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Took me ages to get the hang of drawing out taper on the anvil horn.
I used to struggle with making smooth tapers for tool handles. Watched an old timer at a demo and saw how he rotates the piece constantly. Do you find certain anvil shapes better for this than others?
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charlie_schmidt1mo ago
Yeah, that constant rotation is the real trick. Grantjones nailed it about the flat spots, happens every time you stop to look. My old anvil has a real skinny horn and it's way better for drawing out than the fat one on my buddy's newer model. The metal just slides along the curve instead of getting stuck. It's one of those things that looks easy until you try it yourself.
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grantjones2mo ago
Man, I feel that struggle deep in my bones. I'd always get a decent start on the horn, then stop rotating to check my work and end up with a flat spot or a crooked bend. Watching guys who keep it in constant, smooth motion is a game changer. Some of those older, pointier anvil horns seem to help the metal flow better than the stubbier ones on newer models. It's all about that steady hand and never letting the hammer fall in the same place twice.
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