Thanks Pete, Now that you mention the Anvil height rule and reasoning, I went back, looked over what I had stated and see my own to be in error. Elbow high would be too high for sure. I have long arms, ("knuckle dragger" so to speak). So since I'm the only one using this work slab/table I will first play around with the principals you have provided and see which height works.PeteH wrote:Welcome !!! I think you'll find this is a much more welcoming -- and much more polite -- forum.
One very minor comment -- the guys who taught me the little bit of blacksmithing tech that I have, all agreed that the face of the anvil should be about two or three inches lower than the knuckles of your striking hand, with that hand hanging at your side, as though you'd just completed a swing. More or less, depending on your own preference, and the depth of your (preferred) hammer's head.
That way, at the moment of striking, the hammer handle and the face are parallel to the anvil face, and your wrist remains at 90 deg. to your forearm. Minimizes stress on all the various parts, and makes it more natural to deliver a flattening blow.
Setting the anvil at elbow height would make it literally impossible to deliver such a blow.
Cheers...
Steve