Forging on a cold anvil

[NittanyRider]

The weather's been pretty mild so far, but yesterday's mid-30s temps got me thinking about cold weather anvil use.   Do you all warm your anvils up, prior to use, when the temp gets below a certain point?

[Lin Rhea]

I  don't pre heat usually.

[Steve Nuckels]

David, my forge area is not heated, during cold weather I will stick a few pieces of re bar in my propane forge while it's coming up to temp. when they are hot I know the forge is hot then I take the bars out set them on the anvil to take the chill off.  I think it reduces the heat sink effect if only a little bit.

Steve
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Potomac Forge
Member, W.F. Moran Jr. Museum & Foundation
ABS AP

[NittanyRider]

I had read somewhere that some people use electric blankets or heating pads to warm their anvils up when it gets really cold... just didn't know how important it is to do.  

Maybe when it drops into the 30s I'll do a pre-heat with the heated steel.  


Thanks!

[kbaknife]

Can't imagine why one would heat up the anvil.
It is the repeated heating and cooling of the steel that keeps the grain in check.
Over heating in the forge does far more damage than cooling on the anvil.
After a few forging cycles it will warm up.