Had a close call with a cracked anvil at the Midwest Blacksmith Festival

I was at the festival in Indiana last month and saw a guy's anvil split right down the middle while he was drawing out a piece. It was a 150lb Peter Wright and the crack had been hidden under the hardy hole. Now I tap the face with a hammer and listen before I even heat up metal. Anyone else have a good way to check for hidden flaws?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_julia1mo agoMost Upvoted

I used to just eyeball mine, but after hearing about that I do the hammer tap test too.

richard_shah1mo ago

Yeah, I was the same way for a long time. Hearing @the_julia talk about it made me actually try the tap test, and it's way more reliable.

the_vera4d ago

The tap test was a game changer for me too. I used to think I had it down just by looking, but tapping it out makes a HUGE difference.

elizabeth_gonzalez4d ago

Right? I still catch myself eyeballing it sometimes like I'm some kind of pro, then the tap test humbles me real quick. It's almost embarrassing how long I went trusting my eyes over a simple little tap. But hey, better late than never I guess.