anvil Selection

What type and size anvil do you need? Weight ranges, styles. Links to our other anvil articles.

Anvil Making

Index to our collection of old and new anvil making articles.
Gallery of DIY and Fabricated anvils

• Grizzly and Chinese Cast Iron ASO's
• ASO's on ebay Dealer Fraud - avoiding getting stung.
• Fisher-Norris 'Eagle' Anvils
• German Anvils Comparison of types early and modern.
• Hundredweight Calculator
• Review of cheap Russian 50 kilo anvil
  
  
• Anvil Series
  1. Types and Specifications
  2. Index to anvil making articles
  3. Buying used anvils
  4. Quality, welding and other anvil miscelania
  5. Anvil Radiuses - Grinding corners
  6. Testing Anvil Rebound
  7. Weight of Anvils
  8. Cast Steel vs. Forgings
  9. Styles and Preferences
  10. About Hardie Holes
  11. Anvil Stands from the iForge page


• My First Anvil A true story.

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Apprenticeships

An institution of the past, history of and current state in North America.

The ABANA Journeyman program and links

Bells, Gongs and Triangles

Math and Design of Simple Vibrators. The 12th Root of Two, Binary series.

Brass and Bronze

The difference, alloy specifications, forging and selected Q&A

Borax

Sodium tetraborate: Used as flux, how to dehydrate, 20 Mule Team History. (Also info on Flourite or flourspar.)

Case Hardening

Surface hardening of steel, color case hardening, primitive case hardening.

Cast Iron Properties

ASTM cast irons with comparison to common steels.

Chinese Working Holding Bench

Traditional Chinese work holding and a "Sen". International Metalworking

Claying Forges

Reasons and how to.

Coal and Charcoal

Differences. pros and cons, selected Q&A. Links to coal information resources.

Charcoal making and links to coal forge information.

Coal Fire Management

Building and maintaining a coal fire.

Drill Coolants and Lubricant

Keeping drill, taps and cutter cool and sharp.

Fiberglass Handles vs. Wood Handles

Advantages and disadvantages

Forge Blowers

Chart and article from MACHINERY'S HANDBOOK, 1914, Champion and Kaynes

Gas Facts

Fuel gas information, burning temperatures and rates.

Gas Forges

Building your first gas forge. Links and more.

NEW!

Galvanic Series

Factors in bi-metalic corrosion.

Getting Started in Blacksmithing

Things you need to know and where to find information about getting started in blacksmithing.

Glossary : English

Blacksmithing and Metalworking terms glossary by Jock Dempsey (in progress).

Glossary : International

Blacksmithing and Metalworking terms in English, French, German, Italian and Swedish.

Selected terms in Latin, Dutch (Holländisch), Afrikaans and Portuguese.

An ongoing project that will eventually link to individual glossaries in each language.

Hammer Weight Table

Common hammer and sledge weights in grams, pounds and ounces.

Hammer Eye Dimensions

Hammer eye sizes for forging hammer punches and drifts.

Hardy (Hardie) Holes

Purpose, sizes, fits and dressing.

Hardness Conversion Table

Metal hardness value conversion table Brinell to Rockwell A, B, C scales.

Heat Treating

Hardening, tempering. Selected Q&A and metals heat treating specifications. Added Salt Bath information 11/23/2003

Links to materials information resources.

Hydraulic Piping

Piping specification, fluids and safety considerations

Iron in the Hat

A NEW blacksmithing tradition.

Jewelers Saw Blades

Jewelers Saw Blade sizes, dimensions and recommended use. Images from iForge.

Junkyard Steels

Using recycled steel or steels of unknown pedigree. Rail road steel Specs.

Lathes

Should you have this King of Machiine Tools in your shop?

The Law and Blacksmithing

What laws apply to my blacksmithing business?

Low Loss Stack

Low loss stack for forges. Correcting flue problems. Side draft hood links

Mathematics

Shop math and online calculators. Cone and Oval layout. Hole punching force. Riveting force. Metric to English conversions. NEW! English Hundreweights Calculator

Quenchants

Coolants for heat treating. Air, Brine, Water, Oil, Synthetics.

With Rob Gunter's Super Quench Recipe.

Rebar

Reinforcing steel information. Selected Q&A

Repousse'

Sheet Metal Relief or Sculpture. Tools, materials and techniques. (Updated)

Roller Chain Damascus

Selected Q&A on forge welding roller chain for knife making.

RR-Spikes

Rail Road Spikes, material and use.

Spam, Viruses and the Nigerian scam

What you should know about being a cyber-citizen.

Steel product types

Commercial forms of steel, hot roll, cold drawn or finished (HR and CF bar)

Sword Making, Gen X

Article in progress for those who ask "How do I make a sword?" Article in progress.
Bibliography : Sword Making Resources

Temper Color Chart with Steel Hardness

UPDATED! Standard temper color names text plus HTML color with Fahrenheit and Celsius. NEW Steel Hardness Temper data for four common SAE carbon steels.

Testimonials

anvilfire.com Testimonials, Praise and Press. What users have to say about anvilfire.com

Tongs, Blacksmith

iForge tong making how-to demos and dimensions chart links

Travel

Getting a passport, International Driver's license, Q&A, links

Vises, Blacksmith Leg or Post

Solid Box Vices, size chart, make and mounting.

Web Sites for Craftsfolk

Getting started and HTML basics. Anti-spam sample code.

Woodworker's Work Bench

A heavy duty work bench as built by the guru.

Wrought Iron

Definition and identifying

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Copyright © 2002, 2004, 2007 Jock Dempsey, www.anvilfire.com