My anvil stand gave out during a shoeing job yesterday

I was working on a draft horse for a client in Springfield, and the whole wooden base just split down the middle when I was setting a heel. I had to finish the job with the anvil on the ground, which was a real pain. Has anyone else had this happen, and what's the best wood to use for a rebuild?

3 comments

3 Comments

olivia39820d ago

Oh man, that's rough. Just a quick thing, but it's usually called a "stand" or a "block," not a base. Anyway, for a draft horse you need something seriously tough. I'd skip pine and go for a big section of oak or maple. My old boss used a chunk of railroad tie and that thing never budged.

milaw1420d ago

Good call on the oak, @olivia398. My uncle used a big piece of locust for his Percheron and it held up for years.

sarah81820d ago

Yeah, I read somewhere that soaking the wood in used motor oil can help keep it from splitting. It sounds messy, but it might add some life to a new block. Might be worth a try before you build the next one.