Do you notice blacksmiths frequently hitting their hammers on an anvil? Are you curious about why they do this? Don’t overthink because you will find clarifications to your worry shortly.
Hammer striking anvil is no big deal in blacksmithing until you become intentional about it.
Blacksmithing is a craft that uses various skills and techniques. Most practices in this trade aim at making their tasks easier and ensuring optimal safety. Tapping hammers on the anvil is a common practice among blacksmiths.
During the process of forging, blacksmiths strike the anvil with a hammer multiple times. Many blacksmiths carry out this act, though there are a few who don’t know its importance, many have various reasons for doing it.
According to a renowned blacksmith, Frank Turley, there are three major reasons for doing this: rhythm, rest, and rumination, which majority of blacksmiths agree with while others believe it is pointless.
However, things are no longer the way they used to be. The three reasons above are not enough to justify this common act among blacksmiths. Each blacksmith now has other individual reasons why they hit their hammers on anvils.
In this post, you will find many reasons why blacksmiths tap their hammers on anvils. So, let’s get started! Why do blacksmiths tap the anvil? Or why do blacksmiths tap the hammer?
Rest
Resting during operation is a crucial part of any craft. It helps you to conserve and regain energy. Resting does not have to involve lying or sitting.
Resting can also involve doing some flexible activities. Hammering is a rigorous process that affects the arm and wrist. Tapping a hammer on an anvil can be a great way to relieve this stress and relax the pressure building up in these vulnerable areas.
Many blacksmiths claim that tapping their anvils help them in resting their arms while checking out their forging output. It is more convenient for them to rest their hammer arm on the anvil due to the proximity in raising the hammer to a striking position.
Rhythm
Are you wondering why do blacksmiths hit the anvil even without breaks? Rhythm and flow during operation are crucial for achieving outstanding results. It also makes the experience remarkable and exciting.
Blacksmiths, like most other artisans, find many ways to maintain their rhythm during operations. One of these ways is to tap their anvil at intervals during operation. The rhythm of the beating anvil can determine that of hammering.
Some say they do it to keep the rhythm while examining what they are working on at the moment. Some blacksmiths claim it continues their hammering rhythm, so they do not lose rhythm when they pause to examine their projects. This way, they do not have to stop completely, then try to get back to the rhythm.
Rumination
Some steps during the execution of some blacksmithing processes can be confusing. At these points, you might have to pause and think. Tapping the anvil is a common act that accompanies this period.
Some do this while they think about their next move. It’s a way of buying time, keeping the rhythm, and considering the next step.
This is one of the most common reasons, but indeed not the only reason. Some say they do it to adjust their grips. Some do not even know why they do it and may have learned it from their mentors.
Another possible reason is the rebound. The anvil rebound helps the next strike, so blacksmiths tap, the hammer bounces and makes the next strike easier.
Maintenance of Continuity
It is a bit difficult to resume work during blacksmithing after stopping the rhythm of the beating hammer. It is easier to resume work when tapping the anvil. When you set the hammer down, it can be quite challenging to pick up.
It might also be tiring to hold the hammer up in the air, especially without support. The best way for some blacksmiths to keep the work going is to keep tapping the anvil with the hammer. It will also keep the hammer right in the striking position.
Finding a good balance point to pick up your task from where you stop will keep the work going. Tapping the anvil can be that balance point that will roll into motion to keep the work going. Now you know why do blacksmiths hit the anvil as a form of continuity.
Calibration
Another reason blacksmiths tap their anvil is to calibrate their hammer. When you pick up your hammer for forging processes, it is not all sure you will have the right grip on it. You might also not have the hammerhead positioned in the right direction.
Tapping your anvil will allow you to reposition your hand and increase your grip. It will also help you set the hammer in the right angle and direction for maximum effect.
Communication
In a place where there are more than one blacksmith or people, tapping can signal other people. There is always loud noise in the blacksmith workshop, making vocal communication not very efficient. The blacksmith might also not be able to talk when dealing with some metals.
The best way to communicate with each other might be by tapping the anvil. The blacksmith also needs to maintain communication with the striker. He does this by tapping on the anvil.
Sometimes, blacksmiths might have to code their communication in the presence of others. In this case, tapping the anvil can have many meanings which only communicating blacksmiths will understand.
Habit
Many blacksmiths will tap their anvil as it has become a habit to them. They might not know the essence of tapping the anvil or might not even have any particular reason for tapping the anvil. They sometimes do it because it is what they learned from their mentor.
So, why do blacksmiths hit the anvil as an habit? It can graduate from a voluntary act to something that happens subconsciously. It might become an act blacksmiths see no reason to get rid of because it is not bad.
Some also tap the anvil because they love it. Continuous repetition of this act developed into a habit. Some blacksmiths can no longer help themselves from tapping the anvil, even when they are conscious.
To Cool Hammer
When working with the hammer, especially when beating hot metals, the hammer can get hot. Some blacksmiths will want to cool the hammer to enhance its efficiency. To do this, they tap the hammer against the anvil.
Tapping the hammer will make it cool for you to continue working. Slightly heating the hammer on the anvil will cause it to lose heat. The heat loss is mostly a result of environmental interference.
Technique
Are you wondering why do blacksmiths hit the anvil between strikes? It might just be one of their favorite techniques during project execution.
Tapping the anvil can be one of the blacksmith’s hammering techniques. When blacksmiths use lighter hammers, they tend to tap the anvil more than when they use heavier hammers. Tapping the anvil will make blacksmiths deliver quicker blows.
The process of this repeated tapping will prepare you for the rigorous hammering tasks. Tapping favors those that make quicker blows and use lighter hammers, making them develop faster and more impactful techniques.
To Avoid Scale
Scale occurs when the metal you are working on comes in contact with air. It is an oxidized part of the steel that combines with air to form the structure. Some blacksmiths tap to break the scales open. The blows of the hammer create a braking force against the scales; hence, dislodging them.
They believe that when you tap the anvil, it will result in the creation of lesser scales. Tapping will also prevent the scales from accumulating on the surface of the hammer.
Consequently, it is safe to view a regular taping of the anvil as a form of anvil maintenance. It mitigates rust and prevents the accumulation of scales.
Finishing Forging Process
One of the ways blacksmiths finish their forging process is by tapping the anvil. As you complete the hammering, heating, and other forging processes, you will have to smooth the surface of the metal. Smoothing the surface will help you get rid of hammer marks.
Gentle hammer taps will help straighten the metal and enhance finishing. You can tap the anvil before the metal. The hammer marks smoothen, and you complete your forging process.
What is the Purpose of an Anvil?
Now that you have answer to why do blacksmiths hit the anvil, lets learn more.
An anvil is a useful tool in blacksmithing. It is one of the most common and mostly found tools in a blacksmith’s workshop. The anvil is so useful to a blacksmith that without it, some forging process cannot take place; in fact, the anvil can be a defining factor of a well-equipped blacksmith.
The anvil is a rigid structure made from metal and used in forging and other blacksmithing processes. An anvil aims to provide a base workspace for metalworking, forge welding, and other blacksmithing activities. The process of metalworking includes steps that require the use of the anvil to make the work easier and a lot more efficient.
The anvil has parts and components that make blacksmithing activities such as hammering, cutting, welding, shaping, etc., more accurate and with a higher yield. Each part of the anvil has its purpose in every blacksmithing process.
The face is the flat part of the anvil that serves as a hammering platform. Blacksmiths place metals on it while they deliver blows with a hammer. The pritchel and hardy holes are hollows found at the end of the anvil. They serve as a medium to punch holes into metals and other workpieces.
Another component of the anvil is the step. The step is the edged part of the anvil used for cutting metals and other workpieces. Another useful part of the anvil is the horn.
This part of the anvil is the curved part that enables blacksmiths to shape metals. Every part of the anvil has a purpose in blacksmithing. It is a highly essential tool that you should not underestimate.
Conclusion
Working with blacksmith hammer and anvil is an inevitable process for professionals. Consequently, they use various techniques to get the best out of the process that involves these tools.
Hopefully, you now have answers to “why do blacksmiths hit the anvil?”
Tapping the anvil with a hammer is a common practice among blacksmiths. Some of the primary reasons include calibration, rest, rhythm, signal, and so on.
However, tapping a hammer on an anvil is a choice and not a necessity. Blacksmiths do it for various personal reasons.
But before hitting a hammer on an anvil, ensure that you are not damaging any of the two. Likewise, it should not negatively affect your project, neither should it drain you of useful energy.
Do you know other reasons why you or other blacksmiths tap their hammer on an anvil? Feel free to share!