My anvil horn chipped during a demo last weekend

I was working on a 1/4 inch scroll for a gate at a fair in Portland when my 150lb anvil let out a loud ping and a chunk flew off the horn. The surface had some minor rust pitting I didn't think much of, but I guess it weakened it enough to crack under the upsetting. Has anyone else had a horn chip like this, and is it worth trying to grind smooth or should I just replace the anvil?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_stella3d ago

Oh man, that is a bummer but honestly rust pitting usually isn't what causes a horn to chip like that. Could it have been a cold shut or hidden crack from the casting instead?

reese_patel3d ago

Have you checked for any hidden cracks in the rest of the anvil with a magnifying glass or some chalk? I had a similar thing happen to my anvil about ten years back at a demo in Eugene. I ground it smooth with a flap disc and it worked fine for small scrolls and light work, but I would not trust it for heavy upsetting on that horn again. If the crack is just on the horn and not into the body, you can probably get away with smoothing it out. But if you see any lines spreading toward the face or the hardy hole, I would think about replacing it. A 150lb anvil is worth keeping if the main body is solid, so do not rush to toss it just yet.