Author Topic: Shooting Anvils (Read 891 times)

NitroSteel · « **on:** August 09, 2009, 05:00:48 PM »

Please forgive me if this is off topic, or at least bear with me for a few minutes. There has to be someone else on here who has either done this or wants to.

1) Is this an acceptable subject here? I don't think it fits anywhere else on greybeards...
2) Does anyone have any experience doing this?
3) Do ya'll know of another site that is "safe" that discusses this?

I'm interested in trying it at least once. I do have an anvil that must weight at least 75-100 pounds, and a big hayfield...

Thank you,

NitroSteel

cannonmn · « **Reply #1 on:** August 09, 2009, 05:12:28 PM »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeNP4i47oeU

Double D · « **Reply #2 on:** August 09, 2009, 05:17:43 PM »

Anvils shot here, no problem.

NitroSteel · « **Reply #3 on:** August 09, 2009, 05:33:51 PM »

DoubleD,

I see that there are 2 classes, one which requires 2 anvils, one upside down on top of the other (it seems the anvil with the concave bottom would have to be of high strength to take such a charged explosion, the other class uses a launching platform. The launching platform seems like it would be the best method and a powder chamber could be used much like that of a thundermug. The charges of powder are sometimes as much as 2 pounds and 90 seconds of fuse is typically used. I can't find any specific information on how any of these were built, but I would assume that most of the cannon powder chamber rules would suffice, particularly since once the anvil moves even slightly, the chamber pressure would completely go away.

I was thinking of using a 6" diameter piece of round stock mounted on a large piece of plate steel (say 2 foot square and an inch or so thick). If I were an 8" long piece of round stock, what would be the deepest a 2" diameter powder chamber should be bored into the piece of stock? Would it be permissible to use a larger "bore" for something like this or do the wall thickness rules still apply?

It would seem that the platform would have to have a heck of a base on it, or it would be pushed deeply into the ground... How much powder do you use?

Thank you,

NitroSteel

Victor3 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 09, 2009, 05:50:23 PM »

NitroSteel,

I don't know that you'll find hard-n-fast rules for anvil shooting setups. Seems to be a seat of the pants sort of thing with several people doing it different ways. I'd think if you made your round "anvil" with wall thickness all around being the same as the powder chamber dia, you'd be fine.

Setting it on a 1" plate would probably work okay. If not, you'll find out pretty quick when it turns into a taco shell

Dang, now you got me looking around the garage for anvil material...

Double D · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2009, 06:05:00 PM »

Let me rephrase what I said; the discussion of shooting anvils is allowed here. That doesn't mean I know anything about. But somebody here will.

NitroSteel · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2009, 06:15:58 PM »

Victor I'm talking about taking a piece of plate steel on the ground, welding the 6" round stock to it (so it won't be tempted to fall over), filling the chamber with powder and then SETTING a regular anvil on top of, not shooting the round stock into the air, which would be a good idea I suppose... It would be pretty heavy and might actually be as heavy and stronger than an anvil - spare ammo anyways...

NitroSteel

Victor3 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 09, 2009, 07:03:43 PM »

I see. I still like the idea of a piece of round stock with a hole in it. I've seen primitive knife makers use the exact same thing, so it must be a historucally correct anvil

And lookie here, I just found material for a ~1/2 scale model...

cannonmn · « **Reply #8 on:** August 09, 2009, 08:47:33 PM »

It is best to use a one-piece cast steel anvil. The older anvils often were forged of a few different pieces which was OK when they were anvils, but doesn't work too well when they become projectiles. Some of these old ones have disassembled on launch and thrown pieces toward people.

90 sec. of fuse? All we use is enough for us to get away about 100 feet, how long does it take you to go 100 feet? We avoid excessive fuse because since we're firing to 500 feet, it is possible to hit a low-flying plane, and we won't light up if we can see or hear a plane or 'copter.

Our launcher has about a 5" bore which was wider than the anvil base, so we welded a steel plate on the bottom of the anvil so it would cover the launcher muzzle. Now it weighs about 110 lbs. We drilled and tapped several holes in the anvil and put threaded plugs in them. When we want to recover it, from usually 2 feet in the ground, we replace one of the plugs with a lifting eye because the anvil will only come out of the ground straight up, you can't usually pull it out with a vehicle since the shallow angle makes it act like an anchor in the dirt.

Victor3 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 09, 2009, 09:27:01 PM »

"It is best to use a one-piece cast steel anvil. The older anvils often were forged of a few different pieces which was OK when they were anvils, but doesn't work too well when they become projectiles. Some of these old ones have disassembled on launch and thrown pieces toward people."

And some newer ones are cast iron with a steel plate on top (or even without a plate on some cheap Asian ones).

I wouldn't want to shoot my 100+ year old anvil, and wouldn't trust a cast iron one not to blow the base apart.

I suppose if one were to use a solid base anvil over a chamber of some sort it wouldn't matter if the anvil were iron or steel. Using an anvil with a hollow base filled with powder though (the traditional method I've seen most), I'd want to make sure the metal was up to the task.

It would be fun to make a little 10# anvil to shoot. I may be able to steal my friends one made from a piece of railroad track

cannonmn · « **Reply #10 on:** August 10, 2009, 01:34:11 AM »

The Harbor Freight anvils from Russia were (last time I checked) made of a one-piece steel casting, so that's what I bought for the anvil-projectile. It has survived dozens of launches, each powered by 2 lbs. of FFFG black powder.

BoomLover · « **Reply #11 on:** August 10, 2009, 06:20:31 PM »

Ah, another purpose for my 110 pound Russian Anvil! Actually, it is not a bad one, and would make a fine "shooter" in the Anvil Fire Brigade. I have seen some pretty good video of this unusual practice, and it is quite a show stopper! BoomLover

1Southpaw · « **Reply #12 on:** August 11, 2009, 05:51:20 AM »

Any one who launches either of my shop anvils would be in deep doo

One is a turn of the century one that my Great Uncle brought to Montana when he homesteaded .(150 lbs.) He was a Blacksmith and a Harness maker. The other is a Sweedish made 70 lb. one . Both used on a regular basis in my shop .
I can see where it could be a lot of fun but expensive to play with ?@ 2lbs per shot .

Dang , just might have to try it now .... Good anvils are bringing 1$ to 3$ per pound @ farm auctions .

subdjoe · « **Reply #13 on:** August 11, 2009, 07:48:50 AM »

I do have to ask - when is anvil season? Do I need a license? What is the daily bag limit? How many in posession at one time? And, most important, how do you clean and cook 'em?

Rickk · « **Reply #14 on:** August 11, 2009, 12:14:52 PM »

Someplace on the net is a story written by a guy who was asked to bring his 100# anvil to a blacksmith gathering. He assumed they wanted it for a beat metal into submission demo.

When he arrived a couple guys unloaded the anvil and ran off with it. 60 seconds later there was a loud boom and few moments after that the anvil was sticking out of the hood of a poorly parked Ford Pinto.

RocklockI · « **Reply #15 on:** August 11, 2009, 12:31:12 PM »

as MT's B.A.M ,proved it will launch a bowling ball into the stratsphere ....16lbs to 1.5lbs of powder ...

gross windage from 11" to 8" . i'm a fan ....i got a great pic of it ..but as usual i was too close ....for me ,but i think i got a great shot .

Artilleryman · « **Reply #16 on:** August 11, 2009, 05:17:05 PM »

Couldn't see the anvil in the air, but it had to be quite high with a 11-12 second hang time according to the playing time at the bottom of the screen. When we shoot are 8 inch mortar we have a 14 sec hang time at 900 yards.

BoomLover · « **Reply #17 on:** August 11, 2009, 06:29:36 PM »

On the RFD channel, they have a seris titled "Forge and Anvil", from somewhere in South Carolina, anyway one of those Southern States, and on one segment, they had a few minutes of "Anvil Shooting". One upside down, the other placed squarly on top of it, lined up perpendicular so it would go up as straight as possible. Anyway, this thing fired, they followed the 100+ pound chunk of metal up and back, and that thing buried itself several feet deep. Great show! BoomLover

belt fed frog · « **Reply #18 on:** August 13, 2009, 04:41:57 AM »

BoomLover,
it is a southern tradition known as ringing the anvil and the point is to have the launched anvil hit the base anvil causing it to ring hense ringing the anvil

BoomLover · « **Reply #19 on:** August 13, 2009, 05:13:11 AM »

Belt Fed Frog, welcome to the forum! I kinda guessed that they would want to come close to the point of origion, 'cause that anvil in flight would make one heck of a bad day for whoever it landed on! ( Or even near!) I guess u can learn somthing new every day! Ringing the anvil, kind of like ringing a bell...BoomLover