Mr. Wabe, form physical point of view the anvil should be as massive as is practical, because the higher mass of the anvil, the more energy is transferred to the work piece. Anvil inertia is proportional to anvil mass. A cast iron anvil base increases anvil weight and inertia.
There are endless discussions among blacksmiths concerning the hammer-anvil efficiency measures. The hammer-anvil mass ratio is the critical parameter. Realistic blacksmithing process is between ideal elastic rebounding and fully non elastic sticking on impact.
The quality of steel or cast iron used to made the anvil is very important, because low quality material deforms when struck and less energy is transferred to the work piece.
Traditionally the anvil was based on oak log buried several feet into the floor. Nowadays anvil base is often made from steel drum full of sand. You can easily imagine what placement offers better coupling.
My tuppence on the subject.
Jan
P.S.: In Greek mythology, Hephaestus (Vulcan) the son of Zeus and Hera, was god of blacksmiths.
His symbols were a smith's hammer, anvil, and a pair of tongs.
There are endless discussions among blacksmiths concerning the hammer-anvil efficiency measures. The hammer-anvil mass ratio is the critical parameter. Realistic blacksmithing process is between ideal elastic rebounding and fully non elastic sticking on impact.
The quality of steel or cast iron used to made the anvil is very important, because low quality material deforms when struck and less energy is transferred to the work piece.
Traditionally the anvil was based on oak log buried several feet into the floor. Nowadays anvil base is often made from steel drum full of sand. You can easily imagine what placement offers better coupling.
My tuppence on the subject.
Jan
P.S.: In Greek mythology, Hephaestus (Vulcan) the son of Zeus and Hera, was god of blacksmiths.
His symbols were a smith's hammer, anvil, and a pair of tongs.