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My grill grate bending taught me to skip anvil preheats
I used to warm my anvil first, believing it helped the metal move better. Seeing my grill grate twist from uneven heat made me question that habit. Now I start cold, and my work has fewer hidden stresses. Other blacksmiths argue with me, but my pieces turn out straighter.
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sethadams6mo ago
That grill grate example is a solid point. Makes me think of cast iron skillets. You never preheat those super fast or they crack, right? A cold anvil might act like a quench on just one side of your work, setting up weird tensions. Maybe the debate isn't just hot vs cold, but how slowly the heat soaks in from the workpiece itself. Surprise steam from trapped moisture in the metal could be a factor too (weird, I know).
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casey_barnes6mo ago
I always figured a cold anvil was just part of the process. Your cast iron example really shifted my view. Watching a skillet crack from quick heat makes the risk clear. Hot metal cooling too fast on one side must create those hidden stresses. It explains why old timers talk about letting the anvil soak up some heat from the forge. That trapped moisture idea adds another layer to why rushing things can go wrong.
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viola2636mo ago
But honestly I've worked on a cold anvil for years with no problems. You just need to keep your piece moving so it doesn't cool in one spot. All that talk about stress cracks sounds like overthinking a simple task.
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