What would make a better post anvil, S7 or H13 tool steels?

ome

Active Member
Hi Guys,
Have done my research and concluded that these two were the best to choose.
The S7 is more work in the heat treatment stages than H13.

H13 can be hardened to about 52 rc i think.
I am not sure of S7 when the piece is thicker than 2.5" , which all my pieces will be at.
So, which one would you choose for a 40-80 lb piece for a post anvil?
considering both will be sent out to be professionally heat treated.
Double or triple quench ?
thanks,
Jon
 
I'm not an expert but I'd think the S7 would be the better choice , its a shock resistant steel used to make chisel bits for demolition hammers.
H13 is a hot work steel best used in hot stamping dies. Just my .02



Peter
 
I use an H13 block as an anvil. It weighs 81 lbs. Austinized steel is going to be softer than anything that you use as a anvil. Even though my anvil isn't heat treated I still have few hammer marks on it. Maybe I've just learned to control my hammer better. I would choose whichever would give you the most mass under the work. The face of my anvil is 4X6" and is 7" high and it moves steel like a champ.

Doug
 
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I use an H13 block as an anvil. It weighs 81 lbs. Austinized steel is going to be softer than anything that you use as a anvil. Even though my anvil is heat treated I still have few hammer marks on it. Maybe I've just learned to control my hammer better. I would choose whichever would give you the most mass under the work. The face of my anvil is 4X6" and is 7" high and it moves steel like a champ.

Doug
ThanksDoug,
Did u have it double or triple quenched. I just got a piece of 5-7/8 by 3-1/8 by 7-3/8 at 37lb of H13.
Will it get heavier after heat treat. At close to same size, why is your piece double the weight. I got mine from shapiro metals on ebay.
Thanks
jon
 
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just noticed my mistake. My block is not heat treated. It's just the way it came from the supplier (Shapiro, BTW). I just had to keep watching until I found a block that weighed around 80 lbs. I noticed the weight difference too. I didn't put it on a scales but I know that is weighs well in excess of 40 lbs. It was about all I could do to lift it. Heat treating will do nothing to increase the weight. My block is only larger in two dimensions but I doubt that it is enough to double the weight.

Doug
 
I'm not an expert but I'd think the S7 would be the better choice , its a shock resistant steel used to make chisel bits for demolition hammers.
H13 is a hot work steel best used in hot stamping dies. Just my .02



Peter


It's correct, h13 tool steel is one kind of hot work steel used for hot die steel, not good for anvil. S7 steel maybe not a good choice as well, as it's also for tool steel. For anvil, you could try cast iron or cast steel. It would be better.
 
It's correct, h13 tool steel is one kind of hot work steel used for hot die steel, not good for anvil. S7 steel maybe not a good choice as well, as it's also for tool steel. For anvil, you could try cast iron or cast steel. It would be better.

Welcome to the forum. FYI, this thread is in excess of 4 years old. I'd hazard a guess that Jon has probably worked out his anvil question by now.

Personally, I hear 1045 makes a decent anvil.
 
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