silversmithing anvil question

in article RiISa.110365$H17.34173@sccrnsc02, bluemaxx at snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com wrote on 21/7/03 10:34 AM:

Case hardened steel is best. Basically it means that the outer layer of steel is hardened and won't readily dent. If the steel is not case-hardened, you will get lots of little impressions on your work surface, these will transefer to your silver.

I have an anvil, but find that my steel hammering block (about 4 inches square) that sits conveniently on my jewellers bench is the hammering surface I use the most.

To keep it from rusting, I made a leather pouch and rubbed in sewing machine oil. I live near the coast and things tend to rust easily, so when I'm finished working for the day, I pop the block in the bag and it never rusts. I also made leather hoods for my beloved steel hammers. Once a year I re-oil the leather.

Again, go to IJS. If all you want to do in pound on it, just get a steel hammering block. (It's just a square piece of steel about 4" x 4" and maybe 1/2" thick. Much cheaper than an anvil.) Barbara Dream Master

"We've got two lives, one we're given, the other one we make." Mary Chapin Carpenter

Probably a stupid question, but where would I get one of these? (I'm in Sydney)

Actually, NOT a stupid question. A stupid question is Mr Hardware Store Employee: "Uh....what's an anvil?" And then there's the Large Hardware Chain who hide from customers...

Thanks for the tips! :)

Thanks so much, Barbara - and Susan and Marisa. :))))))