Rant: Anvil wobbles every time I hammer out a shoe

I built a small forge in my shed to practice making horseshoes. The anvil shifts around with each hit, which messes up my angles. What's a good way to keep it stable without bolting it to the concrete?

4 comments

4 Comments

jade_jenkins3mo ago

Yeah, that anvil wobble is a killer for your angles. I had the same problem in my backyard setup, and I ended up bedding mine in a thick bead of silicone caulk on a big oak stump. It sounds odd, but the caulk grabs the anvil base and dampens the vibration, so it stays put. I tried anti-vibration pads first, but they just compressed and didn't stop the shifting.

andrew_palmer3mo ago

Did the silicone caulk hold up over time, @jade_jenkins? I bedded mine in construction adhesive on a steel plate, and it killed all the bounce. My anvil used to walk across the shop floor, but now it's rock solid. Took me forever to figure out that simple fix.

jessica1303mo ago

My uncle had a similar problem with his old drill press shifting during use. He fixed it by setting the base in a shallow box filled with sand and a bit of used gear oil. The mix soaked up the vibrations and kept the press from moving around. It was a messy solution, but it held solid for years in his workshop. That idea might work for an anvil if you want something you can remove later. Just use a sturdy enough container to support the weight.

-1

quinna892mo ago

Love that sand and oil trick from @jessica130's uncle. For an anvil, you could try a heavy-duty rubber feed pan as the container, packed with a mix of sand and fine rubber mulch. That combo deadens sound way better than just sand and really locks the base down without the oily mess.