I keep seeing people skip the soak on their new anvil stands

I was at a meet in Austin last month and saw three different folks set a brand new anvil on a fresh-cut stump without letting it cure. They just bolted it down and started hammering. A week later, one guy told me his stand split right down the middle after two days of work. The wood was still wet inside and shrank unevenly from the forge heat and vibration. Now his anvil is wobbly and the ring is awful. You need to let that green wood dry for at least six months, or use kiln-dried stock. I learned this the hard way when I ruined a nice piece of oak ten years ago. Has anyone found a good way to speed up the drying without causing cracks?

2 comments

2 Comments

simono9013d ago

Oh man, I've been there and it's the worst feeling.

lopez.wren13d ago

The worst part is when you have to pretend you're fine.