A near miss with a cracked anvil last Tuesday

I was working on a set of fireplace tools in my shop last Tuesday, just doing some light shaping on the horn of my old Peter Wright. I heard a sound like a dull bell, not the usual ring. I stopped and looked close, and there was a hairline crack running about four inches from the hardy hole. If I hadn't caught it and kept hammering, that whole corner could have let go. This anvil was my grandfather's, so it's seen a lot of years. Has anyone else had an anvil fail on them? What's the best way to check for these kinds of hidden flaws before they become a real problem?

3 comments

3 Comments

jason732mo ago

Glad you caught that before it blew apart.

henryc642mo ago

Torque wrench saved my engine last month.

beth_green20d ago

Wait, what exactly "blew apart" are we talking about here? Henry, was your engine actually saved by the torque wrench, or did it just keep things from getting worse? I mean, I love my torque wrench for head bolts and stuff, but last time I used one on my valve cover, I still stripped a thread because I forgot to check the angle. It's not a magic wand, you know? You gotta pair it with the right feel and sequence.